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Clutter Free Organizing Services
 

Resources for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling

Newly Updated for 2012.

In our work as professional organizers, we always try to reuse and recycle instead of disposing. To that end, Andy has compiled a list of resources to help our clients simplify, reduce, reuse, recycle, and sell unwanted items. However, since this information will be valuable to anybody, we are providing it as a public service.

The more we can reduce, reuse, and recycle, the better for everyone. Reuse, especially, uses less resources and less energy, saves money, and reduces our impact on the environment. Please pass on this information to anyone who can use it.

General Resources and Information

  1. Reducing Junk Mail
  2. General Reuse/Recycling Information
  3. Free Reused Boxes
  4. Creative Reuse Centers
  5. Selling: Garage Sale Tips, Resources for Selling Online
  6. Giving To: Individuals, Schools, Nonprofits, and Charities.
  7. Additional Information

Where to Donate, Sell, or Recycle Specific Items

 

 
 

Reducing Junk Mail

 

Here are several sites that can help you reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. Start with the Direct Marketing Association. and continue with The Center for a New American Dream or Global Stewards.

General Reuse and Recycling Information

 

Rummaging through Northern California is a free bi-monthly newspaper promoting resale, surplus and salvage in the San Francisco area.

How and Where to Recycle in Alameda County, San Francisco, Marin County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Contra Costa County, Sonoma County.

In addition to the county resources, many cities provide information and services also. Stanford Recycling Center. City of Santa Clara. Oakland. Berkeley/Albany Reuse Directory. The Berkeley Ecology Center, a fabulous source of recycling information, is located at 2530 San Pablo Avenue, 510-548-2220.

Earth 911 is a great source of recycling information. At this website, you choose from a list the item you want to recycle and type in your zip code, and it will let you know all the nearby places to recycle it.

Stuff Ya' Don't Want has creative suggestions for how to donate or reuse a huge variety of different types of items.

Free Reused Boxes

 

Most stores get hundreds of boxes, every week, that they break down immediately and put in recycling (hopefully). Meanwhile, people who are moving or organizing go out and buy boxes! Well, Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco has the right idea! They put their boxes in a large bin at the front of the store. Anyone who needs them can take their pick. Every few days they do break down the boxes, since they accumulate more than people take, so if you are unlucky to get there after they have done this, the bin may be empty, however, usually it is filled with hundreds of usable boxes of all shapes and sizes. An extremely useful resource!

You can often get reused boxes at Trader Joe's as well. And because TJ's sells so much wine, you can get wine boxes with dividers that make excellent glass packers!

If you know of other places in the bay area that offer boxes, please let me know.

Creative Reuse Centers

 

Scroungers' Center for Re-Usable Art Parts (SCRAP), in San Francisco, is a wonderful place. You can go there to get really inexpensive office supplies (hanging folders, paper, envelopes, pens, etc), arts/crafts supplies, and a huge variety of other things. You can even get binders and hanging folders for free. Anything you pay can be used as a tax writeoff. You can also donate many different materials. See their Material Donation Guide for more information.

The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, in Oakland, is another good source of inexpensive supplies. See their donation guidelines for information about what they accept.

The Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT), in San Jose, accepts a variety of donations and makes the material available to teachers, non-profits, and licensed child care providers.

Not in the San Francisco area? See this nationwide list of Creative Reuse Centers.

Garage Sale Tips

 

If you think a garage or yard sale would be good way to unload some things and make some extra money, this garage sale checklist will help you prepare. The article "Putting on a Better Garage Sale" also gives a lot of useful information.

Selling Online

 

The two most common places to sell stuff online are eBay and Craig's List.

eBay is an online auction where people worldwide can bid on your items. You then ship the item to the highest bidder. Craig's List allows you to create free classified ads that reach people in your geographic area. You can arrange for the buyer to meet you and pick the item up.

Giving to Individuals  

If you are in or near San Francisco, the Really Really Free Market meets the last Saturday of Every Month in Dolores Park. Bring usable items, food, skills and talents to give for the sake of giving. No money. No Barter. No trade. Everything is FREE!

