Tips, Trends & Living March 6, 2025

Cut the Clutter: Donation & Recycling Locations Around the Sound

Spring is coming, and with it comes a chance to clear out the old and start fresh—whether it’s those ever-growing piles in your garage and attic, that closet you can barely close, or a horror-movie-inspired basement. Here are resources to reclaim your space and put your unwanted items to good use (or recycle and give them their own fresh start)…

Donations  |  Recycling  |  Disposal

 


Donations

 

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BARGAIN BOUTIQUE

Furniture/furnishings, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, and new or gently used men’s, women’s or children’s clothing. Be sure to check items they don’t accept.

seattlechildrens.org/giving/bargain-boutiques

Estates: (206) 327-3067

Vehicles: (888) 205-8941

Bainbridge Island: 1050 Hildebrand Lane, Suite G-1 | Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 | (206) 842-5567

Olympia: 2020 Harrison Ave. NW | Olympia, WA 98502-5097 | (360) 236-8245

 

GOODWILL

Accepts donations of a wide range of items, from exercise equipment, to clothes and home decor items and furniture. Net proceeds help fund job training and education programs.

evergreengoodwill.org/donate-goods

Locations

 

KIDVANTAGE

Donate your quality used children’s clothing, shoes, baby gear, toys, books, bedding, and maternity clothing. You’ll help to fill the nearly 4,000 orders of essentials that they provide to underprivileged children and expectant moms each week.

kidvantagenw.org/donate-goods

Issaquah: 1510 NW Maple St. | Issaquah, WA 98027 | (425) 865-0234

Shoreline: 17230 12th Ave NE | Shoreline, WA 98155 | (425) 209-1136

Bremerton: 1463 NE Dawn Road, Suite B | Bremerton, WA 98311 | (360) 616-0235

 

MARY’S PLACE

Gratefully accepts gently used clothing, luggage, twin size sheets/blankets, paperback books, and small household items (dishware, utensils, mugs, and small appliances such as microwaves) to distribute to families in need.

marysplaceseattle.org/get-involved/share-your-stuff

Donation Center: 4521 6th Ave S. | Seattle, WA 98108

Shelter (small donations only): 720 Blanchard St, Seattle

 

NORTHWEST CENTER

Big Blue Trucks accept clothing, household goods, sporting goods, tools, toys & more to support people with disabilities. Here’s what they do and don’t take.

bigbluetruck.org/drop-off-locations

 

NORTHWEST FURNITURE BANK

Furniture bank for homeless families in transition in South King County and Pierce County. Here’s what they accept and you can arrange a pickup if you live within a 25 mile radius of Tacoma.

nwfurniturebank.org/donate

117 Puyallup Ave | Tacoma, WA 98421 | 253-302-3868

 

SAINT FRANCIS HOUSE

Accepts clean, gently used clothing for men, women & children as well as kitchen & household items. All donations are passed on directly to those in need.

stfrancishouseseattle.org/support-us

169 12th Ave | Seattle, WA 98122 | 206-268-0784 

 

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL

Drop off your sorted donations of gently used clothing, housewares, toys, shoes/accessories, linens, books, and electronics to one of their thrift stores (here’s what they don’t accept). $0.89 of every dollar funds programs that provide neighbors with food, clothing, eviction prevention, case management, and more.

svdpseattle.org/thriftstore

Seattle-King County

Tacoma-Pierce County

Everett-Snohomish County

 

SEATTLE’S UNION GOSPEL MISSION

Accepts food, clothing, furniture, vehicles & housewares in their mission to support our homeless neighbors.

ugm.org/donate-goods

Distribution Center: 8226 South 208th Street, Suite G110 | Kent, WA 98032 | (206) 723-5700

Furniture Pick-Up: (507) 593-7024

 

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Recycling/Disposal

 

E-CYCLE WASHINGTON

WA Department of Ecology’s free program for residents to recycle electronics (including TVs, computers, monitors, tablets, & more), with participating locations across the state.

