EcoShip is Re-Opening Soon!

We are excited to be moving back into a permanent residence at 3248 N Pulaski Rd. in October 2025. We are on a mission to reach our fundraising goal by November 15th. Help us reach that goal by making a donation <<< HERE >>>.

You can drop off materials on our updated list on Thursdays and Saturdays starting Thursday, October 23rd, by appointment ONLY. Schedule your drop-off using our Calendly link HERE.

We need a few weeks to set up, restock, and acquire enough volunteers before we fully reopen. We will only be open twice a week until the end of November to accept materials. We will not be distributing any materials until December 1st. We appreciate your patience.

Interested in volunteering with us? Sign up HERE.

Learn More
Donate Here <3

Items Needed by Us

We are looking for a few things for our new space. If you have any of these items, please email us at ecoshipchicago@gmail.com to set up a drop-off time or place an order directly through our purchase link to our address at 3428 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60641.

You can also find our full Amazon List HERE.

  • Foldable Carts

    DONATED! Thank you!

  • Foldable Table

    We’ll take any 6’ or larger plastic or wooden table.

    Needed = 4

    Purchase Link

  • Folding Chairs

    We’ll take plastic or metal folding chairs. Any colors.

    Needed = 15

    Purchase Link

  • Bookshelf

    Any color or size.

    Needed = 2-3

  • Cube Shelf

    Any color or size.

    Needed = 1-2

  • Bulk Container

    Purchase Link

    Needed = 2

  • Commercial Carts on Wheels

    Purchase Link

    Needed = 3

  • Dining Table

    Large enough to fit 4 people. Any shape or color.

  • Tea Kettle

    Purchase Link

    Needed = 1

  • Phone Chargers

    We are looking for charging boxes and cables (Type A and C) for our phones.

    Needed = 3 of each type, 6 boxes

Donate Packaging Materials

    • Businesses and individuals reuse the donated materials. Items must be clean and reusable, tape-free, and not sticky.

    • Donations should be in clean paper bags or clean boxes. If you bring your items in plastic bags, they will be returned to you to reuse for future drop-offs.

    • Due to demand, we may pause collection on certain items or collect items for a limited time. Always check the list before donating materials.

    • Remove all receipts and personal items from donations. Personal items found will be kept for 7 days before donation or disposal.

    • Headquarters (3250 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60641)

      • No need to make an appointment. Stop by during our business hours to drop off your items.

      • When you arrive, our team will look through your materials to make sure our community members can reuse them. Anything that is not on our list or in reusable condition will be returned to you.

      • If you are bringing in a lot of materials, you can ask our team for a cart to make your drop-off easier. We will do our best to assist you in any way possible.

    • Collection Points (accept a limited amount of materials - please check notes before dropping off)

    • Collection Events

    • Torn

    • Covered in Tape

    • Sticky residue

    • Dirty

    • Holes

    • Deflated bubbles

    • Ink stains

  • When removing personal information.

    • Do not cut a hole into the product, holes make items NOT reusable

    • When covering with marker, allow the ink to dry to avoid ink stains. Ink stains make items NOT reusable

    • Do not remove labels as it leaves a sticky residue. Sticky Residue makes items NOT reusable

  • Our collection points located in small businesses only accept 1 grocery-sized paper bag of materials (bubble wrap, packing paper, plastic mailers, packing peanuts, and foam sheets ONLY) for a suggested donation of $5. If you have more than 1 bag, please visit our headquarters or a collection event. If a collection point is full, they will reject your packaging. Learn more here.

  • Due to the large amount of donations that we receive, we cannot be held responsible for lost items. Any items found will be held in our lost and found for 7 days before they are donated.

NOT Accepted (please do NOT drop these off with EcoShip - wishcycling hinders our small nonprofit’s operations)

Scroll down to find our lists of accepted items.

  • Recyclable Mailers

    NOT Accepting.

    We cannot accept these unless they are brand new. Please recycle any gently used ones.

  • USPS Mailers & Boxes

    NOT Accepting.

    Please recycle mailers at your local Jewel or Mariano’s and the boxes in your blue bins.

  • UPS Mailers & Boxes

    NOT Accepting.

    Please recycle mailers at your local Jewel or Mariano’s and the boxes in your blue bins.

  • FedEx Mailers & Boxes

    NOT Accepting.

    Please recycle mailers at your local Jewel or Mariano’s and the boxes in your blue bins.

  • Plastic Grocery Bags

    Do not drop off your items in plastic grocery bags - use paper bags instead!