The FreeCycle Network is a fabulous way to give stuff to people in your community who really want it. After you join your local FreeCycle group, you can offer anything by just sending an email. Anyone who is interested in that item will reply to that email. You can choose to do would like to give it to an arranged for them to stop by and pick it up. You can simplify your belongings without even having to leave your house!

You can also use Craig's List to give stuff away as well. Just create an ad in the "Free Stuff" category.

Giving To Schools  

In 2007, a survey conducted by the National School Supply and Equipment Association showed that 94% of teachers spend money from their own pockets to buy classroom materials for their students. The average amount was $395, but for First-year teachers it was $770. If you go to iloveschools.com and type in your zip code, you can find classrooms nearby you that have a need for many different types of stuff. These needs include office and art supplies, as you might expect, but it also includes a variety of other items including chairs, furniture, air conditioners, etc. you can unload unneeded stuff and support your local schools at the same time!

At SproutClassrooms.com, we purchase quality used classroom resources from retiring teachers, teachers who are changing grades, and teachers who are cleaning out their classrooms. Then we put these wonderful resources on our website to allow teachers and parents like you the thrill of finding the items you've always dreamed about - for much, much less than purchasing new.

Giving to Nonprofits  

ExcessAccess and redo.org are websites that match donations with non-profit organizations that can use them.

Charities  

A good place to start is thethriftshopper.com where you can type in your zipcode and get a complete list of thrift stores in your area. Note that the first part of the list that will be presented to you will just be sponsored listings. A lot of nearby thrift stores may not show up on this list. To see ALL listings, you have to scroll more than halfway down the page to the heading that says "All Listings."

DonationTown is a free website that will let you know which charities pick up in your area. You can even schedule a pickup right of their website.

You can always try Goodwill Industries (888-466-3945) or the Salvation Army, but we have had such bad experiences with the Salvation Army that we will never contact them again. We recommend finding a local, smaller charity. Below are some suggestions.

Our favorite charity is Out of the Closet. We have used them countless times and have always been happy with their staff, their stores, and their mission. They have several locations in San Francisco and the East Bay.

Andy found the people at Miracle Ministries to be dependable and courteous. They also make excellent use of the donations they receive. Miracle Ministries Recovery & Transitional Homes, PO Box 7151, Oakland, CA 94601, 510.967.7112

The Emeryville Community Action Program (ECAP) is a food pantry, supplier of clothing, furniture and other household items to the needy. Their staff is totally volunteer, and they depend entirely upon donations in order to distribute food, clothing, appliances, blankets, mattresses, toys, furniture, and other household goods to the needy all over the bay area. They have extremely low overhead—they don't even have a website or an answering machine. 3610 San Pablo Ave., Emeryville, CA 94608, 510-652-8422.

According to Kim C. of SFSmiles, "What we do is collect a wide variety of goods that people no longer want and we redistribute them to local organizations that need them to run their programs or for their clients. We don't sell them; we simply strive to be a convenient resource for donors and to match up the goods where there is the greatest need. We accept: clothing & shoes, food, baby items, furniture, housewares, linens, toys & games, art & school supplies and more. We have a quick response time and can usually pick up the items within a couple days to a week of the request at a mutually convenient time.

Community Assistance for the Retarded and Handicapped, Inc. (CARH) will do pickups for large donations. 510-758-1441 or (800) 660-6426.

The Arc of San Francisco helps with housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so they are always in need for many things that aren't always suitable for thrift shops (e.g. sheets in good condition, radios, tools, appliances).

City Impact and the Rescue Mission Thrift Store accept donations of Jewelery, Music Equipment/Instruments, Housewares, and Clothing. To make donations, please call 415-292-1770.

Fred Finch Association

St. Vincent de Paul. On their website, click "Giving Help" for information about donations.


