Decluttering? Here’s where you can donate your pre-loved items in WA
If you’re about to move home or are in need of a declutter, save your unwanted things from landfill by selling, swapping or donating them instead.
Decluttering before a move means you won’t waste time packing things you no longer want or use. That means fewer boxes, more space and a fresh start at your new home with things you’ll actually need, use and enjoy.
Check out our suggestions on what to do with your pre-loved goods below.
Towels and bedding
Check if your local animal shelter or vet requires towels or blankets to make the lives of animals in their care more comfortable.
If there aren’t any takers, you can donate any brand of your pre-loved quilt covers, sheets and towels to a Sheridan Boutique or Outlet store as part of their Recycling Program, and it will be made into recycled yarn and repurposed into new products. You’ll just need to wash them first.
Sports shoes
The Australian Sporting Goods Association and recycling partner Save Our Soles run a national initiative called Tread Lightly that recycles tired, unwanted sports shoes to give them new life. Learn more and find your nearest collection site.
In-store textile recycling programs
Clothing retailers H&M and Zara have garment collection programs for clothing or textiles of any fabric from any brand, which they reuse or recycle. Some of these programs also accept household linen, footwear, accessories and even jewellery.
You can also arrange for Upparel to collect a box of clothing from your home for a small fee. Check out their brand partners to see some of the rewards offered when you book a collection directly through a brand.
Patagonia will accept the return of any of their gear for repair or recycling through their Worn Wear program.
Always check your favourite brands to see if they offer any repair or recycling programs.
Work clothes
Donate your clean, gently used, nearly-new professional attire to Dress for Success. The charity empowers women in need of economic independence by providing a network of support, professional clothing and the development tools to help them thrive in work and life.
Books
Books can be some of the more challenging items to let go of. The best thing to do is to give them a new home where they can enrich the lives of others.
- Share-A-Book is a program run by the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation. It provides new and quality pre-loved books to Indigenous, refugee and marginalised communities in need of resources.
- Save the Children accepts quality books that help raise funds to support programs in Perth and overseas.
- Books ‘n’ Boots is a charity that brings books into the homes of First Nations families.
- Aboriginal Literacy Foundation accepts donations of new and used children’s books delivered to Indigenous communities throughout Australia.
- Street Library Drop off your books to your local street library for all to love.
Join your local Buy Nothing group and ‘give where you live’
You may have seen Buy Nothing groups popping up on Facebook. They are a great way to reduce waste and recycle items that you don’t need by giving them to someone in your local community. Learn how to find your local group at the Buy Nothing Project.
Other household items
- Paintback – Drop off unwanted paint and packaging, diverting it from landfills and vital waterways.
- Fair Game Australia – Donate your pre-loved sports equipment to some of the most remote and under-serviced communities in Australia.
- Little Things for Tiny Tots – The volunteer-run charity accepts new and pre-loved essential baby items to WA families in need.
- Soft Landing Mattress Recycling – A national social enterprise that collects and recycles mattresses to keep waste out of landfill and create jobs for people experiencing barriers to work.
- Terracycle – Free recycling programs for various waste streams from used toys and electric toothbrushes to wetsuits and cosmetics and electric toothbrushes.
- Give Write – Drop off new or used school stationery at various collection points around Perth.
- Officeworks – Offers recycling facilities for various materials, including e-waste, mobile phones and stationery.
- Toys for Joy – Big W now offers a toy recycling program including old, broken toys. Donate your toys at your nearest Big W.
Charity donations of essential items
- Happy Boxes Project – Empower women in remote communities in Australia who struggle to access everyday necessities.
- #ItsinTheBag – An annual drive by Share the Dignity encourages you to put together bags with essential items to donate to someone in need for Christmas. Collection points for bag donations will be located in Bunnings stores around November each year.
Local charities
Other recycling directories
- Waste Sorted: A waste authority program
- Planet Ark: Find a recycler near you
- GiveNow: A community directory
Make your move with Kleenheat
Take the stress out of moving house with quick and easy options for staying with or signing up with Kleenheat. Learn more kleenheat.com.au/moving-house.