Choose a better future
As you declutter and organise your home you’ll make many choices about which items to keep and which to discard. This doesn’t mean the items you no longer want are destined for landfill as many of these items may hold value for others. You can sell, donate, recycle or repurpose items in many ways and below is a list of some of the options you may want to consider.
If you have more ideas, I’d love to hear them. Please email them to hello@thetidylark.co.uk
general donations
There are many charity shops that accept donations of clothes, general household items, books and toys. If you have a cause that is close to your heart then this is a great way to help raise money. The Charity Retail website will help you find the right local shop for you.
There are many local Facebook pages through which you can can advertise items for free. Keywords to search for are ‘reuse movement’, ‘reuse project’, ‘buy nothing’, ‘free stuff’, ‘zero waste’, ‘too good to waste’, ‘don’t dump, donate’ and ‘swap shop’. Freecycle, Freegle, and Olio are also platforms through which you can offer items free to those that want or need them.
clothing
H&M collects pre-loved clothing and textiles and will give you a £5 H&M gift voucher in return.
& Other Stories collects clothing and textiles as well as empty beauty product packaging and will gift you 10% discount on their goods in return.
Levis (their products only), some M&S stores and Zara who also run schemes that take used clothing for discounts or vouchers.
Residential homes are a good option for clothes for older residents, so please check with a home near you.
Charity shops may take clothes for recycling (bagged and labelled for recycling) as they can sell this to fundraise for the charity. Check with your store first.
Hangers can be donated to theatres, schools and charity shops if they are in need or can be recycled in most supermarket chains. Tesco on Western Avenue, Cardiff has a drop box for used hangers, so drop unwanted ones here. Wire hangers can be returned to dry cleaners for reuse.
Bras in good condition and unused pants are collected by local and national charities.
Smalls for All collects underwear for those in need in Africa and the UK and takes items by post.
Bravissimo collects bras in all of its stores.
Oxfam accepts bras in their stores.
Against Breast Cancer will accept bras by post or via a drop box, if you have one near you.
Awesome.Wales is a zero waste store, with bra banks at their shops in Barry and Cowbridge.
Peta accepts donations of real fur.
Wildlife centres sometimes take donations, but please check before donating.
Your high street charity shop will happily take usable jewellery donations for resale, some will even accept broken jewellery for recycling. But please check with your store first. The organisations below will take jewellery and/or watches in any condition and some offer a Freepost service.
Watches for Charity
Alzeimer’s Society
Childaidee
Trade Craft Shop
If your clothing is not good enough for someone else to wear it can be recycled at your local Waste and Recycling centre. Check with you local council for services.
There is a market for vintage wedding dresses, so consider selling or donating to your local charity shop.
Cherished Gowns makes funeral clothes for families whose babies are stillborn, miscarried or pass away shortly after birth.
Dresses for Angels uses wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses to make gowns for babies born sleeping.
Wedding Wishing Well Foundation accepts donations to support the weddings of terminally ill people across the UK.
Huggard is a charity that helps who are sleeping rough in Cardiff. It often asks for men’s clothes and shoes.
Shoe Aid is working to reduce shoe poverty and waste.
Clarks Shoe Shops work with Unicef through a scheme called ShoeShare. Check to see if your local store accepts donations.
Nike accepts trainers, but you’ll need to check your local store first.
Jo’s Off Shoes and Finding Your Feet collect odd shoes as they support those people who can only wear one shoe.
RetroSpecced is a social enterprise that upcycles vintage and designer frames.
Peep Eye Wear upcycles,restores and recycles old frames for resale.
household items
Craft items are often welcomed by schools, youth centres, Girlguiding and Scout centres, care and residential homes, so it will be worth considering your local options.
DropPoint collects unused craft and publishes a wish list online.
Tools with a Mission takes sewing machines, pattern books and items related to sewing and knitting. To find a local drop point you can search by postcode.
Please ensure toiletries and make-up products donated for use (rather than recycling) are unused and fully sealed. Consider donating to night shelters and Women’s Refuge / Aid centres locally.
- Beauty Banks profile personal care and hygiene essentials to people and collect via drop bins in Superdrug stores.
- Boots accepts empty botties where these can be donated for for £5 worth of points.
- John Lewis runs a toiletries recycling scheme for a £5 voucher.
- Gilette has a free postal recycling service for returning its products.
Boomerang in Cardiff is a charity that supports the homeless settling into a new home, works to support those living in poverty, critical living conditions and social isolation. It takes various items to support clients.
British Heart Foundation will take items for resale in its specialised shops.
NuLife Furniture is part of Cadwyn Housing Assocation. It takes furniture and white goods to support its clients.
Emmaus helps support those who have experienced homelessness and accepts donations at their shops in South Wales.
Consider your local animal shelter for donations bedding, blankets and towels.
Hope Rescue rescues and rehomes dogs in South Wales from their base in Llanharan.
CDs and DVDs are accepted by some charity shops, hospitals and care homes, so it might be worth checking with your local centres first. If you wish to sell items, then services such as the ones below can be useful. Check prices with each of them as it can vary greatly.
VHS Tapes can be recycled through your nearest Terracycle scheme or by contacting Tip Top Media (there is a charge for this service)
- Pens for Kids UK takes pens and pencils (writing and colouring) that still have use in them and distributes them around the world to remove one of the cost obstacles preventing children going to school.
- Ryman Stationery Stores offer pen, ink and toner cartridge recycling.
The Toy Box Project based in Caerphilly takes unwanted toys and gives them to families and organisations in need.
Little Smarties Baby Bank based at All Nations Church, Cardiff supplies essential items for new mothers and their young children up to the age of 6 years.
Growbaby in Cardiff provides clothes and equipment for children under 5 years.
Cwtch Baby Bank in Taffs Well collects equipment, clothes and toys for 0-24 month old babies for families in need.
Baby Basic is a National charity which helps families with the practical and financial burden of looking after a new baby. It has locations in South Wales.
Loved Before is a London based business that accepts donations of teddy bears and soft toys for resale online and to support charities.
Teddy Trust is a Herefordshire-based charity collects teddies and sends them to children who are suffereing traumas of war, starvation or abuse.
Benthyg is a great Welsh borrowing library for tools and equipment including electrical equipment, cleaning and maintenance items, DIY, camping and much more. Items donated are made available for the community to borrow. There a several locations. Visit their website for more info.
Oasis Cardiff is a local charity that accepts old mobile phones.
Alzheimer’s Society accepts out of date and broken technology.
Many other national charities will accept donations of mobile phones and similar small gadgets. Check Recycling for Good Causes.
There are also many recycling schemes through all major phone retailers, so check their individual websites.
Recycle Your Electricals is a great resource of information and a searchable directory for where to donate items near you. Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled.
Free Bikes 4 Kids is run Mike Jones (@puffajones on Twitter). He takes children’s bikes to refurbish and donate to children in need.
Park Prison in Bridgend takes bikes for prisoners to learn skills to restore them for donation or charity sales.
Cardiff Cycle Workshop has schemes for bike recycling, repairs and education that help promote the benefits of cycling.
Re:Cylces in Kenfig repairs, refurbishes and recycles bikes.
Gymstock collects gym equipment, but it might need to be in large quantities. Check depending on your specific donation.