Where to Recycle, Donate or Sell Specific Items

Antiques  

Most antique stores will do on-site appraisals. One antique dealer whom I've met is Jim Bay, who can be reached in San Francisco at (415) 621-4390.

Appliances: Refrigerators, Dishwashers, Clothes Washers  

Small, working appliances can be donated to most charities or thrift shops.

JACO Environmental will remove older appliances for a fee of $35.00 for the first unit and a small charge per unit thereafter. Call (800) 741-0172 for more information or to schedule a pickup. This program is not a PG&E sponsored program. This is a curbside pick up service. Low-income households may qualify for PG&E's Energy Partners program. If so, PG&E will remove an older refrigerator and replace it with a newer energy-efficient one for free.

Newer appliances (4 years or less) may be donated to Rebuilding Together, East Bay Habitat for Humanity, or Out of the Closet (call to confirm). Out of the Closet may even pick up, depending on the appliance.

Casebar Washers and Dryers will pickup or buy certain models of washers and dryers. Call (510) 548-4419 with the specific make and model to see if he's interested.

Failing everything else, you can arrange with your local refuse company to do a pickup of bulky items up to twice a year. You do, however, need to get the appliance out to the street at the scheduled time.

Art Supplies  

See Creative Reuse Centers.

Also, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula accept art supplies for their projects. Call (650) 322-8065 to see if they can use your offering and find out where to drop off.

Batteries  

Household batteries contain more than 20 toxic substances (including lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, chromium, lithium, copper, manganese, silver, selenium, and corrosive acids). In landfills, heavy metals can leach into the soil and contaminate the groundwater. Over-exposure to these elements can cause a myriad of health problems, including damage to the brain, kidneys and other major organs, as well as contributing to birth defects.

You can take used household batteries to Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco and all Walgreen's stores. See this complete list of places in San Francisco that accept batteries for recycling.

Rechargeable batteries can be taken to any Best Buy or Radio Shack and many Office Depot or Verizon Wireless Stores. For a complete list of places that accept rechargeable batteries, see the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation or call 1-800-8-BATTERY.

Car batteries can be recycled for free at Kragen Auto Parts.

Books  

PaperbackSwap.com lets you trade books (not just paperbacks, also hardbacks, audio books, and textbooks) with other readers nationwide.

Almost any used bookstore will buy used books (look in the phone book), but here are my favorites.

1. Moe's Bookstore, Berkeley. If Moe's can't use your books, they can arrange to donate them to the prison book project.
2. Green Apple Books, San Francisco
3. Black Oak Books, in Berkeley and San Francisco

Extensive list of used bookstores in Oakland.

The Books for the Barrios Project accepts donations of books, crayons, pencils, etc, and sends them to schools in small villages in the Philippines.

The Children's Book Project is always looking for donations of new and gently used children's books (San Francisco, Oakland). They distribute them to teachers and schools. Since we're spending so much money on war, there have been huge cutbacks to school budgets, and many schools aren't able to buy books.

The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library accepts book donations, sells them at their 2 stores, and all the proceeds go to the library.

There are a number of specialty bookstores where you can sell or donate books on a particular topic, for example William Stout Architecture Books.

If the books are not in good enough condition to be reused, they can be recycled. Paperback books can be placed in mixed paper recycling. In San Francisco County, you can remove the bindings of hardcover books and placed the unbound paper in mixed paper recycling. Not so in Alameda County, where you have to take the hardcover books to one of the following book recyclers:

• California Waste Solutions, 10th St., 510-836-6200
• EB resources, 510-419-0294
• Shred Works, 510-729-7110

Building Materials  

Building Resources, a source for reusable, recycled and remanufactured building and landscape materials in San Francisco. And the best place to donate any of these items as well. Highly Recommended! 701 Amador St (close to 3rd and Evans),San Francisco,
415-285-7814.

Caldwells Building Salvage, 195 Bayshore Blvd., San Francisco.

Urban Ore, Inc., 900 Murray Street (near 7th and Ashby), Berkeley.

Ohmega Salvage, 2407 San Pablo Ave. (at Channing), Berkeley.

