Donating and Recycling in the San Francisco Bay Area

Donation Guidelines:
​

• • Call a charity/organization or refer to their website to confirm current needs, as requirements & needs do change.
• • Contact a local school. Most are grateful for craft and office supplies, electronics, and disposables.
• • Be thoughtful - wash clothing, dishes and linens prior to donating.
• • Check into local and small re-sale shops; American Cancer Society Discovery Shops are an example.
• • Join an online local group to giveaway items directly to those who can use or resell them.  Freecycle.org. TrashNothing.com or Nextdoor.com

Places to donate items you no longer need or want

BATTERIES

• Batteries Plus Bulbs - San Jose (small quantities)
• Ace Hardware - (bagged by types)
• Target - container by Guest Services
• CVS Pharmacy (small amounts - rechargeable batteries only) 
• search.earth911.com

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BEDDING AND LINENS

Note: New Pillows (standard), Towels, Full and twin sheet sets. Some household items/kitchen (gently used/new)

• Family Supportive Housing
• familysupportivehousing.org - 692 N. King Rd.,408-926-8885
• Cityteam Community Services www.cityteam.org (Heritage House, Men’s Shelter, House of Grace)
• Sacred Heart Community Services
• sacredheartcs.org - 1381 So. First St. 408-885-9071
• Sarah Care - including small new gifts, decorations 450 Marathon Dr., Campbell 408-374-2273
• Lifemoves.org - breaking cycles of homelessness.  locations in San Jose  (check website for details & locations)

Bedding, towels (all new) cookware, diapers, toiletries: 

• Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence nextdoor.org

​Also basic toiletries(new) new undergarments adult diapers:

• HomeFirst homeless services
• www.homefirstscc.org  - please call for current list 408-539-2112
• Lifted Spirits - 4th St. Presbyterian Church SJ - inc plastic utensils, openboxes/not used
• Cityteam Community Services - www.cityteam.org - 1-888-cityteam

bikes

• HopeBikes (Hope Thrift)
•      3100 Alfred St., Santa Clara, & 2306 Almaden Rd.
• Good Karma Bikes - good condition 
•      460 Lincoln Ave. (will take old/rusty for a fee of $20/per)
• Sacred Heart Community Service - adult bikes
•      1381 So. First St., 408-885-9071

books

• Local libraries - Friends of the Library sales
• Savers, Salvation Army, Goodwill, HOPE Thrift, RAFT*
• *limited number - must be boxed, RAFT good condition children’s books

building materials

Will also take: Appliances (not all) in excellent condition and less than 7 years old, lighting/ceiling fans, furniture

• Habitat for Humanity Restore www.habitatEBSV.org/Restore
  • 1130 Duane Ave, Santa Clara
  • 1608 Plumas Ave, San Jose
• Rebuilding Together
  • 1701 South 7th St. Unit 10 - email  (kevin@rebuildingtogethersv.org) with list of materials

craft materials

  Clean fabric, paper, gift wrap and more

• FabMo www.FabMo.org
• Raft  - 1160 Kern Ave., San Jose  Raft.net (new condition arts/craft materials)

disposable or paper products

Plates, napkins, flatware, Kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels

• Lifted Spirits - 4th St. Presbyterian Church SJ - open boxes/not used are OK
  
• ​Most schools will also take this for their staff rooms.

electronic waste

Cell phones, small home appliances, electronic components, computer related

• Goodwill (no fee)
• Green Mouse Recycling – (no household small/large appliances)​ www.greenmouse.com - 529 Race Street, San Jose
• HHW.org or  SmartStation in Sunnyvale
• Savers - TVs, Laptops, Monitors, CPUs only

​

eyeglasses

• ​LensCrafters - all locations
• DeAnzaLions.net - multiple locations

flags

• American Legion     www.Legion.org 
• SV/Monterey Bay Council (Boy Scouts) - Good Condition 408-638-8300 - 970 W Julian St. (M-F 9-5)

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fluorescent light bulbs

• Ace Hardware - Los Gatos
• Batteries Plus Bulbs - San Jose
• HHW.org - make an appointment for drop off

FOOD (NON PERISHABLE)

• Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara

    4001 N.First St., San Jose - shfb.org

• FISH Food Pantry  5100 Camden Ave SJ  http://www.stlcsj.org/fish/

GENERAL DONATIONS

Clothing, furniture, portable appliances, power tools, sewing machines, electronics, TVs, Home decor, dishes, knick knacks, bedding/towels

• Salvation Army  800-728-7825 for pickup service

    www.salvationarmysiliconvalley.org/santaclara

• GoodWill - drop off only

   www.goodwillsv.org/donate-goods/

• Savers Thrift Shops - Almaden Expwy in San Jose
• Hope Thrift, 2306 Almaden Rd *closed Mondays

      pick up 866-636-6238  

hazardous waste:

Mercury Thermometers, Chemicals such as solvents, paint, pesticides, adhesives and more

• HHW.org  Thurs-Saturday

    - You must schedule a drop off appointment online

homeless and Low Income items

Gently used blankets, sleeping bags, coats, travel size toiletries, clothing, diapers (Adult and Baby)

• Sacred Heart Community Service  sacredheartcs.org

1381 S 1st St    San Jose, CA 95110   (408) 278-2160

• Cityteam.org - 1-888-cityteam

Elastic waist clothing, Twin sheets, towels, soap

• ​ HomeFirst homeless shelter   2011 Little Orchard St, San Jose, open 24/7
  
  

DOWNLOAD FULL GUIDE HERE

INK CARTRIDGES

• Office Max sign up for free/if a member receive credit on account
• Cartridge World 1-2 at a time/originals only
• Staples free service/if a member receive credit on account

mattresses

• Goodwill - discard fee of  $20/ per mattress at any drop off location. 
  
  • Free at main plant - Monday through Saturday 8:00-3:00     
  •        1080 North 7th Street
• Salvation Army www.satruck.org (good condition - online pickup)
• Byebyemattress.com (local recycling facility list)
  
  

**If mattresses are new - please contact local charities listed above**​

Also try giving away on Craigslist.com

medical equipment

• Heart of the Valley  ServicesForSeniors.org    408-241-1571 Takes walkers, wheelchairs in good condition/limited storage. Call first. 
• Campbell Community Senior Center* -walkers, wheelchairs call first 408-866-2146
• Yu-Ai-Kai Senior Center in Japantown* - canes, walkers, safety items Call first 408-294-2505, 588 N. Fourth St., San Jose  *limited space*
• Savers Thrift Stores  Almaden Expressway)  San Jose​

medication

 Remove all personal info

• CVS locations - drop off box near pharmacy
  
• Drop off locations can be found at  dontrushtoflush.org/ 
• Wellness Pharmacy - 14777 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos
  

office supplies

• Savers - Almaden Expressway , San Jose

 free home pickups 866-636-6283

• Hope Thrift - 4950 Almaden Expressway, San Jose
• Check with your local High School or Elementary School main office - most will gladly take these!

packing peanutes, bubble wrap

• UPS stores

paint

 NOT SPRAY CANS

• Paintcare.org (full list of drop off locations)
• Ace Hardware - Los Gatos
• Most Kelly Moore and Sherwin-Williams stores

pet items

 Gently used/clean towels, blankets

• Humane Society of Silicon Valley  

    901 Ames Ave,   Milpitas, CA 95035

New: food, toys, pet carriers etc

• Most local veterinarians or other animals shelters

Humane Society

shredding

• Red Dog Shred    
  • 720 Curtner Ave., Campbell - reddogshred.com - $8 per banker box​
• Office Max & Staples stores - $ .99 per lb 
• Green Mouse - 529 Race St., San Jose - $7.50 per banker box -  greenmouse.com

wire hangers

Dry Cleaners – typically all

women's professional clothing

Suits, jackets, skirts, pants, blouses, accessories, shoes (new, gently used clothing with hangers). 

• Dress For Success 504 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035, USA

    https://sanjose.dressforsuccess.org/

• Sacred Heart  - “Career Closet” ​ 1382 S. 1st St., San Jose      sacredheartcs.org

recycling

Check the County/City lists on this page, as well as:
​

Information on how/where to recycle ​

recyclestuff.org

Visit your city’s site for local details

sccgov.org

Additional resources:

Uplift Family Services

Bay Area Wish List

• Gift cards: We especially appreciate gift cards because they empower families to maintain dignity and provide for their own children.
• Family board games (Sorry, Life, Clue, Monopoly, etc.) for multiple players and a wide variety of ages
• Sporting goods: basketball, football, soccer ball, volleyball, kickball, plush balls
• Duffle bags in neutral colors (no red, blue, etc.) .black and grey are good
• School supplies and backpacks in neutral colors
• MP3 players (non-iPod) for $40 and under
• Art supplies for kids of all ages and abilities
• Journals in masculine and feminine colors
• Infant toys
• Musical instruments like used guitars, keyboards, drum pads, etc.
• Action figures, Barbies, Bratz dolls, remote control cars and airplanes

No stuffed animals or books please.
As a non-profit organization, there are some items we cannot accept as in-kind. Some items like large furniture can’t be accepted for space reasons. If you wish to give something unusual, such as art or office equipment, please contact Darren DeMonsi, at (408) 364-4058 or ddemonsi@upliftfs.org.

MORE RECYCLING RESOURCES