Editorโs Note: Always try posting still-usable items to the Facebook groups MV Stuff for Sale and MV Free Items or checking to see what our local second-hand stores will accept (see our list of those in our Handbook.)
Check out our Universal edition of How to Get Rid of (Almost) Anything for off-Island or mail-in options. We know thereโs plenty we havenโt yet covered (weโre working on it!) so please tell us what weโre missing. And if you know of a way to get rid of it, please share it with us at [email protected].
For ways to get rid of items on Martha's Vineyard, navigate with the links below.
Appliances
Sure you can turn to the Facebook group MV Stuff for Sale your still-has-some-life-left-in-โem fridges, freezers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners, but for those that have nothing left to give, check out the Environmental Protection Agencyโs Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD). Select โMassachusettsโ in the RAD Partner Locator to find who partners in your area that will dispose of these appliances in an earth-friendly way.
Antifreeze
Unopened, antifreeze can last forever and opened, it can be used for up to eight years. However, if you need to recycle a bottle of antifreeze, plenty of auto parts shops accept certain car fluids, so ask your local shop!
Rechargeable Batteries
Marthaโs Vineyard Refuse District offers four drop-off locations in Edgartown, West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah. There is a special container at each of these facilities where residents can leave their rechargeable batteries. The facilities then transfer battery waste to Fall River to be recycled. The great news โ dropping off your used rechargeable batteries wonโt cost you a dime!
Books
We are huge fans of Little Free Libraries, where you can drop off or pick up your latest read. But if itโs time to purge your personal library and it requires more space than a little house on a pole offers, then try:
- Chicken Alley will take some books (call for guidelines)
- Your local library (call ahead; there might be special dates or guidelines)
Bras and Undergarments
It can take over 200 years for textiles to decompose in the landfill. Instead of sentencing your old bras to that slow death, give them a new life by sending them to The Bra Recyclers. This organization accepts old bras and donates them to women in need, including survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, women who are homeless or living in poverty, and women struggling with medical expenses, such as breast cancer survivors. Bra Recyclers sends usable bras to these women, and will recycle unusable bras โ so feel free to donate your bra even if it isnโt in pristine condition.
Planet Aid and I Support the Girls also accept new and/or gently used undergarments to provide to folks in need.
Subset and SuperCircle collaborated to create a recycling program for old undergarments that can earn you up to $25 off of your next purchase with Subset. Gather at least five laundered undergarments in any condition that you are ready to part ways with, pack them in a box or container from home, and use the free shipping label provided by Subset to send them off. You will receive $25 in credit for your next purchase and your old undies will earn a second life as furniture padding, insulation, and more.
Car Seats
Itโs worth checking with Community Services (or Chicken Alley or Second Act) to see if theyโll accept your still-working car seats. Target hosts a bi-annual car seat trade-in event where guests can bring in any type of old car seat and receive a 20% off coupon to be used toward select baby gear. These events are typically held on Earth Day in the spring and once more in the fall. During these events, drop-off boxes for the old seats can be found near Guest Services in-store at any Target throughout North America. Materials from your old car seat will be used to create new products such as buckets, carpet padding, and more.
CDs, DVDs, and More
Greendisk will supply you with shipping materials so you can send in your outdated techwaste. They will properly recycle and dispose of CDs, DVDs, VHS, audio cassette tapes, and more.
Christmas Decorations
When your holiday decor has exhausted its merry-making for you, they might still have life in them to deck someone elseโs halls. For holiday decor thatโs still in working condition, donate to Chicken Alley or Goodwill.
Lights contain glass, plastic, and copper, and those components can therefore be recycled. Take your no-longer-working holiday lights to big off-Island hardware stores, such as Loweโs, Home Depot, and Ace.
Coffee Pods
While the greenest coffee pod is the reusable one, makers of disposable coffee pods are recognizing that people want the convenience without the guilt. Consequently, some companies, such as Nespresso, are offering recycling options. Keurigโs K-Cups and Tassimoโs T-Discs are recyclable in your municipal stream but you must peel off the foil top and empty out any coffee grounds before putting them in the bin.
Cold Gel Packs
Food subscription services are rising in popularity, and while they can be a sustainable choice, they can also leave you with an excess of cold gel packs. Donate excess packs to the MV Food Pantry. If not, cut open your cold pack and remove the goo inside of it. Let the goo dry out before throwing it in the trash, and allow the plastic wrapper to dry before recycling it.