East Bay Habitat for Humanity Restore, The Reuse People, Both at 9235 San Leandro St, Oakland.

This & That. This place is massive! 1701 Rumrill Blvd., Richmond.

Whole House Building Supply and Salvage, 1000 S. Amphlett Blvd, San Mateo.

Fairfax Lumber, 109 Broadway, Fairfax. They have recently created a building material recycle center where you can drop off items and/or purchase reusable goods.

And specifically for recycling of Metals:

Circosta Iron & Metal, 1801 Evans at Rankin, San Francisco.
Sims Metal Management, at five locations in the Bay Area, including San Francisco and Hayward.

Materials Exchanges are exchanges that match up those who have excess materials, mostly industrial materials from demolition, with those who need them.

California Materials Exchange
MarinMax Materials Exchange
CocoMax (Contra Costa County Materials Exchange)

Cameras  

Many stores that buy, sell and trade used cameras and photographic equipment in Oakland.

Cell Phones  

This nationwide site and Charitable Recycling can help you find a location for cell phone and computer recycling in your area.

Green Phone and Recellular will pay for some recent cell phone models. The rest can be donated.

Recycle for Breast Cancer is no-cost, national recycling program that serves in two ways. It recycles cell phones, ink cartridges, digital camers, PDA's and other items and the proceeds go to breast cancer research. Keep these items out of landfills and support a great cause!

The Wireless Foundation has collection centers all over the country, including San Francisco, Concord, Pleasanton, Palo Alto, and San Jose. Your can also mail the phone to "Call to Protect," 2555 Bishop Circle West, Dexter, MI 48130-1563. They will refurbish the cell phones and provide them to victims of domestic violence.

Stand Against Domestic Violence operates a thrift store and a shelter for battered women. They accept cell phone donations at 1720 Linda Drive in Pleasant Hill. 925-602-0575.

Most Staples, Target, Radio Shack, Verizon Wireless and Best Buy stores will accept cell phones for reuse or recycling.

Cleaning Supplies  

Often homeless shelters will accept donations of cleaning supplies. An example is the Shelter Network in San Mateo County. Cleaning suppies are generally listed on their in kind donation wish list.

Clothes, Linens, Fabric  

Professional clothing can be donated to Dress for Success. They have locations all over. Here are the San Francisco location's donation policies. It is used to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women.

Clean, gently-used coats and sweaters can be donated to OneWarmCoat.org. Find a location near you.

Try a clothing swap! Attend one that's already been organized (see clothesswap.meetup.com, swaporamarama.org, clothingswap.com, or swapstyle.com), or arrange one yourself.

Crossroads Trading Company and Buffalo Exchange will buy good quality clothing, although I've found that these stores are so incredibly particular about what they will take that it's usually not worth the effort (unless you're into hip, trendy clothing). This website lists stores that buy vintage clothing, and Kitty Girl Vintage buys women's clothing only.

Most charities will accept donations of clothing. A great charity to which you can donate women's business clothes is Wardrobe for Opportunity. They provide people transitioning out of homelessness with clothing appropriate for interviews and other professional contacts. For clothing in good condition, try the St. Anthony Clothing and Housewares program.

There are also large green drop boxes that you can drop bags of clothing and shoes into at any time. These boxes are provided by an organization called Campus California TG. To see if there's a drop box near you, call 510-932-3839 or send email. NOTE: This organization is possibly not all they claim to be. Some allege that clothes dropped in the boxes are resold to thrift stores and that CCTG is affiliated with a Danish Organization that has been indicted for fraud.

You can make a tax-deductible donation of fabric and material to SCRAP (see Reuse Organizations, above).

And finally, sheets, blankets, linens, or other fabrics that are too worn out to be donated can be dropped off at the San Francisco SPCA (or probably any other SPCA) to contribute to the comfort of their animals. In San Francisco, the drop off location is inside the Spay/Neuter clinic at 2500 16th Street (between Harrison and Bryant). For more information, call (415) 554-3000.

