Hear more about where to donate household items on the House of Lou podcast.
You’ve decluttered the house and created piles of items, from books to outdated technology, that you can no longer use. Now what? How do you off-load that large sectional and where on earth do you dispose of an old computer or harddrive? As you decide what to keep, what to sell, and where to donate, hold onto this list for those hard-to-unload items, including furniture, electronics, and books.
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Where to donate furniture
Home Sweet Home
10 Sunnen | 314-448-9838
Home Sweet Home accepts donations of new and gently used furniture and household items to help their clients set up new living spaces. Items must be clean, fully functional, and in good condition. Stop by the organization’s Maplewood warehouse between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, to drop off items. Home Sweet Home accepts donations the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to noon. If your items are too large to move, request a pickup through the website. Items moved to an outdoors location are free. A payment of $35 is required for the delivery of donations to the first floor. Consult homesweethome.org for a list of acceptable items.
Miriam Switching Post
292 Hanley Industrial Court | 314-962-6059
Clean, gently used or new furniture and household items are accepted for donation at the Miriam Switching Post’s store in Hanley Industrial Court. The organization offers free pick up and walk-in donations are accepted Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the rear of the building. Drop-off furniture donations require advance notice. Text Bob, donations manager, at 314-308-2221 to schedule your drop off.
St. Vincent DePaul
Various locations throughout St. Louis | 314-881-6000
The Society of St. Vincent DePaul accepts furniture donations at one of their nine thrift store locations around St. Louis. Donation hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. All furniture donations must be in good, working condition and free of breaks, stains, rips, and pet hair. To schedule a donation pick up, call 314-881-6006 or e-mail [email protected].
Ditto
10027 Manchester | 314-394-2026
Ditto is a non-profit family resale shop that partners with eight local Christian schools to operate the store. All donations should be dropped off at the back of the Warson Woods store between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The store accepts gently used home decor and furniture. For a full list of accepted items, visit their website. To schedule one of their monthly furniture pick-ups, call the store at 314-394-2026.
The Salvation Army
Multiple donation sites and drop boxes throughout St. Louis | 314-646-3000
With donation sites throughout the St. Louis area, it’s easy to give to The Salvation Army. Visit their website or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK for a list of drop-off locations and operating hours, and/or to schedule a pick up. Donations are sold at the organization’s Family Stores and proceeds are used to fund the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers.
Where to donate or sell books
Goodwill
Multiple donation sites throughout St. Louis
With more than a dozen locations in the St. Louis metro area, Goodwill accepts donations of hardcover and paperback books, records, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and more. Donation times vary by location. For specific location and drop off information, visit goodwill.com.
The Greater St. Louis Book Fair
Clayton, Richmond Heights, South County, West County, and Maryland Heights | 314-993-1995
Drop off books, records, CDs, DVDs, comics, and ephemera 24/7 at one of The Greater St. Louis Book Fair’s four drop box locations around St. Louis: Clayton, Richmond Heights, South County, and West County. Or, opt to schedule a drop off at their Maryland Height warehouse by calling 314-993-1995. The organization accepts only new or gently used and clean items– they do not accept donations of moldy, dirty, written in, defaced, or damaged items.
Half Price Books
University City, Chesterfield, St. Charles
With three locations in the St. Louis area, Half Price Books offers a convenient way to make pocket change in exchange for your books, printed or recorded merchandise, and some software. The company only buys merchandise in-person and offers cash on the spot. Offers are based on the condition of merchandise as well as the demand. Government issued ID is required for selling and anyone 18 or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Ready Readers
10403 Baur, Ste. H. | 314-564-8070
Ready Readers welcomes donations of new or gently used books for children, from infant to age 12. They accept board books, picture books, and chapter books. They cannot accept activity books, workbooks, coloring books, or books with a religious theme. Donations can be dropped off at Ready Readers headquarters located in Olivette, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment necessary.
Upcycle Treasure Box
5628 Gravois | 314-791-0269
This South County store accepts donations of books, records, CDs, DVDs and games that are then sold, by the pound, to teachers, artists, and others in the creative community. The store is open Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday and Monday by appointment only. Check Upcycle’s Facebook page for more details.
Where to sell or recycle electronics
MRC (Midwest Recycling Center)
636-223-0150
MRC offers multiple recycling events throughout the year in conjunction with St. Louis County government offices. For an upcoming list of events and to find one near you, visit their website. No reservation is required to attend an event and most electronics can be recycled for free, however, there is a fee for some items, including tube TVs ($30-$50), flat-screen TVS ($20), and printers and copiers ($5). MRC maintains a zero landfill policy and the proper destruction of hard drives and the data contained on them are guaranteed. For businesses and large pickups, call 636-223-0150.
Spectrum ECycle Solutions
1521 Page Industrial | 314-428-0777
Drop off electronics in Olivette Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. There is a $150 fee for home pickup in the St. Louis Metro area, in addition to any recycling fees. Pickups are scheduled Monday through Friday on the hour between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Most items are free to recycle but there are fees associated with some items, such as LCD/LED computer monitors, tube TVs, flat-screen TVs, and printers.
Schillers Camera
9420 Manchester | 314-932-5899
Schillers will buy used cameras, lenses, and other gear in good working condition. For a full list of items, log onto schillers.com. In general, however, the shop will buy mirrorless bodies and lenses, as well as digital SLRs and their lenses. If selling gear outright, customers will receive a check from Schillers; if using old gear to trade up to new items, customers will only pay taxes on the difference in cost, amounting to a savings of almost 10 percent. A valid and current state-issued ID is required for all transactions.
Phoenix Solutions
312 Sovereign | 314-968-3650
Phoenix Solutions offers residential and commercial data destruction and recycling. Smart phones, tables, tablets are triple wiped or go through a physical shred to ensure data is secure. For residential clients, Phoenix Solutions accepts most items with a base rate of $.50 per pound. Some one-off items, such as tube TVs and computer monitors, treadmills, and microwaves can be recycled for $1/pound. No appointment necessary. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residential pick up is available for a minimum charge of $300, which includes a $150 transport fee and $150 toward recycling.
Arch City Technology
6746 Romiss | 1-877-898-6526
Arch City provides recycling and data destruction for laptops, harddrives, cellphones, and tablets. Drop off is available Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Arch City accepts most items, including laptops, PCs, servers, and network equipment at no charge. Fees apply for certain items, such as flatscreen computer monitors ($5), flatscreen TVs ($10) and other electronic items ($1/lb). No appointment necessary.