Contact Lenses, Blister Packs, and Other Eye Care Products
Terracycleโs Bausch + Lomb One by One free recycling program offers thousands of drop-off locations for your used lenses and blister packs. You can also send in other eye care products including eye drop packaging and contact lens containers with Terracycleโs Biotrue Eye Care free recycling program. Send in your unused lenses and solution to the non-profit, youth-founded organization DonateContacts, where they will redistribute the donations to folks in need who match the same prescription.
Denim
Let Blue Jeans Go Green transform your old denim into creative new products, from insulating material for building efforts to pet bed inserts to thermal insulation used in sustainable food and pharmaceutical packaging.
Disposable Razors, Blades, and Packaging
Terracycleโs Gillette Recycling Program offers free shipping labels to send in razors, blades, and plastic packaging. Albatross sends its customers an envelope with every order that customers can send their used safety blades in as a part of their recycling program; they also accept other brands of razors. If you use a straight-edge razor, simply collect the blades in a recyclable metal container and recycle them with your tin cans and other metals.
Earbuds and Headphones
Whether they are run down from blasting music or they were accidentally washed with the laundry, earbuds and headphones are a common e-waste item. Best Buyโs Electronics and Appliances Recycling Program will recycle them for free, accepting three items a day per household. Apple will send you a prepaid shipping label so you can send in your old headphones to be recycled. Many manufacturers including Sony and Bose will take back their earbuds and headphones to be refurbished or recycled.
Electronics
You might be done with your old laptop, but it can still be of use to someone. The nonprofit Computers with Causes accepts old tech items and donates them to students, foster children, shelters, disabled US veterans, and a number of other causes. World Computer Exchange is another nonprofit that will donate your unwanted tech items to people in need. Also, tech companies like Apple will typically offer trade-in deals when you shop for new tech.
If youโd like to get some cash for your electronics, sell them to Decluttr or through Amazonโs trade-in program, which will give you Amazon gift cards in return. If youโre looking for more options, check out SellCell, a site that compares buyback companies and helps you find the best deal.
E-Waste
If your electronics are well and truly of no use to anyone, ensure that they get disposed of properly. Best Buy will accept three items daily at its stores. Goodwill has partnered with DellReconnect to recycle e-waste at any of its 2,000 locations. Staples will take your e-waste for free, and also recycled ink and toner cartridges. Or send your items to Amazon (via a free mailing label).
Fur Coats
The fur industry is on the decline, and awareness of the animal cruelty behind the once-chic fur coat has spread. You might not be shopping for these pieces anymore, but if you have an old fur coat gathering dust, there are organizations ready to help. PETA, for one, is taking these remnants of a brutal industry and turning them into something positive for those in need. Mail your unwanted fur to PETA, and they will donate it to the homeless or refugees.
Furniture, Building Materials, Appliances
Habitat for Humanity accepts these new or gently used items, including furniture, household appliances, and building materials.
Greeting Cards
St. Judeโs Ranch for Children will accept greeting cards โ used or new ones that you just never got around to sending. Children at the hospital will attach new backs to the cards to create new cards, which St. Judeโs sells on their website. The only cards you cannot send in are Hallmark, American Greetings, and Disney (for copyright reasons) and cards from other nonprofits.
Instrument Strings
Terracycleโs free recycling program with DโAddario offers mail-in and drop-off options for all types and brands of instrument strings, including electric guitar, bass, acoustic guitar, nylon, and orchestral strings, which they will properly recycle.
Kidsโ Clothes and Stuffed Animals
Poshmark and ThredUp arenโt just for big peopleโs clothing.
Do your kids have an entire menagerie of stuffed friends that need new homes? Consider donating them to other children for comfort in emergencies via Stuffed Animals for Emergencies.
Lightbulbs
LampMaster offers a light bulb recycling kit, complete with a prepaid shipping label so that you can send in CFL, LED, HID/HPS/Metal Halide and Incandescent light bulbs for proper recycling. They ship out recycling kits to Canada, the U.S. and its territories. Many retailers such as Home Depot, Loweโs, and Ikea, accept CFL light bulbs for recycling, simply contact your local retailer to see if they are a participating location.
Mascara Wands
If youโre letting old mascara wands pile up in your bathroom, unsure about how to recycle them, thereโs an adorable solution for you. Wands for Wildlife repurposes these beauty tools for use by wildlife caregivers to brush ticks, dirt, and fly larva from orphaned or injured animals. Mascara wands are suitable for this task because of their soft, fine bristles.