Computers, Computer Monitors, Computer Peripherals  

To see why computer recycling is important, see "Where Computers Go To Die" or this other article of the same name.

Start Here: mygreenelectronics.org, electronicsrecycling.org, Where to Donate Used Computers and Electronics in the Bay Area, or Computer Recycling in California.

All California Goodwill Thrift Stores will accept computers and computer equipment and peripherals for recycling.

The Alameda County Computer Resource Center (ACCRC) is a nonprofit organization that diverts technological and hazardous waste from landfills. They accept donations of working and non-working computer equipment, phones, and other electronics. Tax-deductible receipts are provided with each donation. They charge a handling fee for some items. Call (510) 434-1325 for details.

Oakland Technology Exchange West accepts working Windows-based computers (386 and above) only.

Computer Recycling Center. Run mainly by volunteers, they have pickup times in Santa Rosa, Santa Clara (408-327-1800), and San Francisco (415-342-2244). Computers are lent out to schools and community non-profits, and the organization provides maintenance as needed to keep the machines in good working condition. The group does ofter to pick-up donations from consumers who give them advanced notice. They charge a handling fee for some items.

The National Christina Foundation (203-863-9100) places donated computers with non-profit agencies that help the disabled or economically disadvantaged. The NCF will match your donation with a local group.

Computers For Schools (800-939-6000) has grown from a small Southern California non-profit to one of the largest computer refurbishers for schools.

You can also contact public schools in your area, as many of them will accept old (but working) computer equipment.

North Bay: Renew Computers in San Rafael.

South Bay: Bay Area Computerman, San Jose, 408-249-4821. Weird Stuff Warehouse, Sunnyvale, 408-743-5650.

More suggestions. Even if the computer no longer works, you can still recycle the CPU at Sims Metal. They will even pay you for it, but only a few cents per pound. They have locations in Hayward 510-471-6600, Richmond 510-412-5300, and San Jose 408-494-4200.

If you are a San Francisco resident, you currently have several options for computer (and other electronic waste) disposal. Computers are accepted for recycling in the Bulky Item Collection program offered through your garbage company. This program is free and available for residents 2 times per year by appointment only. Call (415) 330-1300 to make an appointment.

Unwanted computers can also be dropped off for a small fee at Sanitary Fill Company, located at 501 Tunnel Avenue in San Francisco. They are open Mon-Fri 7-6 and Sat-Sun, 8-4. For more information or directions call (415) 330-1400.

Other computer recyclers as well as charitable organizations that accept donations may also take your unwanted computers. To receive a free Commercial Reuse and Recycling Directory listing all local computer recyclers or donation centers, please call the San Francisco Recycling Program at (415) 554-3400.

This nationwide site can help you find a location for cell phone and computer recycling in your area.

Eyeglasses  

The Lions in Sight Foundation and New Eyes to the Needy are happy to receive donations of eyeglasses that they pass on to those in need.

Food  

Collection bins are located at Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco, the Berkeley Bowl Marketplace, and California Federal Banks in Berkeley. Large donations can be made at the warehouse of the San Francisco Food Bank, at 900 Pennsylvania Avenue (at 23rd), or the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland.

Furniture  

Most charities will accept furniture, but Uhuru House in Oakland specializes in furniture (solid wood only—no particle board). 3742 Grand Avenue, (510) 763-3342.

Greeting Cards  

St. Jude's Ranch for Children has a card recycling program. They accept used cards year-round. Cards can be for any occasion. The children learn entrepreneurial skills receive payment for their work of removing the front and attaching a new back to make new cards that are sold to the public. They currently (2011) have a need for birthday and Thank You cards.

Hangers  

Most dry cleaners are happy to receive any wire hangers in good condition for reuse.

Ink Cartridges

 

Most Best Buy stores have a bin at their front entrance where you can deposit used ink cartridges for recycling. Staples, Office Max and Office Depot Ink Cartridges will give a $3 store credit on certain makes of ink cartridges if you join their rewards program.

