You may have had the chance to sort through the clutter that has built up over time if you've lived at home for more than a year. Perhaps you have recently upgraded some of your possessions and realized that you don't have enough space for all the new stuff.
No matter the reason, you should get rid off all your tech, clothes, books and other items responsibly. What should you do next?
You know that dumping the stuff is not an option. Recycling and reusing old, unneeded items has been a key part of the global effort to protect the environment. Many cities and states require the recycling of tech, metals, and other materials. However, even if the law doesn’t mandate it, there is no reason to throw away more trash.
It is important to find the best way to get rid of your stuff and do the least damage to the environment. It may have been harder than usual to find the right way to dispose of your stuff during the recent pandemic. There are still many online services that can help you get rid of unwanted items responsibly and make money.
Depending on the items you wish to dispose of, and the method you prefer, here are some websites to consider.
TECH
Are you looking to purchase a new phone? Check out trade-in offers from manufacturers for your Pixels and Macs before you buy.
If you don't like the offer from the vendor, you can sell your tech. You can sell your device online to get something in return. Decluttr, for example, will give you a tentative quote on your phone or tech. It also accepts CDs, DVDs and books. You can also sell through a service like Swappa, which charges the buyer, not the seller, a fee (but the seller does have to pay PayPal's transaction fee). Amazon also has a trade-in program, although payment will come in the form of a gift card.
It can be donated to charity. Many programs offer computers to those in need. Computers with Causes, for example, gives tech to people who are in need; World Computer Exchange sends laptops and desktop computers to libraries and schools in developing countries; Globetops allows you to choose who gets your laptop by uploading descriptions online. Or you can donate your tech to Globetops. It's a good idea, as with all charitable institutions, to verify their legitimacy before donating. There are many online information sites about charities.
It's best to get rid of any tech that's so outdated that no one wants it. You may actually be breaking the law if your TV or computer is just thrown away. It all depends on where you live. According to a 2018 article written for the National Council of State Legislatures, "25 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation establishing a statewide electronic waste, or e-waste, recycling program."
There are likely to be some recycling programs in your area. Many electronics stores will offer recycling, sometimes for a fee. All you need to do is bring your items to the store. Or you can try Earth911 to find the nearest recycling center. Be sure to check with the store or center before you go; there may be some recycling programs that are still in use due to the pandemic.
It can be difficult to dispose of batteries safely. Call2Recycle can help you find out where to drop off that bag of batteries you've been accumulating. If there aren't any facilities within reach of your home or office, BigGreenBox will dispose of it for you -- but not for free. Prices begin at $36 for a box that will hold up to 10 pounds of batteries (which includes shipping and handling).
If you still have your parents' old BlackBerry PDA/Commodore 64, it may be worth looking into donating it to a museum. Although there aren't as many tech museums accepting donations as there were in the past, it is worth looking into if you have something unusual or old. You can fill out forms at both the MIT Museum as well as the Computer History Museum.
CLOTHING
There are three types of clothing websites: those that sell the most fashionable and high-end clothing, jewelry, and clothing, as well as those that deal with major brands and traditional dealers.
Consignment companies are at the top end of the market. They act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers of designer clothes, jewelry and other valuable items. These companies, like Vestiaire Collective and TheRealReal.com, authenticate every product sold through them. They will not accept older fashions so you don't have to worry about getting rid of that jacket that has been sitting in your closet for 10+ years. These may be the right place to sell if you are a shopper who is always looking for the best styles.
Side note: If you don't want to wear your business clothes anymore, there are many organizations that will accept them in good condition. This is especially important for job hunters. These organizations are usually local. For example, the NYC area has Bottomless Closet for women, and Career Gear in men. GuideStar or Charity Navigator are great resources for finding charities in your area.
