Recycling Resources

In our experience, there are some items that are difficult to get rid of when you don't want to throw them in the trash.  These might include batteries, electronics, plastic bags, etc.  It's always good to contact your local DPW or other town department that deals with trash/recycling, because they may have a household hazardous waste day coming up, or they may have other programs available to residents.  Donating is another option, but often donated stuff can't be resold and ends up in the trash.  Check out these options first.

Resale:

Good Stuff Cheap!:  Craigslist has really become the first place to look for items.  It is also my go-to for getting rid of useful items that don't yet need to be recycled.  See my post about Craigslist here.

If you want to get more involved, you could also try selling on Ebay (almost anything) or Poshmark (clothes, shoes, some household items).

Compost (if you don't want to or don't have space to do your own composting):

North Shore, MA:  Black Earth Compost

Merrimack Valley, MA:  OffBeet Compost

Boston, MA:  Bootstrap Compost

New York, NY: Grow NYC (drop-off service only--pandemic killed the city's curbside program)

Washington, DC area: Veteran Compost and Compost Crew

Cleveland, OH: Rust Belt Riders

Chicago, IL: WasteNot Compost

Reno, NV:  Down To Earth Composting

Portland, OR: Provided by the city (good job, Portland!)

Seattle, WA:  Required and provided by the city... (wow, that's amazing)

Recycling Clothes/Fabric, Shoes, and Glasses:

Massachusetts:  Recycling Textiles in Massachusetts is getting easier.  

North Shore, MA:  Black Earth Compost  

Nation-wide: Clothes the Loop (Northface's retail recycling program for shoes & clothes of any brand in any condition)

Zappos offers free shipping labels for denim, as well as some brands of shoe and a few other items

Blue Jeans Go Green has various drop-off locations for denim

Garment Collection at H&M (also accepts clothes of any brand in any condition)

Zara select stores have used clothes drop boxes

Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program: recycles athletic shoes only--any brand--at their retail stores

Lion's Club: they have various locations, you may need to pay shipping if one isn't near your home--they'll recycle glasses/parts that aren't fit to donate, which the others for glasses/sunglasses don't--sometimes Walmart/Sam's Club Vision Centers have a Lion's Club drop-box for eyeglasses

LensCrafters: buried deep in their FAQs, they do say they will redistribute gently used glasses

ReSpectacle: you pay shipping, but they will give your gently used glasses to someone in need of them

*Most animal shelters will accept towels, blankets, sheets, and maybe pillows as donations.  Look online to find one near you, and call to ask about donating these items.  

Recycling Electronics:

Staples takes a whole host of items like old cell phones, computers, TVs, wires, headphones etc.  Have an old TomTom?  It's time to let go... you can do it!

Best Buy takes many electronic items including T.V.s, computers, phones, electric fans, etc

Microsoft will recycle their own products, and maybe give you money or credit

Apple will recycle their own products, and maybe give you money or credit

Home Goods:

Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire: UTEC Mattress Recycling

Certain states: PaintCare (for recycling old house paint)

Nationwide: Habitat for Humanity Restores (appliances, cabinets, fixtures, etc)--this link is for the Essex County, MA page, because it is a great article that suggests other recycling options, too

Nationwide: ReCORK wine cork recycling or, if you have at least 5 pounds/500 corks, CorkClub (also free), or drop them off at Whole Foods

Nationwide: Ikea: when you buy from them, for a fee, they'll take away the old thing your new purchase replaces (eg if you buy a new mattress from them, they'll take away and recycle your old one)

Nationwide: Recycle a Bulb for lightbulbs, with a list of free return centers or a paid mail-in option

Kids/Crafts:

LEGO replay: to recycle/donate old LEGO blocks

Crazy Crayons: to recycle old crayons

Greeting cards: unless they're plain paper (no foil/shiny stuff, no glitter, etc etc etc), you can't recycle them curbside.  Send the fronts to St. Jude's instead.  (The back is probably plain paper and therefore recyclable.)  You'll have to pay postage, but paper is pretty cheap to mail.

Tennis balls: If you play at a facility, your court may offer this, or you could ask them to.  Anyone can ship old tennis balls back for free, but you have to have at least 100...  Time to hold a tennis ball drive?

Motor Oil and Car Batteries:

Advanced Auto Parts will recycle these.  (I think most auto stores probably will, at least for car batteries.)  Plus, for a small deposit, you can borrow a variety of auto repair tools from them!

If you can't find any other way:

TerraCycle can recycle almost anything including items like batteries, non recyclable plastics, toothpaste tubes, K-cups, and more.

You can also check out this fantastic blog post by the Frugalwoods about buying things used!