Reuse

BoxDibs - Why spend money on new cardboard moving boxes when you could simply pick up gently used ones for free? BoxDibs is the moving box exchange that helps you save the environment, time, and money while moving. The BoxDibs Facebook Group is the main mechanism for finding boxes near you. Online Only

Buy Nothing / Freebox - The Buy Nothing Project is the world's largest gifting economy, promoting the circular economy by allowing neighbors to share items freely without spending money. Participants can offer items they no longer need and request things they could use. Join hyper-localized groups on Facebook (some groups use the term 'Freebox') or download the app through their website. Online Only

Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) - This is a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents that helps divert millions of pounds of waste and other hard-to-recycle items from regional landfills and water systems. Items accepted include electronics and computers, clothing and textiles, small furniture, small appliances, styrofoam, and personal healthcare equipment. Visit the CHaRM website for a specific list of items accepted. South Holland

Chicago Furniture Bank - This nonprofit organization serves as an intermediary between Chicagoans who have extra furniture and those who need it. They provide furnishing packages that include beds, couches, armchairs, dressers, desks, end tables, coffee tables, kitchen tables + chairs, dish ware, rugs, lamps, artwork, mirrors, and more. Brighton Park

Chicago Tool Library - Instead of buying new, you could rent a wide variety of tools (and other items) from Chicago Tool Library. You can also donate your used items to this nonprofit. Bridgeport

Community Glue - This workshop aims to divert repairable items from the waste stream or repurpose them if needed. The goal is to encourage critical thinking and debunk the cultural myth that 'newer is better.' Monthly free workshops bring together community members who can fix items. Edgewater

Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange - A nonprofit organization committed to the creative reuse and redistribution of surplus materials for arts, non-profit, education in the Chicago area. Auburn Gresham

Digs with Dignity - elevates the lives of those transitioning from homelessness by filling their houses with everything that makes a comfortable, dignified home. Digs with Dignity works with a variety of individuals and families that may include domestic abuse victims, veterans, those who have experienced a sudden job loss or those dealing with extreme health situations. They accept a wide variety of home furnishings. McKinley Park

EcoShip Chicago - This group is dedicated to collecting, reusing, and distributing used shipping materials throughout Chicago. It connects individuals with used shipping materials to businesses that need them, via a network of drop-off locations. Multiple

Freecycle - Similar to Buy Nothing in the sense that it is a gifting economy, but items are exclusively listed through its website. Online Only

Humble Design - Custom designs and fully furnishes home interiors for individuals, families and veterans emerging from homelessness. Accepts donated furniture to accomplish this. Canaryville

Love Fridges - If you have unexpired food items you cannot use (or don’t want), you can bring it to one of the many love fridges throughout Chicagoland. Locations in the link! Multiple

Rebuilding Exchange and Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse - If you’re renovating or replacing home items, Rebuilding Exchange will take your donated building materials so they can find a second home instead of going to a landfill. Their retail warehouse is also a great place to look for gently used items for your home, instead of sourcing brand new. Additionally, they offer deconstruction services and educational workshops. Bucktown and Evanston

The Recyclery - This nonprofit bike shop will take your used bicycles, bike parts, and tools! Bicycles donated to them may be given away to someone who needs them through their Freecyclery program, used in their youth classes, or repaired by a mechanic and sold for an affordable price at their shop. Rogers Park

RepairCafé Chicago - Repair Café is a free meeting place for neighbors to help each other repair things. The idea was born in Amsterdam in 2009 and is now an international movement. (Repair Cafe International Site) Location Varies

REstore (by Habitat for Humanity) - Here you can donate overstock and secondhand home items like furniture, appliances, home decor and building materials. You can also shop for these items instead of buying new- all of them are 50%-80% off the original retail value. Proceeds from sales support Habitat’s work to build and preserve homes for local families. Sauganash

Secondhand Sales Sites - Used goods can be sold locally in a variety of ways. Options include Offerup, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor.com’s sales page. (You can also list items for free- it’s a great way to get rid of stuff!) Additional sites that primarily allow you to sell online (instead of locally) include ThredUp, Poshmark, The RealReal, Mercari, and more.