For less upscale clothing, sites like Tradesy handle both upscale and mid-priced clothing, shoes, and jewelry. Tradesy accepts a simple commission from the seller but will verify the authenticity of the label. You can also try sites like ThredUp, which handles thousands of major brands; you send your gently used clothing directly to the service, and if it accepts (and sells) your clothing, you can choose from cash or credit from either ThredUp or an associated retailer.
It may be more difficult to get rid your old clothes than you thought. Many charities that used to accept worn or outmoded clothing have become pickier, partly because the business of reselling old clothes overseas is waning. Smart consumers are also becoming more wary about drop-in clothing bins, which many of them actually belong to for profit companies.
If you can't make it to your local Goodwill store, one place to try is Vietnam Veterans of America. If it is available in your area, you can schedule a pickup on its website. GiveBackBox encourages you to use the box your new clothes were shipped in to send your old stuff (it asks that you send five or more items) to a charity; the site provides a prepaid shipping label.
BOOKS
There are still books made from paper, not pixels, so you might want to get rid at least some.
One solution is to sell your books through a site such as Amazon, although that can get complicated. You must set up an account as an individual and pay Amazon 99c per book. Your chances of selling are slim. There are many professional booksellers who use Amazon for extra inventory. They will sell their books at 99 cents plus shipping fees, making it difficult to compete.
Popular resellers like AbeBooks and Powell's are also available. They will need the ISBN number and condition of your book(s). You then mail the books to them, and you will reap your reward.
You can use AbeBooks or Bookbyte to get rid of textbooks that you don't want anymore. We all know how costly these can be. BookScouter will show you the prices offered by a variety of booksellers, along with user ratings, and you can choose which one to sell to.
If you just want to get rid of your books and aren't worried about getting paid, there are sites like Better World Books, a for-profit company with drop-off boxes around the country, that uses a percentage of its earnings to promote literacy. There are also specialized organizations online that help you send books to people who need them, such as Books for Soldiers.
Local libraries are also an option. People can unload books from libraries and used bookstores. Libraries still accept books they can add to their collection, sell or give away. It's a good idea, however, to check the library's website online to see if they accept donations. You can also call them if you're really nostalgic. Most used bookstores will accept books in exchange for a small fee or credit towards book purchases. Google Maps is the best way to check if any are available in your area.
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Finally, you can create your own library. The Little Free Library site provides all the information you need to start a tiny book-lending program right outside your house (or how to find the nearest one). You might even be able to donate to a neighbor who has started one.
ALL ELSE
When you want to sell your stuff, one of the places people still think of is eBay. This is the place where many buyers look when searching for deals. eBay sellers can be anyone, from individuals selling once-only to professionals. Here's how it works.
- You get up to 250 free listings a month for most product types; after that, it's 35 cents per listing.
- After your item is sold, eBay will collect 12.55 percent up to $7500, and 2.35 percent for any value above $7,500.
- There are exceptions to this rule: 5.85 percent for instruments and basses (with 2.35 per cent on values above $7,500); 3.5% for heavy equipment (with 0.5% for values greater than $15,000); and 14.55 percent each for movies and TV (with 2.35 per cent on all values). There are other exceptions; you can find them all here.
(Note that eBay also has different fees for people who have what is called "managed payments" and for various levels of professional sellers.)
Although selling on eBay can be time-consuming, it is possible to make a profit. It is a good idea to search for the price ranges of similar objects or your object.
You can also sell your stuff at other places. If you're on Facebook, you can sell stuff using its Marketplace. Selling locally is the best option. You can meet buyers to exchange the items or arrange for drop-off. You can also arrange to ship your item; if so, there are a number of rules to follow. NextDoor, an old friend, and Craigslist are two other sites that can help you sell or donate items locally.
For giveaways only, Freecycle is a service that introduces local people who have stuff to other local people who want that stuff. After you have found your local Freecycle, you will be instructed on how you can advertise the items you are giving away. Freecycle will send your email to all its subscribers. Anyone who is interested in the object can reply. Your email will be pushed to their email address. After that, you can contact the person to arrange for the giveaway. You've made two people happy: you and the winner.
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