ecyclewa.com

 

FRIENDLY EARTH

Free recycling of electronics, flat screen TVs/monitors, appliances, BBQs, computers, lawn equipment/tractors, motorcycles, & more! Recycling with a fee for copiers/printers, refrigerators, A/C units, solar panels, & large rear-projection TVs. Paid data destruction available as well. Get the full scoop here.

friendlyearth.org

1560 1st Ave S.  |  Seattle, WA 98134

(206) 367-4111

 

ONE GREEN PLANET

Free recycling of electronics, computers, copiers, printers, ink/toner, appliances, bikes/scooters, scrap metal, machinery, phones/chargers, & more. Recycling with a fee for appliances containing Freon, flat screen TVs, tapes/CDs/floppy disks, alkaline batteries, & X-ray film. Here’s the full list.

1greenplanet.com

851 Houser Way North, Suite B  |  Renton, WA 98057

(425) 996-3513

 

RECOLOGY

With a zero waste goal, Recology stores accept hard to recycle items like CFL light bulbs, household batteries, hard-cover books, small electronics/appliances, block Styrofoam, and bicycles. Here’s the fee list for non-customers (if you’re already signed up for their curbside service, you can drop off limited quantities for free).

recology.com

Issaquah: 317 NW Gilman Blvd, #22 | Issaquah, WA 98027

Highline: 15858 First Avenue S, #A100 | Burien, WA 98148

Shoreline: 15235 Aurora Ave. N | Shoreline, WA 98133

 

RUBBISH WORKS

Removal of nonhazardous materials for eco-friendly disposal—up to 50% of hauled away materials are recycled and the rest is donated when possible.

rubbishworks.com

(888) 594-5078

 

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Tips, Trends & Living March 14, 2023

Which Documents Should You Shred, and When?

As the spring cleaning bug hits, many of us will finally be tackling those stacks of paperwork that have been piling up throughout the year.  It’s tempting to chuck it all in the recycle bin and be done with it. However, did you know that it’s actually legal for someone to dig through your trash/recycling once it hits the curb? What’s more, seemingly innocuous documents—like junk mail—can actually contain sensitive info to help someone steal your identity. Scroll down for our list of what you should shred and when (pssst…you can bring it all to our free shredding event happening on Saturday, May 13th from 9am-2pm!).

Shred Immediately

  • Expired IDs & records: passports, driver’s licenses, old insurance cards, identification cards/badges, etc.
  • Utility and credit card bills that have been paid
  • Receipts not needed for tax deductions or warranties
  • ATM receipts
  • Resumes that are no longer needed
  • Junk mail credit card offers
  • Address labels from junk mail and magazines
  • Any unneeded documents containing your address, signature, social security number, PIN, passwords, account numbers, medical records, or other sensitive/private information you wouldn’t want publicly shared

Shred Within a Year

  • Paycheck stubs, once you’ve confirmed the info matches your W-2
  • Bank statements
  • Monthly/quarterly retirement statements (keep annual summaries until you retire or close the account)
  • Medical bills that have been paid

Shred After 6 Years

  • Records from home or condo sales

Shred After 7 Years

  • Tax returns
  • W-2 and 1099 forms
  • Mortgage interest statements
  • Property tax records
  • Statements, cancelled checks, and receipts used as documentation for tax deductions

Do NOT Shred – But Do Store Securely

Keep these items indefinitely in a locked filing cabinet/room, safe, or safe deposit box:

  • Social Security cards
  • Birth certificates
  • Adoption papers
  • Current passports or citizenship documentation
  • Marriage and divorce records
  • Death certificates of family members
  • Deeds & titles for property/automobiles for as long as you own them

 

Save the Date! Free Shredding Event on May 13th

 


While these tips are helpful, they can’t replace the advice of a tax professional. Consult an expert if you have questions.

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© Copyright 2023, Windermere Real Estate/Mercer Island.