Donate, Resell, & Buy Used
Additional Donate Information
Keep items out of the landfill by donating them to nonprofits, consigning or selling them to a local reuse store, giving them to neighbors or exchanging them at swaps.
Donate Clothes, Shoes, and Linens
Threadcycle partners will accept these items to resell and recycle. These partners accept:
- ALL your clothes, shoes and linens—even the sadly torn and badly worn.
- Single socks, shoes, gloves and other—orphan items that are normally paired.
- Other items can be given in ANY condition, including stuffed animals, purses, belts, and other accessories.
Important:
- Don’t give items that are wet, mildewed or soiled with hazardous materials.
- Don’t put clothes, shoes, linens, or other household fabrics in your recycling bin.
Materials are central to our economy, our environment, and our communities.
Everything you buy or use starts by taking resources from the land, making them into a product, transporting it, using it, and then recycling, composting, or landfilling it. All this has big impacts on the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil where we grow food.
By taking action to prevent waste, you…
- Save money by buying and using less.
- Help our community by donating and sharing materials.
- Reduce air and water pollution that hurt wildlife and human health.
- Conserve natural resources, such as water, energy, land, and fuel.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
The EPA estimates about 42% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are caused by making, transporting, and disposing of materials. (Source: US EPA, Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Materials and Land Management Practices, 2009)
That means that the everyday choices you make about what you buy and use don’t just impact you. They also impact your community and people all over the world.
We are already seeing climate change impacts in Seattle with hotter summers, smoke from regional wildfires, and shoreline changes due to rising sea levels. We are also thinking towards the future to protect our water supply from droughts as temperatures continue to increase.
Your choices matter. Choose to prevent waste!
The average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing and other textiles per year, according to EPA estimates. Most of these items could be reused or recycled.
Borrow in Your Neighborhood
Join a tool library! These community-based organizations allow members to check out tools for home projects to craft-making to food production. Some also offer classes.
- Northeast Tool Library
- Phinney Neighborhood Association’s Tool Library
- Southeast Tool Library
- Sustainable Capitol Hill Tool Library
- West Seattle Tool Library
Join a Buy Nothing Facebook group to ask neighbors for items you want to borrow or share.
Swap, Barter & Buy Second-Hand Goods
Rethink where you'll find your next "purchase."
Swapping and bartering allow you to obtain items without needing to spend money. Instead, you exchange items or services you don’t need with clothes, gear, furniture or other goods you do need. Set up swaps and barter fairs with friends or neighbors or attend annual organized swaps across the city.
- Learn how to organize a clothes swap
- Find out more about recycling clothes from Love Your Clothes
- Sign up with a neighborhood-based Buy Nothing Facebook group to exchange goods and services.
Many of the entities listed as donation locations above also re-sell what they receive. You can also find equipment through public agencies:
Finding bargains
Repair & Maintain
Keep your stuff in use longer instead of buying more. Learn do-it-yourself repair:
- iFixit, a wiki-based site with repair guides for all matter of devices, an Answers Forum and access to a parts and tools store.
- Attend "repair cafes" where experienced fixers or sewers will work on your item or help you learn to repair it yourself. Check the Tool Libraries listed above for events or repair classes.
- Look up bike shops for professional repair or classes to learn how to maintain yourself.
Find like-minded individuals to share, swap, repair and learn how to avoid waste.
- Phinney Neighborhood Association
- Sustainable Ballard
- Sustainable Capitol Hill
- Sustainable NE Seattle
- Sustainable Seattle
- Sustainable West Seattle
- Zero Waste Meetup groups in your area
Choosing products that outlast a single use and seasonal trends is a first step to preventing waste. Products that are made from long-lasting materials are typically easier to repair and reuse too.
Consider these questions before your next purchase*:
- Is the product’s design timeless, outlasting current trends?
- Is this product’s construction long-lasting and repairable?
- Do independent and customer reviews support this product’s longevity?
- Does this brand offer the best warranty and maintenance?
*Adapted from: https://buymeonce.com
Repair or make items