Donation & Recycling Resources
Decluttering your home not only creates a more organized and stress-free environment but also provides an opportunity to give back to the community and protect the environment through responsible recycling and donation. In King County, Washington, numerous resources are available to assist residents in decluttering and ensuring that unwanted items are disposed of or repurposed responsibly. Below is a comprehensive guide to help you navigate these resources.
Tips for Responsible Donations and Recycling
Assess Your Items: Before discarding, determine which items can be donated, recycled, or need proper disposal.
Research Accepted Items: Each donation center or recycling station has specific guidelines on what they accept. Review these guidelines to ensure your items are suitable.
Schedule Pickups When Necessary: For larger items or bulk donations, consider scheduling a pickup service offered by many donation centers.
Prepare Items for Donation: Ensure that donated items are clean and in good condition to be reused by others.
Stay Informed: Recycling guidelines can change. Regularly consult King County's resources to stay updated on best practices.
By utilizing these resources and following the tips provided, you can effectively declutter your home while making a positive impact on the community and the environment. Responsible decluttering and recycling not only enhance personal living spaces but also contribute to a sustainable and supportive community.
If this overwhelms you, we can help! Our team takes care of all trash, recycling and donations from your project. Taking away donations is what most our clients say is the best part of our service. Send us a message and let’s discuss how we can support you in your organizing goals!
Arts & Crafts
Seattle ReCreative – Accepts donations of gently used art and craft supplies, including fabric, yarn, paint, and more. They repurpose materials for creative reuse programs.
Baby & Children
WestSide Baby – Accepts gently used baby and children's gear, including clothing, strollers, and car seats (less than six years old).
Kidvantage – Donations of new or quality used clothing, shoes, baby gear, toys, books, and more help to fill nearly 4,000 orders of essentials for children and expectant moms each week.
Mary’s Place – The Mary’s Place mission is to ensure that no child sleeps outside by centering equity and opportunity for women and families.
Books
King County Library System – Accepts donations of gently used books for their fundraising book sales.
Seattle Public Library's Friends of the Library – Accepts used books, audiobooks, and DVDs for resale in their bookshop.
Little Free Libraries – A great way to pass along books in your neighborhood by adding to a registered free library box.
Clothing & Textiles
Evergreen Goodwill – Evergreen Goodwill operates multiple donation centers across King County, including in Seattle (Ballard and Capitol Hill), Burien, and Edmonds. They accept a wide range of items, from clothing to household goods.
Helping Hands – strives to help underserved people locally, in Peru, and worldwide with the goal of providing opportunities and services for those in need so they can be self-sustaining, transform their lives, be empowered, and hopeful for their future.
St. Vincent de Paul of Seattle – For over 100 years, St. Vincent de Paul has provided critical aid to underserved and vulnerable populations throughout the Puget Sound Region. They accept donations of various items to support their mission.
The Salvation Army – Proceeds are used to fund adult rehabilitation centers, where those struggling with drugs and alcohol find help, hope, and a second chance at life.
Threadcycle - Textile Recycling – King County has textile donation locations and programs at various recycling and transfer stations, including Bow Lake, Cedar Falls, Enumclaw, Factoria, Houghton, Renton, Shoreline, and Vashon. Textile collection bins are in the main recycling area at each station and are free to use. Accepted items include clothing, shoes, and linens
Value Village/Savers – Accepts used clothing and textiles and partners with local nonprofits.
Electronics & Batteries
Before disposing of your electronics, be sure to delete all personal data and perform a factory reset.
E-Cycle Washington – Free recycling for TVs, computers, monitors, tablets, and e-readers at locations across King County.
Call2Recycle – Accepts rechargeable and single-use batteries at various drop-off locations, including Home Depot and Lowe’s.
Total Reclaim – Recycles a variety of electronics, including printers, cables, and audio/video equipment.
Best Buy & Staples – Accept cell phones, tablets, and accessories for recycling at all locations.
Electronics & Batteries
E-Cycle Washington – Free recycling for TVs, computers, monitors, tablets, and e-readers at locations across King County.
Call2Recycle – Accepts rechargeable and single-use batteries at various drop-off locations, including Home Depot and Lowe’s.
Total Reclaim – Recycles a variety of electronics, including printers, cables, and audio/video equipment.
Best Buy & Staples – Accept cell phones, tablets, and accessories for recycling at all locations.
Food
Hopelink – Each center offers specific foods based on the cultures of the clients who attend and what the center is able to purchase through monetary donations.
Canyon Hills Community Church Food Bank – Serving residents of Bothell, Lynnwood, Kenmore and Mill Creek and Northshore School District families.
Furniture
The Arc of King County – Accepts furniture donations to support individuals with disabilities.
Habitat for Humanity Stores – Accepts gently used furniture, appliances, and home goods for resale to support affordable housing projects. Free pickup is available for larger items.
Hazardous Waste/Cleaning Supplies
King County Disposal facilities – N. Seattle, S. Seattle, Factoria, & Auburn
Traveling Wastemobile – at a convenient location near you for select dates only
Musical Instruments
Music4Life – Collects and refurbishes musical instruments to donate to school music programs in Washington.
DonorsChoose – A platform where teachers request musical instruments and other classroom materials. You can donate directly to a local school project.
Ted Brown Music – Accepts donations of used musical instruments for resale and school donations.
Seattle Piano Recycling – Saving pianos from being junked.
Paint
Paint Care – Search the directory for a site near you.
Recycling and Transfer Stations
King County operates several recycling and transfer stations where residents can responsibly dispose of or recycle unwanted items:
Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station – Located in Bellevue, this station provides recycling services, garbage disposal, and hazardous waste collection. Hazardous waste drop-off is available Tuesday through Sunday.
Houghton Recycling & Transfer Station – Serving the Kirkland area, this station provides recycling services and garbage disposal. Ensure to verify the accepted materials and hours of operation before your visit.
Ridwell – Recyclable and reusable stuff, picked up from your doorstep.
Shoreline Recycling & Transfer Station – This facility offers recycling services and garbage disposal. It's advisable to check the hours of operation before arriving.
What do I do with? - King County guide to disposing of items
Sports Equipment
Play It Again Sports – (Lynnwood, Bellevue, Kent) – Buys and resells used sports gear, including bikes, baseball gloves, and exercise equipment.
Seattle Adaptive Sports – Accepts used adaptive sports equipment for individuals with disabilities.
REI’s Re/Supply Program – Buys and sells used outdoor gear, including camping and biking equipment.
Additional Resources
King County's Recycling Guide For items that may not be accepted at the aforementioned donation centers or recycling stations, King County provides a comprehensive recycling guide to help residents find appropriate recycling options.
Jessica is the founder of Signature Organizing, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Washington (servicing the greater Eastside and Seattle area). She loves transforming chaos into functional spaces and is known for bringing creative solutions to improve the quality of life for her clients. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @signatureorganizing
