handing a small package to postal worker

4. Miscellaneous Household Items

Many common household items, including furniture, propane tanks, and ceiling tiles contain finite resources and take up a lot of space in landfills. The following programs accept a variety of goods and help make new products, such as running tracks from shoes or hairpieces for people with medical hair loss.

  • Armstrong World Industries Ceiling Tile Program
    Lancaster, PA 17604
    (877) 276-7876
    www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-us/performance/sustainable-building-design/ceiling-recycling-program.html
    Ceiling tiles
    This company recycles mineral fiber ceiling tiles. Shipments must be pre-approved before mailing. Please call for a representative in your area and more detailed instructions.
  • CEMCO Cylinder Disposal
    Auburn, NY 13021
    (315) 253-2886
    www.cylinderdisposal.com
    Propane tanks
    This mail-in program specializes in the complete recovery of the remaining contents and the recovery of propane cylinders and tanks. Please call to schedule a shipment or drop-off and for pricing information.
  • Crazy Crayon Recycle Program
    721 Village Rd
    Pelican Lake, WI 54463
    (720) 226-4889
    https://crazycrayons.com/crayon-recycle-program/www.crazycrayons.com/recycle_program.html
    Crayons
    This recycling initiative takes unwanted or broken crayons and recycles them into fresh, new crayons. It accepts all crayons, ideally with their wrappers intact.
  • Educational Assistance Limited
    Glen Ellyn, IL 60138
    (630) 690-0010
    www.inventorydonations.org/
    Computer donation, computer monitors, household furniture, household item donation/reuse, office furniture, reusable appliance donation, scrap metal, tools
    EAL helps turn excess or outdated inventory and gently used equipment into college tuition for financially disadvantaged students. It also accepts donations of cash, securities, and other valuable assets. If you wish to donate inventory or services to EAL, the first step is to download, complete, and fax the inventory form on the website, so EAL can determine if donations meet the criteria. In most cases, the donor pays shipping costs, which are tax deductible.
  • Lamb Awards Recycling Program
    Westminster, MD 21157
    (410) 876-1444
    www.lambawards.com/recycle.html
    Trophies, plaques, medals, sculptures
    Lamb Awards will either donate matching sets to charities in need or break the trophies down for parts. Please visit the website before sending in trophies. The sender is responsible for shipping expenses.
  • Lions In Sight Recycling Program
    1404 Lemon Street, Vallejo, CA 94590
    (707) 648-2306
    www.lionsinsight.org/
    Glasses
    Lions In Sight is dedicated to bringing basic eye care and eyeglasses to a world of people in need. Please place your eyeglasses in a box with tissue or newspaper and mail them in or find a community collection box.
  • Matter of Trust Hair Recycling Program
    San Francisco, CA 94114
    (415) 235-2403
    https://matteroftrust.org/donate/matteroftrust.org/
    Hair, fur, feathers, fleece
    Matter of Trust takes hair and fur clippings and uses them to make fiber mats to clean up oil spills and water in storm drains. Please visit the website to register and obtain the address.
  • New Eyes For the Needy
    Short Hills, NJ 07078
    (973) 376-4903
    https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/NewEyesfortheNeedy/donate.htmlhttps://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/NewEyesfortheNeedy/donate.htmlwww.new-eyes.org/recycle-1/
    Glasses
    New Eyes for the Needy is a nonprofit charity that purchases new prescription glasses for impoverished residents of the U.S. and recycles donated eyeglasses for distribution to economically disadvantaged people in foreign countries. This program accepts reading glasses and sunglasses. Please call for proper mailing instructions, and include your return address inside the package so that this organization can send an acknowledgment.
  • Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Program
    3552 Avenue of Commerce
    Memphis, TN 38125
    (800) 344-6453
    https://www.nike.com/retail/?features[]=Reuse%20-%20A%20-%20Shoe&latitude=&longitude=&page=1&storesPerPage=15&term=reuseen-gb-help.nike.com/app/answer/article/reuseashoe-faq/a_id/60721/country/eg
    Shoes
    This program accepts any worn-out athletic shoes that don’t contain metal. The materials are then repurposed into high-performance athletic surfaces and playgrounds. Visit the website for the shipping address or use the drop-off location in most Nike stores.
  • The Bra Recyclers
    Gilbert, AZ 85297
    (480) 988-2283
    www.brarecycling.com/
    Bras
    The Bra Recyclers repurpose gently-used bras and give them to people in need. Please wash the bras, fill out the Bra Recycling Form on the website, and print a shipping label.
  • The Pen Guy Recycling Program
    Forestville, CA 95436
    www.penguyart.com/
    Pens, markers, highlighters, mechanical pencils
    This program takes used pens and turns them into artwork. Please visit the website for more information.
  • FundingFactory.com
    Erie, PA 16507
    (888) 883-8237
    www.fundingfactory.com
    Cell phones, inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges
    This program offers a fundraising opportunity to schools and nonprofits. Please call or visit the website to receive your welcome kit containing a sampling of available postage-paid boxes. FundingFactory awards points for the collected items that can be redeemed for cash.
  • Office Depot Ink & Toner Recycling
    (800) 463-3768
    https://www.officedepot.com/cm/services/ink-and-toner-cartridge-recyclingwww.lasersave.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=20&chapter=0
    Inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges
    Office Depot 1,300+ locations accept ink and toner cartridges for recycling. Just visit a location near you and go to the checkout line to drop your used cartridges.
  • Recycle Rewards
    Erie, PA 16507
    (888) 336-9181
    www.rrewards.com
    Cell phones, inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges

    Recycle Rewards is a program designed to make fundraising simple, educational, ecological, and profitable. Recycle Rewards remanufactures cartridges, saving resources. Please visit the website to obtain a free shipping label.

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