Sustainable Donation Guide
Updated: Apr 27
Have you ever found yourself at the charity shop unloading bags and bags of belongings you no longer need, when you suddenly think ‘where does this stuff end up?’
Charity shops may not always be the best option for our unwanted stuff, but often they are the first and only option we consider. And our obsession with stuff is causing charity shops to spend millions on sending unsaleable items to landfill. So, how do we become better at finding new homes for our unwanted belongings?
First up we need to understand that rehoming or repurposing an item is a more sustainable option than recycling. Recycling requires more resources to process the materials into a new product. And recycling is a business. If there is no demand for that material, it will not be recycled.
Charity shops are also a business. They require goods in a saleable condition. If you wouldn’t give that t-shirt to a friend, don’t give it to the charity shop. Also consider the seasons. A beach towel is more likely to sell in summer, and a heater more likely to sell in winter.
Items that wouldn’t be accepted by a charity shop may find a home within your neighbourhood through gifting groups like Buy Nothing, local groups like gardening clubs, organisations for people in need such as refugees, or even preschools and playgroups.
Always check accepted donation lists and guidelines. These vary between organisations, stores and even due to stock levels.
Due to restrictions during COVID-19 many charities are not accepting donations. Please call and check prior to dropping off donations. If possible, the most sustainable thing to do is to hold onto your unwanted goods until a time when they can be donated appropriately for reuse.
This guide will help you rehome, repurpose or recycle your unwanted belongings.
Give in your local community applies to almost every category listed below and there are so many online groups available to serve this purpose. Try Buy Nothing, Gum Tree, Freecycle, Ziilch or Facebook Marketplace.
BABY/KIDS
St Kilda Mums (Melbourne)
Mums Supporting Families in Need (Melbourne)
Mummies Paying It Forward (Sydney)
Local Facebook Mum's groups
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops
Check accepted donated item lists and guidelines, especially on items like car seats, strollers and cots
BATTERIES
Batteries should never be put in the recycling bin or in your waste bin
Donate at ALDI, Battery World, Office Works - some stores
BEDDING/TOWELS
Local Animal Shelters and Vets
Local Mechanics who can use for rags
Sheridan Stores for quilt covers, sheets and towels
BOOKS
Local second hand bookstores, Brotherhood Books, Footpath Library, Street Library
BOOKS (children)
Local preschools, schools, doctors offices and children’s hospitals,
123 READ 2 ME (Victoria)
The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation
BRAS
Uplift Bras - also collects women’s swimwear, new underpants and fabric nappies. Local Intimo consultant may also accept donations
BICYCLES
Bikes 4 Life collects, restores and provide bicycles to the most marginalised & impoverished communities around the world
The Bike Shed (Melbourne) - also offers repair education service.
Back2Bikes (Melbourne) - also offers repair education service and provides recycled bikes for people in need.
BUILDING/PLUMBING SUPPLIES
Habitat ReStore (Victoria) - check accepted donated item lists and guidelines
CARDBOARD MOVING BOXES
Give in your local community: Buy Nothing, Gum Tree, Freecycle, Ziilch, Facebook Marketplace
CDs & DVDS
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops - for unscratched discs
Office Works - for recycling
CLEANING PRODUCTS
Detox Your Home events (Melbourne)
House Chemical Cleanout (Sydney)
FoodBank accepts unopened cleaning products
CLOTHING/SHOES/HANDBAGS/ACCESSORIES/JEWELRY
Fitted for Work, Wear for Success, Dress for Success accept business attire and accessories to clothe people searching for employment
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops
SCR Group, KING Cotton and other textile recyclers for clothes, socks, underwear not suitable for donation
H&M, ZARA & ManRags take clothing back for recycling
Local consignment stores for high quality classic and on trend pieces
Sell on EBAY, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, also look for Facebook BUY/SELL groups for dedicated brands
COMPUTERS
Computer Bank refurbishes computers and offers to disadvantaged individuals and community groups
Asylum Seekers Centre refurbishes laptops, tablets and smartphones for asylum seekers to study, look for work and contact family overseas
National Television & Computer Recycling Scheme
CONTACT LENSES
Terracycle collections points
CRAFT MATERIALS
Local preschools and kindergartens - they may also take items like egg cartons and toilet paper rolls
ELECTRICAL GOODS - small
(toasters, radios, dvd players, etc)
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops - check your local store for accepted donations
GIVE NOW - to locate organisations assisting refugees, unemployed and homeless
ELECTRICAL GOODS - large
(TV’s, computers, white goods, etc)
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops - check your local store for accepted donations
GIVE NOW - to locate organisations assisting refugees, unemployed and homeless
E-WASTE
If it has a plug, battery or cord – it’s e-waste.