    All plastic garbage bags can be dropped off at your local grocery store’s plastic film recycling bin.

  • Ziploc Bags

    Ziploc bags are not accepted by us. They are difficult to recycle and we do not have the capacity to store or handle them.

  • Manila Envelopes

    If brand new, they can be dropped off at the WasteShed. If used, they can be placed in your recycling bin.

  • Personal Paper Shred

    Check your local alderperson’s upcoming shred event. Your personal shredded documents cannot be reused by small businesses, therefore we cannot accept them.

  • Newspapers

    Newspapers leave behind ink residues. Therefore, our customers cannot reuse it. Please recycle or post in your local Buy Nothing Facebook group.

  • Cardboard Dividers

    These are too specific. We don’t have any customers that could reuse these.

  • Foam Blocks

    These are too specific. We don’t have any customers that could reuse these.

Items Accepted at our Headquarters

*A list of accepted items at our collection sites ONLY can be found HERE.

  • Plastic Bubble Mailers

    - Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains.
    - Do not cut label out.
    - No UPS, USPS, or FedEx mailers.

    We are NOT accepting fully recyclable padded mailers (like the ones from Amazon) or Kraft mailers (paper on the outside, bubble wrap on the inside).

  • Poly Bags

    Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

    No USPS, UPS, or FedEx

    Do not cut label out

  • Clear Poly Bags

    Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

    No Food bags or Ziploc bags

    Any bags that have been in contact with food, oils, or dirt will not be accepted by us. Remove all receipts.

  • Thermal Insulated Bags

    Clean, dry and free from debris

    Reminder, these will be reused by others.

  • Bubble Wrap

    Small and large bubbles of any color are accepted. Bubbles must be inflated.

    Remove all tape

    Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

  • Packing Peanuts

    All colors and types (foam and starch) are accepted.

    • Place in secure packaging and keep separate from all other items. Do not mix with other items.

  • Packing Paper

    Fold the paper before dropping off. Balled up paper will not be accepted.

    No wadded paper from shoes

    Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

  • Honeycomb Packing Paper

    Leave any tissue paper that comes with it - it’s part of the packaging.

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

  • Corrugated Bubble Wrap

    This item will be thick and upcycled from cardboard boxes.

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

  • Paper Shred

    All colors are accepted.

    • No private documents and personal mail shred

    • Place in secure packaging and keep separate from all other items.

  • Foam Packing Sheets

    Only thin and flexible sheets will be accepted.

    NO thick (>1/4”) pieces of foam. We do not have the capacity for those pieces.

  • Organza Bags

    All sizes of unbranded organza bagsaccepted

    Designs are okay (e.g. stars, polka dots, etc).

    No branded bags, no velvet or cloth bags.

  • Jewelry Boxes

    No branded boxes.

    Jewelry boxes must be without branding and in very good condition.

  • Packing Tape

    Clear or tan accepted. Used rolls accepted if there is an acceptable amount of tape left

    • No duct tape, electrical tape, craft tape, painter’s tape, or double sided tape.

  • Paper Grocery Bags

    All sizes accepted, with or without handles.

    Bags must be in very good condition. If they are torn or dirty, we encourage compositing or recycling them.

  • Tissue Paper

    Tissue paper must be gently used or brand new. All colors are accepted. We will not accept tissue paper with holes or branding.

  • Reusable Thermal Bags

    No holes or stains please. These must be large enough for food deliveries.

    Donated to a local CSA delivery service.

  • Ice Packs

    At this time, we can only accept small ice packs (smaller that 8”×8”).

    Ice packs must be defrosted and dry. Place each ice pack individually into a Ziploc bag. Do not place multiple ice packs into 1 Ziploc bag. By placing the ice packs into a Ziploc bag, it will ensure that these do not puncture and spill all over our store.

  • Moving Blankets

    All moving blankets must be clean and free of debris, pet hair, and holes. We will not accept any blankets that have a strong odor.

  • Air Pillows

    Must be inflated. Deflated air pillows will not be accepted and can be dropped off at a grocery store plastic bag recycling box.

  • Boxes

    Boxes must be flattened, unless they’re under 6×6×6”. Please ensure that all boxes are clean and not torn up.

    If dropping off the wardrobe boxes, please include the bars.

  • Vinyl Record Mailers

    All sizes accepted. Please make sure all sides are intact.

  • Poster Tubes

    Both cylindrical and triangular are accepted. Please make sure both ends are intact before dropping off.

  • Plastic Totes

    Totes MUST have lids and be wiped clean. No cracks or missing handles.

    Done using your plastic totes for storage or moving? Drop them off with us so that someone else can reuse them.