Light Bulbs  

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and California law prohibits putting them in the trash. Household Hazardous Waste Facilities, IKEA, Home Depot, and many hardware stores will accept them for recycling. Even though fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, incandescent bulbs are responsibile for releasing more mercury into the environment. Source.

Magazines  

The Berkeley Public Library will accept magazine donations, but only National Geographic and Architectural Digest. In any case, call (510) 981-6144 first to confirm. San Francisco General and other hospitals are grateful to get donations of magazines for their patients and waiting rooms. You can usually drop them off at the front desk.

SF Veterans Administration Medical Center accepts donations of books in good condition and recent (in the last year) magazines. Children's Hospital in Oakland, (510) 428-3471, is especially interested in spanish-language periodicals and magazines oriented toward children and teens. According to a fellow reuse enthusiast, Kaiser Hospital in San Jose accepts donations of magazines. They can be dropped off at the volunteer office in the main lobby. (Thanks, CiCi!)

Mattresses and Box Springs  

In most cases, mattresses and box springs must be in excellent condition in order for them to be reused. Here's a list of places that accept mattress donations. The only other option would be to arrange a bulky item pickup from your municipality. There may be a fee charged.

Medications  

Go to Earth911.com and select Medications (under Hazardous) and type in your zip code for locations near you.

Medical Equipment  

Home Cares Equipment Recyclers accepts donations of usable in-home medical equipment and supplies and makes them available at no cost to individuals in need of these resources. They have locations in San Francisco (415) 487-5405, Oakland (510) 251-2273), Fremont (510) 574-2041, and Marin (415) 388-8198. Call for drop-off times and specific locations.

The CALL Primrose Center in Burlingame accepts wheelchairs, canes, portable toilets, and shower chairs (650) 342-2255.

Music  

Almost any used music store will buy used CD's (look in the phone book). Specifically, you might try Amoeba Music (San Francisco and Berkeley) or Rasputin Records (seven Bay Area locations).

The Groove Yard specializes in soul, blues and world music LPs. The owner, Rick, is "always buying," and will make house calls. 5555 Claremont Ave. in Oakland. (510) 655-8400.

Musical Instruments  

Music in Schools Today accepts donations and provides them to needy young musicians. Oakland Unified School District, (510) 879-8116. UC Berkeley Young Musicians Program (510) 642-2686.

Real Guitars (San Francisco) (415) 552-3310 and Ifshin Violins (Berkeley) (510) 843-5466 will buy guitars and string instruments, respectively.

Other places in Oakland.

Packing Materials  

Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, and most packing materials will be accepted by any UPS Store. Bubble wrap can also be placed in the plastic bag recycling bins found as most major supermarkets, but it's always better to reuse than to recycle.

Or, to find a local business that will reuse your packing peanuts, call the Peanut Hotline at (800) 828-2214.

Paint  

Latex paint can be dropped off at any of these locations. Non-latex paint must be taken to a toxic disposal facility.

Soap, Shampoo, Cosmetics  

Working Essentials was founded in 1996 with the mission of eliminating one of the main barriers to employment for people who are homeless. By providing items such as shampoo, soap, datebooks and haircut vouchers, Working Essentials helps people look more presentable and feel more confident greatly increasing their ability to secure and maintain employment. It's a great place to donate samples and the soap and shampoo that many people pick up during hotel stays.

According to the World Health Organization, the lives of 2 million children worldwide could be saved by simple hand washing with soap and water. Meanwhile, hotels throw out thousands of once-used bars of soap every day. Clean the World and the Global Soap Project will collect these bars and distribute them to countries like Haiti where they can really help control the spread of communicable diseases. Hotels can donate to these organizations, and you can too!

Also, the following local charities will accept donations of soap and shampoo.
Shelter Network, San Mateo County
Building Futures for Women and Children, San Leandro
La Casa de las Madres, San Francisco
Compass Community Services, San Francisco
Homeless Prenatal Program, San Francisco

Shopping Bags  

The best thing to do with shopping bags is to take them back to the store on your next trip and reuse them. You can use the same bag for months! Most supermarkets will give you a 5 cent bag credit for each one you reuse. If a bag gets punctured or is otherwise unusable, it can be placed in the plastic bag recycling bins found in most supermarkets.