The Wasteshed - A creative reuse center that collects reusable art and school supplies that would otherwise be thrown away and makes them available to teachers, artists, and anyone who needs them, at a low cost. Humboldt Park and Evanston

Working Bikes - Working Bikes gives donated bicycles new life by redistributing them as tools of empowerment in local and global communities. Since its inception in 1999, the amazing community of Working Bikes volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters have enabled new life for 100,000 bicycles across the globe and tens of thousands here in Chicago. Little Village

Habitat for Humanity REStore- donate or buy overstock and secondhand appliances here. Prices are 50%-80% off the original retail value. Sauganash

Rebuilding Exchange and Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse - Accept and resell used appliances that still work but are no longer needed. Bucktown and Evanston

• Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange - A nonprofit organization committed to the creative reuse and redistribution of surplus materials for arts, non-profit, education in the Chicago area. Auburn Gresham

• The Wasteshed - A creative reuse center that collects reusable art and school supplies that would otherwise be thrown away and makes them available to teachers, artists, and anyone who needs them, at a low cost. Humboldt Park and Evanston

Share Our Spare - Accepts many baby supplies, nursing supplies, toys, equipment, and other items in new or like new condition. Old Irving Park

• The Recyclery - This nonprofit bike shop will take your used bicycles, bike parts, and tools! Bicycles donated to them may be given away to someone who needs them through their

• Freecyclery program, used in their youth classes, or repaired by a mechanic and sold for an affordable price at their shop. Rogers Park

• Working Bikes - Working Bikes gives donated bicycles new life by redistributing them as tools of empowerment in local and global communities. Little Village

• Open Books - This is a nonprofit that provides literacy experiences for tens of thousands of readers each year through inspiring programs and the sale of new and used donated books. West Loop, Pilsen, River North and Skokie

• Little Free Library - Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that promotes neighborhood book exchanges, usually in the form of a public bookcase. Check the map on the website to find your nearest location. Multiple locations

• BoxDibs - Accepts used moving boxes to pass on to others who need them. They also have a Facebook Group that is the main mechanism for finding boxes near you. Online Only

• EcoShip Chicago - This group is dedicated to collecting, reusing, and distributing used shipping materials all throughout Chicago. They accept SOME small boxes- check the website to confirm. Multiple

• Rebuilding Exchange and Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse - Rebuilding Exchange will take your donated building materials so they can find a second home instead of going to a landfill. Additionally, they offer deconstruction services and educational workshops. Bucktown and Evanston

• Refinity Candle - Glass candle holders cannot be recycled, but they can be reused and made into new candles. Right now they are only accepting 8 oz candle containers with lids, 12 oz candle containers with lids, and any previous Refinity candle containers. Check out the link for dropoff locations!

• The Exchange - will buy your gently used, still functional merchandise, including CDs from major and indie labels, vinyl records, video games, controllers, headsets, batteries, magazines, VHS, DVDs, Blu-rays, headphones, stereo equipment, speakers, and more. East Lakeview, Wicker Park

• Reckless Records - will buy your unwanted CDs, DVDs, and vinyl. They buy at all locations every day up to an hour before closing time. The Loop, Wicker Park, and East Lakeview

• Buy Nothing and Freebox - The Buy Nothing Project allows neighbors to participate in the circular economy through sharing things with one another, without having to acquire any new items OR spend any money. Simply log in, search “Buy Nothing (Your Neighborhood’s Name),” and see what pops up. (Some groups use the term “Freebox” instead- we would also recommend checking for that). If you’re not on Facebook, you could download the app through their website above. Online Only

• Cradles to Crayons - Accept a wide variety of gently used children’s clothing and outerwear. Accepted items can be found at the link, and dropoffs can be found here. Multiple

• Secondhand Sales Sites - Used goods can be sold locally in a variety of ways. Options include Offerup, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor.com’s sales page. (You can also list items for free- it’s a great way to get rid of stuff!) Additional sites that primarily allow you to sell online (instead of locally) include ThredUp, Poshmark, The RealReal, Mercari, and more.

• Share Our Spare- accepts many baby, infant, and maternity clothing items in new or very good condition. Old Irving Park

• Holzbrennen Studio - Accepts fabric remnants/scraps and upholstery samples (especially faux and genuine leather) to create bags, keychains, earrings, and more. 15% of the sales of the Round Two Up-Cycled Goods line of products is donated to Sierra Club. Contact via email to coordinate pick-up or drop-off at holzbrennenstudio@gmail.com.

• Food Pantries - there are obviously MANY food pantries in Chicago to choose from. A full map can be found HERE.

• Love Fridges - If you have unexpired food items you cannot use (or don’t want), you can bring it to one of the many love fridges throughout Chicagoland. Locations in the link! Multiple

• Chicago Furniture Bank - This nonprofit organization serves as an intermediary between Chicagoans who have extra furniture and those who need it. They provide furnishing packages that include beds, couches, armchairs, dressers, desks, end tables, coffee tables, kitchen tables + chairs, dish ware, rugs, lamps, artwork, mirrors, and more. Brighton Park

• Digs with Dignity - elevates the lives of those transitioning from homelessness by filling their houses with everything that makes a comfortable, dignified home. They accept a wide variety of home furnishings. McKinley Park

• Humble Design - custom designs and fully furnishes home interiors for individuals, families and veterans emerging from homelessness. Accepts donated furniture to accomplish this. Canaryville

• Rebuilding Exchange and Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse - they have an online store where you can view current used furniture in stock. Bucktown and Evanston

• REstore (by Habitat for Humanity) - Here you can donate overstock and secondhand home items like furniture, appliances, home decor and building materials. You can also shop for these items instead of buying new- all of them are 50%-80% off the original retail value. Proceeds from sales support Habitat’s work to build and preserve homes for local families. Sauganash

Sili + Bells Bead Bar - Accepts end-of-life (unusable) leather products with the exception of shoes. Leather is upcycled into jewelry by a local artist. Drop off in Lakeview. Contact by email at janara@silibells.com or 312.945.8740 (business text).

