As individuals declutter their closets or garages, some will donate their discards to charities, believing that every little bit helps. However, studies show that a significant portion of donations don’t reach their intended recipients, as they are discarded.
An astonishing 84% of donated clothes – let alone all other discarded clothing and textiles – end up in landfills or incinerators, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. But it’s not just clothes; many well-meaning donations saddle nonprofits with unnecessary sorting and disposal costs.
Today, we’re going to take a look at 16 common donation items that are frequently discarded and why it’s essential to try recycling things differently.
Torn or Stained Clothing
Loony nonprofits cannot afford to mend damaged goods, and can you seriously sell filthy, ripped clothing? The truth is that the vast majority of our clothes can be reused or repurposed if we recycle them, and no one wants these items to end up in landfills. EPA says that 69million tons of all clothing and textiles in the US can be reused or recycled, yet 85% of them end up in landfills each year.
Instead, consider textile recycling programs. These programs transform old or damaged clothing into fibers, which can then be used to create new products, thus keeping them out of landfills and giving them a second life.
Expired or Unusable Items
By law, nonprofits cannot distribute items that have passed their expiration date, so they often have no other option but to discard these goods. However, there’s the fact that many nonprofits have very specific rules about what they’ll accept.
To handle these kinds of donations, many nonprofits have a gift acceptance policy. Such policies enable organizations to prevent unwanted materials that cannot be used or require disposal at a cost from entering the organization.
Damaged Furniture
Furniture with missing pieces, water damage, or excessive wear would need repairs that few charities can afford. Roughly 12.1 million tons of furniture and furnishings were generated as municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018, which comprised 4.1% of total MSW generation, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Used Mattresses
Many charities cannot accept them due to hygiene and regulations regarding the dangers of bed bugs. The MRC “Bye Bye Mattress” program has been a key part of mitigating the problem.
The program has recycled more than 8 million mattresses and foundations since its launch in 2015, diverting over 500 million pounds of material from landfills.
This makes a strong case for even better and more convenient mattress recycling programs. Such campaigns and programs can be the answer to reducing landfill use among communities, as they raise awareness and provide support to achieve this goal.
Non-Functional Electronics
Old TVs or laptops may be among the electronics that require proper disposal as e-waste. All kinds of e-waste from around the world amount to approximately 60 million tons annually, and less than 20% of this is recycled in an environmentally responsible manner, according to reports. Do not donate broken electronics, as they will incur disposal costs.
E-waste, if mismanaged, can lead to the release of toxic substances such as lead and mercury, with potentially detrimental impacts on human health and the environment. To help minimize these risks, individuals should seek out certified e-waste recyclers that can guarantee safe and sustainable processing.
Outdated Books
Many nonprofits struggle to dispose of outdated textbooks, encyclopedias, or worn-out novels. Books are thrown away in their millions every year because nobody wants them, says Better World Books. The company has saved more than 450 million books from landfills by selling, giving away, or recycling them.
Donating books to local libraries, schools, or literacy programs can give them new life and also brighten the worlds of others. In addition, waste books can be treated by specialized recycling facilities to produce raw materials that have value, such as paper and binding materials.
Expired Food
Donating expired or open food creates unnecessary health hazards. The food waste in the US is estimated at approximately 92 billion pounds per year. At the same time, we continue to face hunger issues. Only donate food in its original packaging, unless it is individually marked.
Be sure to check expiration dates and inspect the packaging of food to ensure it meets safety standards before donating it. You can limit waste and provide quality assistance to others by being mindful of what you give.
Shoes in Poor Condition
Shoes with excessive wear, holes, or unpleasant smells do not have resale value and are often discarded. The footwear industry contributes to the world’s waste problem – each year, over 300 million pairs of shoes are discarded.
Put them into a specialized shoe recycling program for sneakers instead. The shoe industry is contributing to a global waste problem, with Americans discarding over 300 million pairs of shoes annually, and more than 95% of these shoes end up in landfills.
Old Makeup or Toiletries
Nonprofits cannot take used makeup or even half-used toiletries due to health and expiration concerns. Unused, unopened cosmetics are the most valuable donations, according to Project Beauty Share.
Used makeup applicators, such as beauty blenders and brushes, can harbor germs and microorganisms if not properly disinfected. One study found that reusable sponges, such as beauty blenders, can be challenging to completely disinfect, thereby increasing the risk of exposure to harmful bacteria.
Broken Toys
Toys are among the most frequently donated items, but broken or incomplete toys are often discarded. Figures suggest more than $1.5 billion of toys are thrown away worldwide every year. Repair the ones you can, and give away only those in great shape.
This not only reduces waste but also ensures that donated clothes can be fully appreciated by the children who receive them. Additionally, look out for toy recycling programs to minimize the environmental impact.
Analog TV Sets
As the country transitioned to digital broadcasting in 2009, analog TVs have essentially been rendered obsolete, with no source of entertainment. Charities struggle to deal with such products, which are rarely resold. E-recycling programs are tailored for older items.
Through efforts such as these, valuable components, metals, and plastics can be harvested and reintroduced into the cycle of metals and plastics without requiring virgin materials. Secondly, it helps prevent hazardous substances, such as lead and mercury, from entering the environment.
Large Kitchen Appliances
You don’t need old dishwashers and refrigerators. Even if they still work, Salvation Army, Goodwill, and Habitat for Humanity won’t take them off your hands because they would require servicing to resell.
Charitable organizations typically pay for them to be hauled away, which can strain their budgets. Upcycle or recycle these instead. Many recycling programs will take these and ensure they’re broken down responsibly, with the metal and wiring reclaimed.
When consumers purchase new appliances, manufacturers or retailers may also offer take-back programs, providing convenient and environmentally friendly options for disposing of the old ones.
Promotional Items
Water bottles, mugs, or keychains with logos of any kind are typically not items that nonprofits can resell. A large proportion of promotional products, at 79%, are thrown away after events and meetings.
Only 21 percent of branded and promotional items are retained, according to a 2019 study conducted by the Advertising Specialty Institute. Over half are given away, and 23% are thrown out.
Cribs or Car Seats
Safety laws and recalls make it difficult for nonprofits to resell cribs or car seats. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some of the strictest crib standards in the world, and our cribs are held to those standards.
This crib was manufactured after June 28, 2011, and only at that time will the new crib standards apply. These guidelines comprise specifications for slat width, corner posts, and mattress support systems to mitigate the risk of entrapment and suffocation.
Old or Bulky Curtains
Thick, outdated curtains do not align with modern design trends and, therefore, are difficult to remove. In the UK, 22 % of home textiles end up in the residual waste stream; a tiny proportion is recycled or repurposed for use.
These curtains can be donated to textile recycling systems, where they are reused in new products, such as insulation or padding. Better yet, repurpose them into decorative (albeit smaller) objects, such as pillow covers or tote bags, to prolong the use of your fabric.
Key Takeaways
Well-intentioned gifts can do more harm than good. And when charities are inundated with unusable items, the disposal bills add right up to the 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste generated annually in the US, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Instead, donate responsibly by determining what your local charities truly need. When in doubt, look for specialized recycling programs, upcycling the material at home, or contacting organizations that process unusual items.
By giving this way, you’ll get more out of your gifts and help charities in their mission to do their best work. Always stick to the golden rule of donating: If you wouldn’t wear it, then chances are the charity can’t either.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
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Do you have a kitchen hack we should know about?
