Donate Packaging Materials
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Businesses and individuals reuse the donated materials. Items must be clean and reusable.
Donations should be in paper bags. No plastic or boxes please. If your items are in plastic bags or boxes, we will transfer the materials into our receptacles and return the plastic bags and boxes back to you.
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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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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If you have more than 2 grocery bags worth of materials, drop off at our headquarters or a collection event. Collection points will become overwhelmed with large drop offs. 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.
Items Accepted (Collection Sites & Headquarters)
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Plastic Bubble Mailers
All sizes and colors are accepted. Must have bubble padding.
- 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
All sizes and colors are accepted.
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
All sizes and brands are accepted, as long as they are clean.
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 any receipts and garbage.
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Bubble Wrap
Small and large bubbles of any color are accepted. Bubbles must be inflated.
No deflated bubbles
No Air Pillows
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
All colors accepted. Please fold the paper before dropping off. Balled up paper will not be accepted.
No used Tissue paper (unless brand new)
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.
Styrofoam can be dropped off at our storage unit ONLY, for a small fee.
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Thermal Insulated Bags
Clean, dry and free from debris
Reminder, these will be reused by others.
No ice packs. Ice packs are accepted by Katherine Anne Confections at both of their locations.
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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
Please 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
Standard size paper grocery bags, with or without handles.
Bags are only accepted at collection points if you’re dropping off materials in them. Large quantities can only be accepted at our headquarters or events.
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Tissue Paper (BRAND NEW ONLY)
We will only accept brand new tissue paper at this time. All colors accepted, no branding please.
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Kraft Bubble Mailers
BRAND NEW ONLY.
At this time, we can only accept brand new Kraft Bubble mailers.
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Recyclable Padded Mailers
BRAND NEW ONLY.
At this time, we can only accept brand new Recyclable Padded mailers.
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Reusable Thermal Bags
Please make sure that there are no holes and that the inside is clean.
Extra small bags are not accepted. These must be large enough for food deliveries.
Items Accepted - Headquarters ONLY
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Styrofoam (#6)
ACCEPTED FOR A FEE ONLY.
We will accept Styrofoam for $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.
All Styrofoam must have the recycling #6 on it and all food containers must be clean. We appreciate your support and cooperation.
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Flattened Boxes
All boxes must be flattened. At the moment, we will only accept 10/person UNLESS you have brand new boxes.
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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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Stretch & Shrink Wrap
Gently used is accepted as long as there is an acceptable amount on it.
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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 huge mess.
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Air Pillows
Must be inflated. Deflated air pillows will not be accepted.
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Contact Lenses & Cases
Please remove any and all liquid.
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Toothpaste Tubes & Toothbrushes
Please make sure that tubes are empty.
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Ink Cartridges & Toners
Must be empty and used.
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Bread Tags
Plastic only.
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Phone Cases & Pop Sockets
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Crayons
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Sneakers
All conditions accepted. Please tie matching sneakers together.
ONLY SNEAKERS.
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Prescription Glasses
Must be in good condition. Prescription glasses only.
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Brita Filters
Brita brand ONLY.
No Longer Accepted
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Used Kraft Bubble Mailers
**Currently NOT Accepting due to no demand.
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Used Recyclable Mailers
**Currently NOT Accepting due to no demand.
Items Not Accepted
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USPS Mailers & Boxes
USPS Mailers and boxes are shipped a different way. We currently do not have the capacity to store these items or the demand for them from any of our customers.
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UPS Mailers & Boxes
UPS Mailers and boxes are shipped a different way. We currently do not have the capacity to store these items or the demand for them from any of our customers.
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FedEx Mailers & Boxes
FedEx Mailers and boxes are shipped a different way. We currently do not have the capacity to store these items or the demand for them from any of our customers.Description goes here
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Plastic Grocery Bags
Please 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.
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.)
Dart (#6 Styrofoam)
Nourishing Hope (Egg Cartons & New Manila Envelopes)
Love Fridges & Food Pantries (Ice Packs)
Katherine Anne Confections (Ice Packs)