Sustainable Decluttering Resources

Not sure if your decluttered clothes are op shop worthy? Or maybe they are simply stained, ripped, old try textile recycling.

There are multiple options in Australia.

Our favourites are:

1. Upparel

2. Sheridian

3. H&M

Read the blog "Recycling Your Old Clothes In Australia – H&M vs Manrags, what you need to know"

Upparel also have a Campaign program, you can be a Change Champion for your school, business or community and run a recycling sock drive.

Brotherhood Books offer free pick for 8 – 25 boxes of books in some areas.

If you are decluttering a library, this is a great solution!

Learn how to donate at bsl.org.au/our-range/books/.

Save Our Soles is a Victorian Sports Shoe Recycling Pilot Program who have partnered with sports retailers to recycle the rubber, leather and other fibres from sports shoes. There are over 100 collection locations across Victoria.

How does it work?

Drop off at a New Balance, Converse, Globe, rebel, Adidas, ASICS, SportsPower and JD Sports (click here for listing). The reusable component will be extracted and used to manufacture new products such as gym mats, floors and playgrounds.

Visit asgasosinitiative.com.au/ for details.

UPLIFT is an Australian based organisation who ship bras and new underwear to our neighbouring Asian countries including Fiji, Solomon Islands,  Tonga,  Indonesia, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cambodia,  Kashmir & Papua New Guinea.

They accept:

• Bras in good condition, they can be particular about sizing (so check online) (ideally 8-16, AA-DD cup in good condition, including crop top styles. Size 18+, A-DD cup ( 40+ / 90+ ))
• Nursing bras including crop tops, ANY condition
• Mastectomy Bras and Breast Forms (prostheses). These go straight to hospitals and are in high demand!
• Swimwear, any size. Swimwear is great for keeping warm if you are standing in the water fishing
• Underpants, new. In some places, a girl without underpants does not go to school during her period.
• Fabric Nappies, second hand or new.

Visit their Facebook page and website for collection points.

St Kilda Mums is a Melbourne based organisation with a mission to reduce landfill and support those in need. 

Their warehouse in Clayton accepts drop-offs, or for $45 they will arrange courier/pickup.

They can rehome:

• Activity Mats and baby gyms (washed)
• Baby food
• Baby towels
• Bassinets (some)
• Baths 
• Blankets
• Books
• Bottles and breastfeeding equipment
• Breast pumps
• Change tables
• Clothing
• Cot Linen
• Mattress protector
• Nappy bags
• Cloth nappies
• Kids shoes
• Playpens
• Stationary in good condition
• Some prams
• Quality good condition towels

Click here for full list

Fitted For Work provide services for women returning to work, including interview preparation & work wardrobes.  If you have quality items to donate this is the place!

The team at Fitted for Work say the golden rule is…if you wouldn’t wear it to work today, then our clients wouldn’t wear it.

They are looking for:

• Jackets and Coats
• Pants
• Skirts
• Tops and Blouses
• Modern suits
• Shoes
• Handbags
• Scarves
• Jewellery
• Underwear and garments (new with tags)
• Stockings
• Socks
• Make-up
• Deodorant
• Body wash and soap
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Hair brushes, ties and clips
• Make-up brushes and applicators

Excess craft?  If you have a lot of art supplies to sell CraftSwap is the place for you.

This online meetup is the ideal place to sell and buy unused supplies.

Visit craftswap.com.au for details.

Melbourne only

There is a Resource Rescue in Bayswater & if you have a lot of supplies he will pick up.

Animal shelters are the perfect place to donate a range of items. See below for a list of the most commonly accepted items.

Contact your local animal shelter to confirm the drop off location. Or click here to visit the RSPCA donation site.

Most shelters will accept

• Blankets
• Towels
• Sheets
• Polyester doonas
• Pillowcases
• Face washes
• Pet beds
• Kitty litter
• Treats and pet food (sealed)
• Laundry and dishwashing detergent
• Toys (for cats and dogs!)
• Pet bowls
• Scratching posts
• Collars and leads
• Dog coats
• Puppy pee pads
• Playpens
• Pet crates
• Pet carriers
• Clamshell pools
• Baby gates
• Baby bottles
• Newspaper

Call to confirm if can accept:

• Pillows
• Cushions
• Mattresses
• Feather doonas
• Kennels
• Wooden hutches
• Electrical items
• Opened food or treats
• Very large or very small bird cages
• Shredded newspaper

Terra cycles is a world-leading recycling company. Whether it’s coffee capsules from your home, pens from a school, or plastic gloves from a manufacturing facility, TerraCycle can collect and recycle almost any form of waste. 

Check out terracycle.com for details

It is easy to keep mobile phones out of landfills with Mobile Muster’s recycling program. Visit mobilemuster.com.au for your nearest drop-off location.

OfficeWorks offers a range of electronic recycling such as keyboards, cables and more. Visit Officeworks Recycling for details (note what can be recycled do vary between stores, yet the majority take printer cartridges).

Most electronics including TVs, old computers and appliances can be recycled through your local council. Visit your local RecylingNearYou or PlanetArk for dropoff.

If you are buying a new TV, Harvey Norman will recycle your old one.