Pass it on

Still good or worn out, it doesn’t belong in the landfill.

Programs change, so check what a place accepts before you drop anything off.

Still good? Give it away.

A clean hoodie with a logo on it is still a warm hoodie. Donation centers take branded clothing like any other.

Donate it

Goodwill Donation centers and thrift stores. Search by ZIP code.
The Salvation Army Drop off at a thrift store, or schedule a free pickup.
Planet Aid donation bins Clothing and shoes, in 14 states.

Give it to a neighbor

Post it, and someone nearby claims it. No shipping, no store.

Buy Nothing Local gift groups, in the Buy Nothing app or on Facebook.
Freecycle Free giveaway groups in about 5,300 towns.

Shoes and small stuff

Soles4Souls Takes shoes and clothing, so the conference sneakers count.

Notebooks, pens, and tote bags: ask a local school, library, or shelter first. Teachers go through a lot of pens.

Worn out? Recycle it.

Stained, torn, stretched out, or dead? Thrift stores can’t use it, but recyclers can.

Clothing and bags

Old tees, fleece, and bags can become insulation, rags, or new fiber.

Earth911’s recycling locator Search by material and ZIP code.
Retold Recycling Paid mail-in bags that take any textiles, even scraps. No drop-off needed.
Trashie Paid mail-in bags for clothes, shoes, and accessories, no sorting needed. You earn rewards back.

More places

Some clothing retailers, like H&M and American Eagle, have in-store bins that take any brand.

Many cities and states run their own textile programs, so check your local recycling site.

Electronics and batteries

Never in the trash. Batteries can start fires, and electronics contain materials that shouldn’t go to a landfill.

Best Buy Most U.S. stores take electronics. Small rechargeable batteries in California and New York only.
Staples Free in-store recycling for most tech, including chargers, cables, earbuds, and keyboards. Printers, monitors, and batteries cost extra in some states.
The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle) Free battery drop-off at stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Staples.

More places

e-Stewards recycler locator Certified electronics recyclers, including consumer drop-off sites.
The EPA’s electronics donation and recycling directory

Everything else

Bottles, mugs, notebooks, and lanyards follow your local recycling rules. Staples also takes backpacks, bags and luggage, and pens.

Local to us (Connecticut): Helpsy has clothing bins across the Northeast, plus home pickup in some towns when you have three bags or more. The state keeps a textile reuse and recycling page.

Before you let it go

Wash it. Donation centers want clean clothes.
Empty the pockets. Old badges and keycards go back to the company, not the bin.
Company laptop or phone? That’s not swag. It goes back to IT.
Wipe your own devices. Sign out and reset anything with an account on it before you recycle it.

Or keep it after all: unswag it, or swap it.