• Digs with Dignity - They accept twin, full and queen mattresses only - in gently used condition with no stains. Mattresses require a truck pick up. They offer one truck pick up each month with 8-12 spots available. They require a minimum donation of $50 for a truck pick up to cover the truck, labor and gas. Donors should fill out their online furniture donation form and someone from the Digs with Dignity team will be in touch.

• Devices 4 the Disabled- Donations help Devices 4 the Disabled (D4D) cover the costs for the pickup, repair, storage and delivery of durable medical equipment including walkers, wheelchairs and lift devices. Brighton Park

• Project C.U.R.E - To help provide the necessary medical equipment and supplies that doctors and nurses around the world need to save lives, we need surplus medical supplies donated from hospitals, manufacturers, medical facilities, and individuals.

• St Gertrude Medical Lending Closet - Donations of medical equipment in good condition are accepted. The Lending Closet will now accept UNOPENED PACKAGES of medical supplies such as gloves, gauze bandages, alcohol wipes, bed pads, adult briefs, Q-tips, and disposable wash clothes. Edgewater

• The Anti-Cruelty Society - Donate gently used items on their list for reuse, please check website or call to confirm accepted items. River North

• Chicago Animal Care and Control - Donate gently used items on their list for reuse, please check website or call to confirm accepted items. Heart of Chicago

• Felines and Canines - Donate gently used items on their list for reuse, please check website or call to confirm accepted items. Edgewater

• One Tail at a Time - Wish list varies based on needs. Check website to confirm! Bucktown

• PAWS Chicago - Donate gently used items on their list for reuse, please check website or call to confirm accepted items. Lincoln Park

• Digs with Dignity - Pillows must be in gently used condition – no stained or ripped pillows are accepted. They do not accept king sized pillows at this time. Pillows may be dropped off at their warehouse located at 1965 W. Pershing, dock 7 north. The warehouse hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 10-3:00pm. Back of the Yards

• Holzbrennen Studio - Accepts #6 plastic to create shrinky dink jewelry and pins as well as fabric remnants/scraps and upholstery samples (especially faux and genuine leather) to create bags, keychains, earrings, and more. 15% of the sales of the Round Two Up-Cycled Goods line of products is donated to Sierra Club. Contact via email to coordinate pick-ups or drop-off at holzbrennenstudio@gmail.com.

• Reuse them as Pet Waste Bags - if you have a dog, plastic bags from newspapers, bread, tortillas, baby carrots, and small shipped items make excellent poop bags! They replace your need to buy any new manufactured plastic (or non-plastic) product to dispose of waste, saving you money and giving a non-recyclable item a second life before it goes to a landfill. Larger bags are great for disposing of litter box waste as well.

• One Tail at a Time - Clean and empty prescription pill bottles can be dropped off for reuse at Ellis Veterinary Clinic on Tuesday - Saturday, anytime between 9am-5pm. Leave bottles in a bag labeled as a donation by the back door. West Town - 635 N Western

• Chicago Tool Library - Instead of buying new, you could rent a wide variety of tools (and other items) from Chicago Tool Library. You can also donate your used items to this nonprofit. Bridgeport

• Community Glue - This workshop’s goals are to divert repairable items from the waste stream, or repurpose them if needed. They host monthly free workshops that bring together community members who can fix with those whose items need fixing. Edgewater

• RepairCafé Chicago - Repair Café is a free meeting place for neighbors to help each other repair things. Location Varies

• Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange - A nonprofit organization committed to the redistribution of surplus materials for arts, non-profit, education in the Chicago area. Accepts gently used school and office supplies. Auburn Gresham

• The Wasteshed - A creative reuse center that collects reusable art and school supplies that would otherwise be thrown away and makes them available to teachers, artists, and anyone who needs them, at a low cost. Humboldt Park and Evanston

• EcoShip Chicago - This group brings together individuals who have used shipping materials they no longer need with those who own businesses that could use them, via a network of drop-off locations. Multiple

• Dignity Diner - Takes items like packaged takeout silverware, plates, cups, coffee. Contact for more information on what to donate. Lincoln Park