With Spring cleaning in full bloom right now is a great time to be aware of what you may be considering trash that can actually be donated to a charity. I've compiled a list of ten uncommon things that you may have either not known could be donated or have been simply throwing out that can actually be donated to a charity. Keep this list in mind while you are cleaning out your homes this season and throughout the year!
1. Mascara Wands for Wildlife
Instead of throwing away your never ending purchases of mascara wands, rinse them off and send them to The Appalachian Wildlife Refuge for their Wands for Wildlife program. Your mascara wands will then be put to good use and used to remove fly eggs and larva from the fur of wild animals. To watch a very cute video about this process check out the following link: Wands For Wildlife Video
2. Vehicles
This is obviously a less common item, but if you happen to have an old car, there are a huge number of organizations who will pick up the car for you and use the proceeds to help their cause. Check out the following links for more information: Kars 4 Kids, Wheels For Wishes, Best Friends Animal Society
3. Old/Broken Bicycles
Finding somewhere to donate a working bicycle is very simple; give it to a friend, or take it to a local Goodwill, but typically our response to a broken bicycle is to just throw it away. But, there are actually some awesome charity programs that will fix up your old and/or broken bike and help it get to someone in need. Bikes For The World has a number of drop off locations which you can find by clicking the link above. Their program is especially unique and wonderful in that it refurbishes bicycles and distributes them to communities around the world where having a bicycle can drastically improve someone's life.
4. Old Wetsuits
Wetsuits seem to fall in the same category as swimsuits in that it is sort of a strange item to buy used. This means that it is often left sitting in the attic forever or just gets thrown away. So, in an effort to reuse the material the company Suga Mats repurposes old wetsuits into yoga mats. To find out how to donate your old wetsuits and help keep it from eternally taking up space in a landfill somewhere, check out this link: Suga Mats
5. Used Bras and Swimsuits
Once again for sanitation reasons used swimsuits and even bras are often not accepted by many donation organizations like Goodwill, so they often get thrown away. But, there are some places that have noticed this and are working to give your old bras and swimsuits to the people who really need them like the non-profit Bras For A Cause in support of Breast Cancer Survivors. Bras For A Cause sends your old swim suits and bras to community members in need around the world and even uses some as artwork to sell. The Bra Recyclers are another organization to send your used bras to as they work to "decrease the number of bras entering our landfills, while providing substantial social benefits to women and girls in need."
6. Eye Glasses
7. Old Makeup Containers
Stop throwing out your old MAC, Aveda, and LUSH, makeup containers! These companies will accept old, cleaned out containers and reuse them so they don't create unnecessary waste! MAC will even reward you for doing this. If you return 6 empty MAC makeup containers you will receive a free lipstick which is pretty awesome. Check out this link to find out how to return your makeup containers: MAC Cosmetics Gives Back, LUSH Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, and Aveda Responsible Packaging.
8. Ink Cartridges
Ink Cartridges are in the same category as old electronics and old batteries in that should never actually be thrown away. So, instead of creating unnecessary waste, donate your old ink cartridges to a charity which will then donate the money they receive for properly disposing of them to their charity! Here are a couple options for doing this although there are many charities who accept them as donations: Recycle 4 Charity or Recycle For Chapters
9. Pop Tabs
10. Old Wedding Dresses
Now, you most likely have not thrown away your wedding dress and I am absolutely not suggesting that you have to get rid of it. But, if you are considering getting rid of your old wedding dress or bridal accessories, consider donating them to the non-profit Adorned In Grace, which through the resale of your items donates part of their earning to help bring prevention, rescue and restoration to trafficking victims. Also consider donating your dress to Success In Style which works to help give business attire to those in need through the resale of your dress.
