Donation and Recycling Guide
Donate. Recycle. Feel Good.
Updated 2025
This is an on-going resource of donation locations; individual policies may change at any time.
General Resources
*Please note that some pick-up services may be suspended at this time.
The Assistance League - your local chapter may have a thrift store that collects donations.
The Buy Nothing Project - hyper-local gifting economy via Facebook Groups. They recently launched an app, but the majority of activity and participation is still happening in the Facebook Groups. You can find your local group by doing a search in Facebook Groups.
Book Off - a place to resell books, electronics, media, video games, musical instruments, and pop culture figures.
Downtown Women’s Center (Los Angeles, CA) - collecting clothes, bed sheets, household items, and more.
Earth911 - search for your nearby recycling solution.
Goodwill - drop-off locations.
Mercy Warehouse (Laguna Niguel, CA) - accepts food, clothing, linens, furniture, books, art, and more.
Orange County Rescue Mission (Tustin, CA) - accepts hygiene & toiletries, clothing, food, household items, and more.
Out of the Closet Thrift Stores - drop-off locations and scheduled pick-ups.
Precious Life Shelter Thrift & Gift Shop (Los Alamitos, CA) - accepts all clothing, household items, small appliances, books, toys, antiques, and more.
The Salvation Army - drop-off location or schedule a free pick-up on line.
San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission Super Thrift Stores (North Hollywood, CA & Reseda, CA) - schedule a free pick-up online or call 877-642-1906.
TerraRecycle - free national recycling programs (search by specific products & brands).
TexGreen (California & Washington) - local drop boxes.
Vietnam Veterans of America - schedule a free pick-up online.
USAgain - find your local TreeMachine or Drop Spot.
Clothing
Bras
The Bra Recyclers / Soma Stores
Free the Girls
I Support the Girls
USAgain
Eyeglasses and Sunglasses
Costco Optical - Assist International partnership
LensCrafters OneSight
Lion’s Club
VSP Eyes of Hope
General Clothing
H&M - in-store garment recycling program, including textiles.
Nordstrom - donate clothes in select stores and through free Give Back Box mailing.
SheStyles (Los Angeles, CA) - currently seeking new and like-new clothing ranging from children's XL thru women's plus sizes
Suay LA (Los Angeles, CA) - shop that accepts textile garment donations and re-sews them into new clothing designs.
Jeans via Blue Jeans Go Green™
Madewell
Zappos for Good (also includes denim)
Online Resale
Poshmark
TheRealReal
threadUP
Vestiaire Collective
Check your local consignment stores for in-person resale options.
Professional Career Clothing & Accessories
Career Gear
Clothes The Deal (Encino, West Covina, Culver City & Downey)
CBE Suits Me (Los Angeles, CA) - Business Wardrobe Program for Cal State LA Students
Downtown Women’s Center (Los Angeles, CA) - in need of gender neutral professional clothing, sizes medium and above.
Dress for Success
Working Wardrobes (Irvine, CA)
Prom Dresses
Becca’s Closet
Operation Prom
Shoes via Soles4Shoes
DSW
The North Face (plus all clothing apparel)
Socks
The Second Cut Project
zkano
Textile Recycling (for items that are torn, stained, unwearable & not appropriate for donating)
Most large thrift shops recycle clothing that they can’t sell, so ask your local shop!
Retold Recycling (there is a fee)
Underwear
Parade (via TerraCycle)
USAgain
Books
Re-book It (Los Angeles, CA) - free donation pick-up
Consider donating to your local library, school or neighborhood teacher.
Library Extension Browser - easily discover books and e-books at your local library.
Online resale vendors: TextbookRush (college textbooks); Ziffit
Paper
Bulk Shredding Services
FedEx
Office Depot
Staples
UPS
Business Card Scanner (iOS/Android)
BizConnect (free version: scan 50 cards/day)
Junk Mail
How to Stop Junk Mail
PaperKarma App (fee)
Manuals
Manuals Library - database of manuals online.
Receipts/Expenses Tracker
Zoho (fee)
Komono
Art & Crafts Supplies
Child Creativity Lab (Santa Ana, CA)
Creative Reuse (Oakland, CA)
Creative Reuse Resources
Materials For The Arts (NYC)
Mutual Aid LA Network - Open Art Supply (Los Angeles)
OC Children’s Therapeutic Arts (Santa Ana, CA)
Remainders Creative Reuse (Pasadena, CA)
Scrap SF (San Francisco)
Baby Items (Clothing, Books, Toys, Equipment, etc.)