Medications
October 29 is Take Back Day โ when the DEA urges all of us to get rid of no-long-needed prescription medications to help avoid misuse or overdoses. Do not flush or dump medications down the sink, where they find their way into waterways and, potentially, harm water creatures. If you miss Take Back Day, ask at your local pharmacy, or visit this site for other disposal locations.
Motor Oil
At-home oil changes are relatively easy and cost efficient, but what do you do with all of that old motor oil and the old filters? Off-Island all Autozone and OโReillyโs locations and some Walmarts accept used motor oil and oil filters free of charge. Check mvrefusedistrict.com for hazardous waste drop-off days.
Paint
If youโre saddled with a few cans of not-quite-empty latex paint, the EPA suggests you expose it to air until it dries into a solid, or mix with shredded newspaper or kitty litter, let dry, and then dump in your household garbage.
If your paint is oil-based, itโs hazardous waste (which should also give you pause about using it in your home), check with your local transfer station about hazardous waste days.
Pianos
Got a piano that you never really play taking up space in your living room? Piano Adoption accepts free pianos and keyboards. Just add a listing to their website and shoppers looking for a free piano in your area will contact you if theyโre interested in purchasing. The buyer and seller then coordinate the exchange.
Prescription Pill Bottles
What to do with all those empty prescription pill bottles? While theyโre ubiquitous in North America, theyโre much needed in other countries. Matthew 25: Ministries accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies, according to its website.
Prom Dresses
When a high school student died in a car accident, her family and friends decided to carry on with her incredible initiative to provide prom dresses to anyone who needed one. Thus Beccaโs Closet was born, with chapters through the U.S. We should all leave a legacy so beautiful.
Sauce Packets
Clean out your kitchenโs designated takeout sauce packet drawer with Terracycleโs free sauce packet recycling program. They partnered with Taco Bell to offer free shipping labels so you can send in your empty sauce packets (all brands and types) to be properly recycled.
Socks
Smartwoolโs โSecond Cutโ Project will recycle donated socks into dog beds. They will take any brand of socks. Retold Recycling provides a free and easy mail-in service for old socks that will then be donated to thrift stores, charities, recycling centers, and more for reuse or proper disposal.
Shoes
Whether your shoes still have some spring in their step or their treads are truly dead, there are organizations that will help you keep them out of the landfill.
Soles4Soles will find feet somewhere in the world that need your gently used shoes. And you can ship your donation for free!
OneWorldRunning puts still-usable athletic shoes to work helping military recruits and athletes around the world.
More Foundation Group magically turns donated shoes into reforestation projects and co-op farming initiatives around the world. Get a box and start collecting โ all free!
HavASole, whose founder grew up in a shelter without good shoes, will get your shoes to organizations around the US.
Itโs From The Sole puts your old shoes on the feet of marginalized people around New York City and the world.
GotSneakers? is an organization that says it will pay you to clean out your shoe closet. Send away for a post-paid bag, fill it, and your still-good sneakers will be given to someone who can use them and your no-good sneakers will be recycled.
TerraCycle will take pretty much any footwear (no in-line skates, please) but their program isnโt free. Nonetheless, itโs a great way to do a footwear drive at your school or church and ensure shoes arenโt going to the dump.
Use your ASICS shoebox to ship back old or unwanted shoes for free.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Some manufacturers, including First Alert, offer mail-back services where you can send your old detectors, you only have to pay the postage. Curie Environmental Services and EZ on Earth offer their own mail-in recycling services for these life saving electronics for a fee.
Toothpaste Tubes
Tomโs of Maine has a first-of-its-kind tube that can be recycled in home recycling bins โ including the cap. Parent company Colgate-Palmolive says it will share technology with others but, thus far, Tomโs is the only brand you can toss in the recycle bin.
Wedding Dresses
Is your wedding dress taking up too much space in your closet? You can make someone elseโs big day memorable and make some extra money by selling it through Stillwhite. You pay a one-time fee, post some photos and videos of the dress, and get connected with potential buyers all through the website.
Vinyl Records
If your vinyl records are starting to sing a sorry tune, donate them to any local secondhand store. However, if they are damaged beyond use, consider using them for decorative crafts.
Yoga Mats
Yoga mats that still have some life left can be used for people or pet beds at shelters. But if your mat has truly hosted its last downward dog, put it to rest. Terracycle offers a Sporting Goods Zero Waste Box starting at $142 that you can use to ship your yoga mat and other sporting equipment for proper disposal.
