If you’re into spring cleaning, you may have taken the opportunity to go through all those tech devices, books, old clothes, and other detritus that has piled up over the years. Or perhaps you’ve upgraded a bunch of your possessions recently and have suddenly realized you don’t have room for the stuff you’ve replaced. Whatever the reason, if you’ve got bags of tech, clothing, books, and other stuff that you need to get rid of, you want to get rid of them responsibly. Where do you go from here?
As you must know by now, just dumping it isn’t an option. Reusing and recycling old and unneeded stuff has become an important aspect of the push to preserve the world’s environment. Many states and urban areas are mandating the recycling of tech, metals, paper goods, or other substances, but even if you live in an area where the law doesn’t require it, you probably don’t want to add more to the world’s trash.
The problem is finding how and where you can get rid of your stuff with the greatest advantage to you and the least amount of damage to the environment. This may have been more difficult than usual over the past few years because many resources for recycling were suspended during the pandemic and some were slow to come back — or never did. However, there are still a number of online services that can help you figure out how to responsibly get rid of things — and possibly make some money in the process.
Here are some sites to check out, depending on what you want to dispose of and how you want to do it.
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Tech
You may be wondering what you can get for that years-old iPhone.
Planning to buy a new phone or laptop? Before you make the purchase, check out any manufacturer trade-in deals that are available for your Macs, Android phones, and other devices. If you don’t like the offer from the vendor, you can sell your tech. There are online vendors that will take your used device off your hands and give you something for it. Decluttr, for example, will give you a tentative quote on your phone or tech. (It also takes CDs, DVDs, games, consoles, and books.) You can also sell through a service like Swappa, which charges the buyer, not the seller, a fee. Best Buy also has a trade-in program, although payment will come in the form of a gift card.
You can also give it to charity. There are several programs that give computers to people or organizations that need them. For example, Computers with Causes passes tech on to individuals who need them; World Computer Exchange sends refurbished desktop and laptop computers to schools, libraries, community centers, and universities in developing countries; Bridging Tech donates computers to housing-insecure children, and Globetops lets you choose who will get your refurbished laptop using online descriptions (or you can just donate your tech and let Globetops decide). As with any charitable institution, it’s a good idea to check them out before giving. (There are several charity info sites online.)
If you’ve got tech that is so old that nobody wants it, then it’s time to dispose of it — in an environmentally conscious way, of course. In fact, if you just throw away your computer or TV set, you may be breaking the law, depending on where you live. According to a 2018 article written for the National Conference of State Legislatures, “25 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation establishing a statewide electronic waste, or e-waste, recycling program.”
If you live in an urban area, chances are there’s some kind of recycling program that’s available (or even mandatory). In many cases, stores that sell electronics will also offer recycling (occasionally for a fee); all you have to do is bring your stuff to the store. Best Buy, for example, will recycle up to three devices per trip (with some restrictions); it also has a mail-in service (but you have to pay a nominal fee). Staples has a recycling program for a wide variety of tech devices. Or you can try Earth911 to find the nearest recycling center. However, always check directly with the center or store before you go; hours and what they will handle can change quickly.
Disposing of batteries safely can be a pain. Call2Recycle can help you find out where to drop off that bag of batteries you’ve been accumulating and also offers shipping services. If there aren’t any facilities within reach of your home or office, Cirba Solutions’ WeRecycle (formerly BigGreenBox), will dispose of it for you — but not for free. Prices begin at $44.95 for a box that will hold up to 12 pounds of batteries.
Unfortunately, if you’re still holding on to your parents’ old BlackBerry PDA or Commodore 64 in the hopes that you can donate it to a museum, don’t. Several years ago, there was a chance you could ship old, interesting devices to one of a number of tech museums. But most seem to have disappeared, and any that may still be around aren’t accepting anything but cash contributions. The Computer History Museum website says it’s implementing a new database, so you may want to check back at some point to see if it’s accepting donations again.
Clothing
You can donate gently used clothing to charitable organizations.
You can divide clothing sites into three categories: ones that handle the latest stylish and expensive clothing and jewelry; ones that handle major middle-level brands; and dealers in traditional discount leftovers.
At the high end are consignment companies that act as go-betweens for those who want to sell designer clothing, jewelry, and other valuable objects and those who want to buy them. Some, such as The RealReal, authenticate all of the products that are sold through them after you ship your clothing to the company. Others, such as Rebag and Vestiaire Collective, assess the products via photo. Most only take recent fashions, so they are not where you go to get rid of that jacket that’s been hanging in your closet for 10 years. However, if you’re the kind of shopper who buys the latest styles every season, these may be where you want to sell and buy. A side note: if you have business clothing that you no longer wear, there are a few organizations that accept office wear in good condition for people who are job hunting. For example, there is Dress for Success for women.
For less upscale clothing, you can try sites like Thredup, which handles thousands of major brands; you send your gently used clothing directly to the service, and if it accepts (and sells) your clothing, you can choose from cash or credit from either Thredup or an associated retailer.
If you want to get rid of your older clothing, you may find it a bit harder than it used to be. Many charities that used to accept worn or outmoded clothing have become pickier, partly because the business of reselling old clothes overseas is waning. In addition, savvy consumers are becoming wary of the omnipresent drop-in clothing bins since many actually belong to for-profit companies. If you can’t make it to your local Goodwill store, one place to try is Vietnam Veterans of America. Its website will let you schedule a pickup (assuming it services your area). GreenDrop has limited locations in various states where you can drop off clothing and household goods. Give Back Box encourages you to use the box your new clothes were shipped in to send your old stuff to a charity of your choice; the site provides a prepaid shipping label for $20.
Books
How can you deal with your piles of books? Photo by Andrew Liptak / The Verge
Books made of paper rather than pixels are still around, and if the piles are getting too high for your home, then you probably want to get rid of them. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for getting rid of old books responsibly.
First, consider donating your books. Many charitable organizations accept gently used books and will either sell them to raise funds or distribute them to those in need. Some popular options for book donations include Goodwill, The Salvation Army, local libraries, and community centers. You can also consider donating books to schools, hospitals, and prisons to provide educational resources to those who may not have access to them.
If you’re looking to sell your books, you have several options. Online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay are popular choices for selling used books. You can list your books individually or in bundles and set your own price. Another online platform for selling books is BookScouter, which compares prices from different book-buying websites and allows you to sell your books to the highest bidder.
If you prefer to sell locally, you can try selling your books at a used bookstore or holding a garage sale. Used bookstores typically offer cash or store credit for books in good condition. Garage sales can be a fun way to sell a variety of items, including books, to your local community.
If you’re not interested in selling or donating your books, you can always recycle them. While not all recycling centers accept books, many do. Look for recycling centers in your area that accept paper, and check their guidelines for book recycling. Keep in mind that recycling centers may require you to remove any non-paper elements from the books, such as the covers or bindings.
In conclusion, getting rid of your tech devices, clothing, books, and other belongings responsibly is crucial for both the environment and your own peace of mind. By exploring the various options available, you can ensure that you’re disposing of your items in a way that benefits others and minimizes waste. Whether you choose to sell, donate, or recycle, taking the time to find the right solution will have a positive impact on both your immediate surroundings and the world as a whole.
