Out With the Old

New Year’s is a time to say, “Out with the old, and in with the new,” but what DO you do with all the old stuff?  There are a lot of options for responsible ways to repurpose or recycle the items you want to get rid of — without sending them to the landfill.

If Santa brought you some new kicks, it’s time to go to your closet and sort out the old shoes you’re not wearing any more.  You can donate unused or gently worn shoes to Soles4Souls.  They partner with women’s shelters, veterans’ organizations, children’s programs and schools to get shoes and clothing to those who need it most.  There’s even a little something in it for you too!  You can drop off your donated shoes to DSW shoe stores and they will apply 50 points to your DSW VIP account!

Did you take advantage of Black Friday sales to purchase a new laptop?  Or are you like many people who have a small collection of old electronics gathering dust and hiding in closets?  You can donate working or non-working laptops, desktop computers, iPads, tablets, cell phone, and many other items to Tech for Troops, located in the Richmond area.  They will wipe your data and secure hard drives before recycling usable parts or redistributing working electronics to Veterans in need.  Here’s a full list of what they will accept for donations.  If you live in the Shenandoah Valley, ALC Recycling is dedicated to keeping computer and electronic waste out of landfills.  They even offer free pick-up.

In addition to dropping off old electronic equipment, Best Buy offers haul-away options for a small fee if you purchase a large TV, appliance, or fitness equipment; or you can order stand-alone pickup for a fee even if you didn’t purchase something from them.  Yes, it will cost you a little bit of money, but just imagine the space you’ll gain if you get rid of that exercise bike or treadmill in your bedroom, or that old freezer in your garage!  The units are responsibly recycled by licensed, third-party recycling partners.

Maybe you rearranged your furniture, or purchased a new dining room set in anticipation of resuming family gatherings?  You can donate your old furniture to ReStores, which are nonprofit home improvement stores that directly support local Habitat for Humanity efforts.  There are more than 20 ReStore locations across Virginia (find yours here) that accept donated material from building contractors, manufacturers, and the general public.  You can even shop their inventory of new and gently used goods that are available at a fraction of the retail price.

These are just a few organizations that will help you rid your home of unused items in a way that will make you feel good about the organizations you help, or just knowing that you’re doing what’s right for the environment. That’s a win-win for all, and a great way to start off a new year!