Heart & Home (Lake Forest, CA & Gardena, CA)
Room To Grow (Boston & New York)z
Check for a local Foster Closet near you.
Battery Recycling (single-use & rechargeable)
Home Depot
Lowes
Staples
Find a Call2Recycle location here
Binders
Broadway Binder Project by Broadway Green Alliance (NYC)
Cell Phones
Apple Trade-In Program
Big Sky Recycling
Cell Phones for Soldiers
Compost (drop-offs)
LA Compost (Los Angeles, CA)
Cosmetics & Beauty Product Packaging Recycling
Brand-Specific Programs
Credo Beauty
L’Occitane
Nordstrom BEAUTYCYCLE
Pact Collective local bins
Electronics Recycling & Trade-Ins
Amazon Trade-In
Best Buy
Gazelle Trade-In
Goodwill OC (Orange County,CA) - accepts anything with a cord or battery, working or not
Staples
Homeboy Electronics Recycling (Los Angeles, CA)
Where to Donate or Recycle Electronics by Electronic Device or Company
Food
Laurén Chalmers '83 Beach Pantry (Long Beach, CA) - accepts food & toiletries, serves over 1,000 students each week.
Little Free Pantry
Check with your local food bank.
Foreign Currency
Change for Good
Furniture & Housewares/Decor
A Sense of Home (Hawthorne, CA)
Habitat for Humanity ReStore - select stores also offer free scheduled pick-up.
Humble Design (Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Seattle & San Diego)
Patriots and Paws (Orange County, parts of Long Beach & Lakewood, CA) - also accept silverware, kitchen utensils, clean rugs, mattresses, appliances and offer free scheduled pick-up.
Gift Cards
Sell or trade gift cards for partial value - Card Cash (example: Hotels.com), Raise
Hazardous Waste Recycling
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers (Orange County, CA)
SAFE Centers (Los Angeles, CA)
Ink & Toner Cartridges Recycling
Office Depot
Staples
Kitchen Items
Kitchens for Good (San Diego)
Light Bulbs (CFL)
Lowes
Linens (bedding, blankets & towels)
USAgain
Orange County Humane Society (Huntington Beach, CA)
Seal Beach Animal Care Center (Seal Beach, CA)
Check with your local animal shelter.
Medicine
Diabetes Supplies: Insulin for Life
Drug Disposal: Drug Take Back Location
How to Dispose of Unused Medicines
My Old Meds kiosks
Office Supplies
OC Children’s Therapeutic Arts (Santa, Ana)
Pianos
Piano Adoption
Plastic bags
Lowes
Sports Gear
Play It Again Sports
Toiletries
Orange County Rescue Mission (Tustin, CA)
Travel-sized toiletries can be donated to a local homeless shelter.
Toys
LEGO® bricks
Stuffed Animals for Emergencies
Toy Loan Program (Los Angeles, CA)
Toys can be donated to a local Foster Closet near you.
Sentimental
Cards
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children - accepts new & recycled cards.
Children Artwork & Mementos
ART Collage - transform drawings into modern works of art.
ARTKIVE - digital artwork album.
Keepy - digital artwork album.
Sprout - turns cherished artwork into custom jewelry pendants.
Digital Photos Storage & Digitizing Media
Amazon - Prime members receive unlimited storage
Costco - Digitizing Services
Forever
Legacy Box
Google Drive/Photos, Dropbox, iCloud, Box, etc.
Dinnerware, Glassware, Flatware & Custom Estate Jewelry (china, crystal, silver, etc.)
Replacements Ltd.
Medals & Trophies
Medals4Mettle (Medals)
Sports Medal Recycling (Medals)
Lamb Awards and Engraving (Trophies)
Total Awards & Promotions (Trophies) - $30 flat fee
Repurpose
Jess Creates Stuff - stuffed memory animals made from special garments.
Kudos Coaster Plus – turn your medals, artwork, photos & small treasurers into coasters.
Razimus Jewelry - turn sentimental fabrics into custom jewelry bracelets.
Sew Me a Keepsake - hand-crafted keepsakes made from cherished clothing.
Silverwear 1981 - Repurpose sentimental silver as jewelry with a custom design.
T-shirt Quilts - Memory Stitch, Project Repat
Wedding Gowns & Accessories
Adorned in Grace
Brides Across America
Brides Against Breast Cancer
Brides for a Cause
Shared Dream Dresses