EcoShip is Re-Opening Soon!
We are excited to be moving back into a permanent residence in October 2025. 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 soon.
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.
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.
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Foldable Carts
Needed = 4
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Foldable Table
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Folding Chairs
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Bookshelf
Any color or size.
Needed = 2-3
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Cube Shelf
Any color or size.
Needed = 1-2
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Bulk Container
Needed - 2
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Commercial Carts on Wheels
Needed = 3
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Dining Table
Large enough to fit 4 people. Any shape or color.
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Tea Kettle
Needed = 1
Donate Packaging Materials
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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.
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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)
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Torn
Covered in Tape
Sticky residue
Dirty
Holes
Deflated bubbles
Ink stains
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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
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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.
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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.
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Recyclable Mailers
NOT Accepting.
We cannot accept these unless they are brand new. Please recycle any gently used ones.
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USPS Mailers & Boxes
NOT Accepting.
Please recycle mailers at your local Jewel or Mariano’s and the boxes in your blue bins.
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UPS Mailers & Boxes
NOT Accepting.
Please recycle mailers at your local Jewel or Mariano’s and the boxes in your blue bins.
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FedEx Mailers & Boxes
NOT Accepting.
Please recycle mailers at your local Jewel or Mariano’s and the boxes in your blue bins.
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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.
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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.
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Manila Envelopes
If brand new, they can be dropped off at the WasteShed. If used, they can be placed in your recycling bin.
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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.
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Newspapers
Newspapers leave behind ink residues. Therefore, our customers cannot reuse it. Please recycle or post in your local Buy Nothing Facebook group.
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Cardboard Dividers
These are too specific. We don’t have any customers that could reuse these.
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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.
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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).
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Poly Bags
Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains
No USPS, UPS, or FedEx
Do not cut label out
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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.
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Thermal Insulated Bags
Clean, dry and free from debris
Reminder, these will be reused by others.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Corrugated Bubble Wrap
This item will be thick and upcycled from cardboard boxes.
Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains
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Paper Shred
All colors are accepted.
No private documents and personal mail shred
Place in secure packaging and keep separate from all other items.
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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.
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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.
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Jewelry Boxes
No branded boxes.
Jewelry boxes must be without branding and in very good condition.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Reusable Thermal Bags
No holes or stains please. These must be large enough for food deliveries.
Donated to a local CSA delivery service.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Vinyl Record Mailers
All sizes accepted. Please make sure all sides are intact.
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Poster Tubes
Both cylindrical and triangular are accepted. Please make sure both ends are intact before dropping off.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Moving Bags
Please wipe down all bags before dropping off.
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Amazon Totes
We can only accept clean totes that are not torn up.
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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.
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Plastic Utensils
Sets and individual accepted. Please no sauce packets.
These will be donated to a local pantry.
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Egg Cartons
12 ct. only, please make sure that all containers are clean.
These will be reused by local pantries.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mesh Bottle Sleeves
These will be donated to TinyShop Grocer for reuse.
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Cradles to Crayons
Please check their list of accepted items before dropping off. All items must be brand new or gently used.
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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.
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Arm & Hammer and OxiClean Plastic Pouches
Please empty and rinse out as best as you can.
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Bread Tags
Plastic only.
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Brita Filters
Brita brand ONLY.
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Contact Lenses & Cases
Please remove any and all liquid.
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Dunkin Donuts Coffee Bags
Coffee bags ONLY. Please empty and rinse out.
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Crayons
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Ink Cartridges & Toners
Must be empty and used.
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LEGOS
LEGO brand ONLY
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Phone Cases & Pop Sockets
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Plastic Cards
IDs, licenses, credit cards, gift cards, key cards. CUT ALL CARDS CONTAINING SENSITIVE INFORMATION.
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Prescription Glasses
Must be in good condition. Prescription glasses only.
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Sneakers
All conditions accepted. Please tie matching sneakers together.
ONLY SNEAKERS.
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Toothpaste Tubes & Toothbrushes
Please make sure that tubes are empty.
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
Clean Up Give Back (unusable soft plastics e.g. deflated bubble wrap/air pillows,
plastic grocery bags, etc.)
Love Fridges & Food Pantries (Ice Packs - must be CLEAN and inspected for leaks before dropping off)
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!