  • Plastic Crates

    All colors are accepted. Crates must be clean and in very good condition.

    Unsure if we’ll accept them? Send us a photo.

  • ClimaCell & Renew Liners

    All types of liners are accepted as long as they are encased in paper or plastic. If your liner is full of holes and the material is coming out, please do not drop it off with us as it makes a mess.

  • Holiday Wrapping Items

    We will accept gently used or new:
    - Wrapping paper
    - Gift bags
    - Bows
    - Ribbon
    - To & From labels
    - Cards (must be new)

  • Special Occasion Wrapping Items

    We will accept gently used or new birthday, anniversary, wedding, baby shower, etc:
    - Wrapping paper
    - Gift bags
    - Cards (must be new)

  • Stretch & Shrink Wrap

    Opened rolls are accepted as long as there is a decent amount still left on the roll.

  • Reusable Bags

    Any material is accepted. Please wash or wipe down all bags before dropping off. We cannot accept any that are dirty or missing handles.

  • Moving Bags

    Please wipe down all bags before dropping off.

  • Amazon Totes

    We can only accept clean totes that are not torn up.

  • Styrofoam Containers + Packaging (#6)

    ACCEPTED FOR A FEE ONLY.

    Pieces must be clean and have the recycling #6 on them.

    Our charges are $3/cooler, $5 for a paper grocery-sized bag or $8 for a 13-gallon trash bag. The fee helps pay for storage space and a rental vehicle needed to drop off the Styrofoam at a recycling facility.

  • Plastic Utensils

    Sets and individual accepted. Please no sauce packets.

    These will be donated to a local pantry.

  • Egg Cartons

    12 ct. only, please make sure that all containers are clean.

    These will be reused by local pantries.

  • Health-Ade Glass Bottles

    Please wash all bottles and remove labels as best as you can before dropping off. Thank you!

    These will be donated to TinyShop Grocer for reuse.

  • Wide-Mouth Mason Jars

    Mason jars must be clean, not chipped, and wide-mouthed. No lids needed. Narrow-mouth jars will not be accepted.

    These will be donated to TinyShop Grocer for reuse.

  • Lush Pods

    Please rinse out all containers and remove label as best as you can before dropping off.

    These will be donated to TinyShop Grocer for reuse.

  • Mesh Bottle Sleeves

    These will be donated to TinyShop Grocer for reuse.

  • Cradles to Crayons

    Please check their list of accepted items before dropping off. All items must be brand new or gently used.

  • EveryMom

    All items must be new (but can have open packaging)
    - Unscented baby wipes
    - Diapers (especially size Newborn and 1)
    - Nursing pads (disposable or reusable)
    - Perineal cold packs
    - Any unused breastfeeding supplies (pump wipes, sterile bags, nursing bras, etc.)
    - Baby bottles

  • Prescription Bottles

    All colors accepted. Please remove your label and make sure the bottles are clean.

    Bottles are donated to One Tail at a Time.

Items Accepted - Limited Time at Headquarters

In Collaboration with Reduce Waste Chicago

  • Arm & Hammer and OxiClean Plastic Pouches

    Please empty and rinse out as best as you can.

  • Bread Tags

    Plastic only.

  • Brita Filters

    Brita brand ONLY.

  • Contact Lenses & Cases

    Please remove any and all liquid.

  • Dunkin Donuts Coffee Bags

    Coffee bags ONLY. Please empty and rinse out.

  • Crayons

  • Ink Cartridges & Toners

    Must be empty and used.

  • Keys

    Please remove all key rings.

  • LEGOS

    LEGO brand ONLY

  • Paktech

    Plastic beer can holders/carriers. Any size and color. Remove all stickers as best as you can.

  • Phone Cases & Pop Sockets

  • Plastic Cards

    IDs, licenses, credit cards, gift cards, key cards. CUT ALL CARDS CONTAINING SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

  • Prescription Glasses

    Must be in good condition. Prescription glasses only.

  • Sneakers

    All conditions accepted. Please tie matching sneakers together.

    ONLY SNEAKERS.

  • Toothpaste Tubes & Toothbrushes

    Please make sure that tubes are empty.

  • Tennis Balls

    Any condition.

If you don’t see an item on our list of accepted items, we do not accept it.

We encourage you to recycle or donate these items to organizations that accept them.

Resources

EcoShip is proud to compost with The Urban Canopy.

If you’re looking to begin your composting journey with The Urban Canopy, you can use code ‘EcoShip25’ for your first month free!

Sign Up Here