This is a list of Twin Cities area resources to help you get rid of yard waste, papers, clothing and any other type of household items you no longer need. This list will be added to and updated as needed.
CLEAN UP YOUR YARD
YARD WASTE COLLECTION SITES
Each county offers free yard waste collection sites or assistance for its residents. At these sites you can often pick up free compost for your garden (while it lasts). They may also offer junk collection days where you drop off items like tires or electronics and even hazardous waste for a discount. Check out your local county website for locations and times:
SHRED YOUR PAPERS
Upcoming Free Paper Shredding Events:
Thursday, May 30th:
2:30pm-4pm. Shred Right at Groves Academy. 3200 Highway 100 South, St. Louis Park, MN 55416. A $5 suggested donation per box will go to benefit Groves Academy!
Saturday, June 1st:
8am-2pm. Shred Right at Washington County: Forest Lake. 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake, MN.
9am-noon. Shred Right at First Resource Bank. 7449 Village Dr., Lino Lakes, MN 55014.
Saturday, June 8th:
9:30am-noon. Shred Right at Bank Cherokee-North Oaks. 999 Village Center Dr., North Oaks, MN 55127.
Saturday, June 15th:
9am-noon. Shred Right at Community Pride Bank-Ham Lake. 1441 Bunker Lake Blvd. NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304.
Friday, July 12th:
9am-2pm. Shred Right at Washington County: Woodbury. 4039 Cottage Grove Dr., Woodbury, MN.
Saturday, July 13th:
11am-1pm. Shred Right at Klein Bank: St. Bonifacius. 8900 Highway 7., St. Bonifacius, MN.
SELL YOUR ITEMS
Once Upon a Child is the largest kids resale franchise in North America. They buy and sell gently used kids clothing, toys and baby gear and pay you on the spot. (I sold items here once – you can leave the items with them while you shop or come back later. They didn’t want most of my items [I mostly had used baby toys], but gave me about $7 for a few. I used it to buy more kids stuff!)
Clothes Mentor buys and sells used women’s clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories. This is the place to sell higher-end, brand name items. They have 9 locations in the Twin Cities area.
Turn Style buys and sells used women’s and men’s clothing as well as home furnishings. They have 11 locations in the Twin Cities area.
NuLook Consignment carries women’s, men’s, children’s and maternity clothing and accessories. Items must be 3 years old or newer. You must make an appointment for consignment.
Plato’s Closet buys and sells the latest looks in brand name gently used clothing and accessories for teen and twenty something guys and girls (think Gap, Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc.). They have locations in Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Roseville, Minnetonka and Woodbury.
Half Price Books will pay you cash for your books, music, movies, games, game consoles, e-readers, and you can spend this cash in the store or take it home with you. “We pay the most for recent bestsellers and collectibles, but we’re also interested in good books, music and movies of all kinds. The primary factors we consider when buying used merchandise of any kind are: 1.) condition 2.) supply and demand.” (I sold a boxful of books at Half Price Books for $2. Not much, but I wanted to get rid of them.)
Craigslist is a free service to buy and sell anything locally. I’ve sold, given away or bought furniture, clothing, sporting goods and appliances on craigslist.
DONATE YOUR ITEMS
To get full tax-deductible value out of your donated items, my tax preparer recommended itemizing or photographing your donations and attaching to the receipt provided at the donation center.
GENERAL REUSABLE HOUSEHOLD
These stores accept donations and will give you a tax-deductible receipt. Some will also give you a coupon for your next purchase (usually with an expiration date).
Thrift Stores
Savers – Every time you donate reusable clothing and household items either to them or directly to us at one of our stores via a Community Donation Center, we pay them. Over the past 10 years, we’ve paid more than $1.5 billion! (Donate and receive a coupon for 20-30% off your next purchase.)
Unique Thrift Store – Unique Thrift Stores are committed to giving back to the community through partnerships with several local charities.
Goodwill – Goodwill stores throughout Minnesota and in Hudson, WI, use your donated goods to support programs that help prepare people for work.
Arc’s Value Village – Whenever you shop or donate at Arc’s Value Village, you’re helping children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. All proceeds go to support Arc Greater Twin Cities’ programs and services.
Salvation Army – By shopping or giving at the Twin Cities area Salvation Army stores, you are helping to fund a life-saving rehabilitation program. To learn about the program, visit the Adult Rehabilitation Center website. Proceeds from stores in Greater Minnesota and North Dakota are used to support basic needs programs.
Websites
Twin Cities Free Market connects potential givers and takers of any type of item. The Free Market program was the first web based residential exchange program that specifically targeted the exchange of reusable and durable household goods. You have to register (for free) to give away or search for items, and you can’t charge anything for items you’re getting rid of.
Freecycle also connects potential givers and takers of any type of item. It’s similar to Twin Cities Free Market in that you have to register (for free), but is a network of groups around the world.
HOME BUILDING SUPPLIES
Habit for Humanity ReStore in New Brighton accepts just about any type of building supplies, from working appliances to bricks to countertops. Donations are tax deductible and 100% of proceeds support Habitat’s mission. Plus, you’ll be keeping good, reusable materials in use and out of landfills. We get donations from individuals, building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews and various businesses.
CAR SEATS
REseat Car Seat Recycling – Recycle used infant and toddler car seats for $10 per seat. See website for year round drop off locations.
MEDICINE DROPOFF
Ramsey County has two free drop box locations for residents to drop off medicines. They accept prescription, over-the-counter and pet medicines. Needles and syringes are NOT accepted at these locations (except full epi-pens), BUT they are accepted FREE year-round at Ramsey County’s hazardous waste collection site at Bay West (ramseyatoz.com) or call 651-633-EASY (3279).
Hennepin County has six free drop box locations for residents to drop off medicines. Same as Ramsey County, except check their website for where to drop off needles and syringes.
Live in another County? Check your county’s website for locations available to you.
OTHER STUFF
Not sure where to donate your items? Call United Way at 211 for help.
For an excellent, more comprehensive list of resources for donating and managing your stuff around the Twin Cities area, visit Time to Organize’s website and click on their resources page. (Time to Organize is a business that offers organizing assistance for Twin Cities residents.)
where is a free paper shredding location in bloomington, mn