Ireland mandated a 15 cent charge for each plastic bag used. When they did this, some merchants reported a 97% drop in plastic bag usage. We support efforts to impose a fee in this country also, because when bags are free, people consume them carelessly. We've all seen the baggers at Safeway use 12 bags to bag 6 items. See this article for more information.

I support legislation to impose a fee for plastic bag use or to ban it altogether. Many people do not reuse or recycle unless given a financial incentive for doing so, and free plastic shopping bags are taken for granted.

Sporting Goods  

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula accept sporting goods for their activities. Call (650) 322-8065 to see if they can use your offering and find out where to drop off.

At Rematch Sports (San Francisco), you can sell sports equipment on consignment.

Play It Again Sports will buy some used sports equipment, but they are extremely selective about what they buy. Their stores usually contain more than 50% new products, so reuse is apparently less important to them. Find a location here.

Here is a list of on line auctions for buying or selling used sports equipment.

Styrofoam  

For styrofoam peanuts, please see Packing Materials, above.

Styrofoam recyclers will only accept clean #6 EPS. This is the white, hard, brittle styrofoam that is used in packing computer and stereo equipment. It will have #6 in the chasing arrows recycling symbol. If it does not have #6 marked on it, it is probably not recyclable.

GB Industrial Materials Corporation (1528 Atlantic Street, Union City, CA, 510-489-0881) accepts block styrofoam for recycling between the hours of 7am and 3:30 pm.

The El Cerrito Recycling Center is the only recycle center I know that will accept styrofoam. They accept only "clean white block styrofoam, no packaging peanuts, no cups or food containers."

Timbron International recycles styroform into building materials. They're at 4331 Pock Lane, Stockton, California. Tel: 209.983.8393. Monday through Thursday, 8-5. You can also mail styrofoam 4th class to them. Because #6 EPS is so light, this normally costs about $3/box.

Televisions  

In general, places that accept computers and computer monitors also accept TV's, so see Computers for the list.

Tires  

See this list of Tire Recyclers.

Tools  

The Tool Lending Center in San Francisco accepts donations of tools.

Oakland's Temescal Tool Lending Library is located at the Temescal branch at 5205 Telegraph Avenue (at Claremont).

Berkeley also has a Tool Lending Library, located at 1901 Russell (at MLK). 510-981-6101.

Toxic Wastes, Household Cleaners  

It's easy to get information on hazardous waste disposal. Click on the county name, or call the number: San Francisco County (415) 554-4333. Alameda County (800) 606-6606. Marin County. San Mateo County (650) 363-4607. Sonoma County.

Toys  

Toys are getting harder and harder to donate. Many Goodwill and Salvation Army locations refuse to accept them. "Out of the Closet" never has. There is only one place I know in the Bay Area that consistently accepts donated toys. Toys are even listed as a needed item on their website. That place is CARH, Community Assistance for the Retarded and Handicapped.

But think ahead! Rather than buying a bunch of toys that your child will get bored with in 2 weeks, and that you'll have to find a way to get rid of, why not save time and money by renting toys? This article has more information and locations. Check it out!

Wigs  

The Wig Source is part of the John Muir Medical Center. They accept wigs (not costume wigs—realistic-looking ones only) and provide them to people with hair loss as a result of medical treatments. This service is provided regardless of where treatment is being received. 1656 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek, (925) 947-5328.

Additional Information  

If you have a question that is not answered in this page or by these links, feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to try to answer it. Also, if you have additional information you feel should be included here, please let me know.

Disclaimer  

Although every effort is made to keep this page accurate, due to the huge amount of information presented here, it is possible that some of it may become out of date or otherwise incorrect. If you see information that is inaccurate, feel free to let me know.

 


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