ALL e-waste is banned from landfill in Victoria
Australia Wide drop off locations
FOOD
Check your local area for drop off points at supermarkets, council offices and churches
FoodBank (Australia) - also collects unopened toiletries & household cleaning products
Compost out-of-date food where possible
FURNITURE
Refugee or women's shelters are often in need of furniture - search your local area
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops -check your local store for accepted donations, and for collection information on larger items.
Habitat ReStore (Victoria) - check accepted donated item lists and guidelines
GAMES & TOYS
Local Toy Library, Children’s Hospitals, Preschools & Schools and Doctors Offices
Second Chance Toys (Sydney)
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops - check your local store for accepted donations
GARDEN TOOLS
Tool Libraries, Schools, Community Gardens and Garden Clubs
GLASSES (prescription)
Recycle for Sight - collection points at Specsavers stores
HOMEWARES/KITCHENWARE
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops
LIGHT BULBS
Recycling Near You (Australia)
MAGAZINES
Local Hairdressers, Cafes, Doctor Offices and Retirement Homes
MATTRESSES
Bed Collect and Soft Landing collect mattresses for recycling
Your local council may collect as hard waste, but you will need to check if they recycle
MEDICINE
RUM - Return Unwanted Medicine program
You can return prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal or complementary supplements, gels, liquids, or topical creams to your local pharmacy
MOBILE PHONES
GIVE NOW - to locate organisations assisting refugees, unemployed and homeless
Mobile Muster to recycle your handset
OFFICE ITEMS
Green Collect accepts an array of office supplies including: stationery, small electrical, floppy disks/dvds/vhs/batteries/light globes, document trays/magazine racks, whiteboards, shredders, letterhead, paper and envelopes
PAINT
Paintback diverts unwanted paint and packaging from ending up in landfill and vital waterways
PLASTIC GARDEN POTS
Local schools, community gardens or garden clubs
Garden stores and plant nurseries may accepts pot return
SPORTING GOODS & SHOES
Shoes for Planet Earth - collection points around Australia and New Zealand
Victorian Save Our Soles is a Victorian initiative to recycle sports shoes at selected shoe stores including Rebel Sports.
Boots for All (Victoria) - collection boxes available for those not located near a collection site
Fair Game (Western Australia)
Boots For Africa - collecting pre‐loved football boots and delivering them to children and young adults across Africa
STATIONERY
Green Collect - accepts stationery items, such as tape dispensers, pens, pencils, sticky notes, highlighters, rubber bands, erasers, hole punchers, letterhead, paper and envelopes. They also resell items in good condition
Salvos, Vinnies, Savers, RSPCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence and local charity shops
Office Works and Terracyle have collection points for pens & markers
TEXTILES
Boomerang Bags accepts leftover quilting fabric, doona covers or pillow cases and turns them into reusable shopping bags
TOILETRIES - (unopened)
Share the Dignity, Pinchapoo, The Beauty Bank, FoodBank
AUSTRALIA & VICTORIA RESOURCES
Victoria - Sustainability Victoria
Australia - Recycling Near You
Australia - Op Shop Listing find a charity shop near you
Australia - Refugee Council has a database to locate organisations collecting goods
Australia - GIVE NOW find a not-for-profit to donate your pre-loved items to
WORLDWIDE RECYCLING RESOURCES
USA - Earth911
UK - Recycle Now
Are you trying to rehome, repurpose or recycle something that’s not listed here? Comment below and I’ll look for a solution.