What do I do with....?
Q: I have been cleaning out our attic and basement and have items I want to donate or recycle but I'm not sure how? Can you offer some direction on the following: prescriptions eyeglasses, old cell phones, crutches, furniture, building supplies? Thanks.
A: I applaud for taking the initiative to dispose of your unwanted goods responsibly. Donation and recycling resources are an integral part of working with an organizer, here are a few options:
Eyeglasses- recycle at any Lenscrafters location http://www.lenscrafters.com/lc-us/find-a-store
Cell Phones- Best Buy stores have donation bins. Mary Kay Consultants also collect for the Mary Kay Ash foundation.
Crutches, walkers or wheelchairs- Check with Global Links.
http://www.globallinks.org/donate/donate_product.php
Furniture Pickup ( good condition) - Vietnam Vets or Salvation Army
Building supplies - Construction Junction and/or The ReStore for Habitat for Humanity
http://www.constructionjunction.org/pages/donate
http://www.pittsburghhabitat.org/documents/AcceptedMerchandiseUpdated.pdf
Getting Your Life in Order!
~S
John Linko
10:09 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
Another great resource for recycling used materials is the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse (http://www.pccr.org), located next door to Construction Junction in Point Breeze.
According to their site, "PCCR takes clean, safe materials that might ordinarily be discarded, for which other good reuse outlets do not exist, and that lend themselves to being reused in creative ways."
Some of the interesting things I've found while walking through there include numerous small craft items (sorted in a creatively re-used library card catalog file), wine corks, old CD's, swatches and entire bolts of discarded fabric, and numerous other examples of stuff that could just make someone's art or other project just that much more special.
It must be noted that PCCR accepts many kinds of items, but not all. Donations are only accepted on certain days, and must be arranged in advance. Detailed information about the types of materials that are and are not accepted can be found at http://pccr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Donating-to-Pittsburgh-Center-for-Creative-Reuse_102212.pdf
Sandra Lane, Organization Lane, LLC
10:58 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
Thanks for sharing John. I have recommended Creative Reuse when I've worked with teachers and crafters looking to downsize their supplies. It's a great place to donate and shop!
Ed M
7:30 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
Goodwill recycles old computers and parts. They put together cheap systems for those on a limited budget.
cc
1:35 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
All Verizon Stores have a bin in their stores so they can give cell phones to HopeLine which gives these phones to people that have suffered from Domestic Violence. http://aboutus.verizonwireless.com/communityservice/hopeLine.html
"Domestic violence touches all of us. Nearly one in four women, one in seven men, and over 3 million children have been affected by domestic violence. Wireless phones and technology can serve as a vital link to emergency or support services in a time of crisis or as a reliable, safe connection to employers, family and friends as survivors rebuild their lives."
They take cell phones from all carriers and are fixed and reused so that victims can have contact with emergency and supportive services.