30+ Ways To Responsibly Dispose Of Old Books (Sell, Donate, & Recycle)
Thrift stores receive a lot of donations, often of things they can’t sell, so local thrift shops can be good homes for a lot of things, but they aren’t always our best first option.
What To Do With Old Books
I’ve compiled a list of alternative places to sell or donate used books you no longer want or need to help reduce waste and limit what languishes in landfills, so fewer of our old books end up in the trash.
Where To Sell Used Books
Consider selling some of your old books when you’re ready to part with them; there are several outlets where you can sell used books. Selling used books can help reduce waste and keep perfectly good books out of the trash.
Sell Used Books to Local Independent Bookshops + Half Price Books Stores
Many secondhand bookstores will accept current books in good condition that are popular for resale in exchange for cash or store credit; some stores will give you a better exchange rate if you accept store credit instead of cash, while others will accept walk-in consultations during which they will review the books.
Sell Used Books on Facebook Marketplace
You could also sell books on Facebook Marketplace; most people will be less interested in picking up a single book or two; someone is much more likely to pay for and pick up a set of 15 or 20 Magic Tree House books than to make such a trip for one or two books.
Sell Used Books Online Using BookScouter.com
BookScouter.com is an online platform that compares pricing for various online book buyers. Simply type in the ISBN for your book and you’ll see a table of pricing offers from a variety of online book buyers.
Sell Used Books on Amazon & eBay
You can scan a book’s ISBN number to determine the general selling price on Amazon. You’ll have to work directly with buyers and manage shipping, but it’s a great option if you can coordinate shipping.
Where To Donate Books
There are many options for donating used books if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of resale. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of resale, consider donating books to a larger organization that supplies books to underserved communities.
Gift Books To Family and Friends
If you’re looking for a new home for your old books, don’t be afraid to donate them; if they don’t need or want them, friends and family can help you find a new home for them.
Giveaway Books In A Buy Nothing Group or Via FreeCycle
Always post items to your Buy Nothing Group before throwing them in the trash; you never know what a neighbor will appreciate. If you don’t have one in your area, check your local FreeCycle group for freecycle listings.measure.org/buying-nothing
Donate Books To A Little Free Library
Little Free Libraries are small free-standing book cabinets that help people rehome books in their communities. You can take a book or donate a book to the Little Free Library at no cost, and it’s a fun way to foster a sense of community.
Host a Neighborhood Book Swap
Neighborhood book swaps are a great way to get to know your neighbors better, and Book Riot has some great ideas for how to host one. Check out their suggestions for a successful neighborhood book swap.
Should I throw away old books?
Books with moldy pages cannot be recycled and must be thrown away to prevent the mold from spreading to other books; however, if a book cannot be reused or given new life in another way, it is perfectly acceptable to recycle it.
How do I dispose of old hardcover books?
Hardcover Books in the Garbage Bin While you can throw your hardcover books in the trash, we recommend donating them to a local thrift or used book store so that others can enjoy them! You can also remove the cover and binding to recycle the hardcover book’s inside pages.
Does anyone take old books?
04/7 Donate them to a college or local library Local libraries and college libraries would be grateful for your donation, as only true readers and researchers would use them, and your contribution would be greatly appreciated.
What is the best way to dispose of books?
If you want to recycle old books, make sure the pages haven’t turned tan or brown; if they have, toss them in the general waste bin. The same goes for books that have been splashed with liquids; toss them in with your household trash instead.
What can I do with books I no longer want?
Where Can You Donate Books You Don’t Use Anymore?
- Local thrift stores. Goodwill accepts a lot more than clothes.
- Prisons. Prisons desperately need used books.
- Schools. Schools may want your used books.
What can you do with old stuff?
Trash or Recycle Your Stuff. Sell Your Old Stuff. Donate Your Items. Upcycle Your Items. Trash or Recycle Your Stuff.
- Donation Drop-Off u2013 Many organizations will accept any type of donation.
- Donation Pick-Up u2013 Many organizations will come to pick up your donations.
How do you dispose of old encyclopedias?
If you’re looking for a more purposeful use for your old encyclopedias, consider donating them to a local used bookstore or donating them to local schools and libraries.
Can I put magazines in the recycle bin?
Catalogs and magazines: If the catalog or magazine came in a plastic wrapper, remove the wrapper first and then recycle the entire item; these items are frequently removed during the recycling process at a paper mill or a recycling facility.
Does Goodwill accept encyclopedias?
Give the encyclopedia set to Goodwill or The Salvation Army, which accept all kinds of donations, including books and encyclopedia sets.
Who will accept second hand books?
Book Donation Collection Points in London
- The books donated to the London Children’s Book Project are cleaned and sorted by age and topic before being distributed to their partner organizations.
- Octavia Foundation.
- British Heart Foundation.
- Oxfam.
- Fara Charity Shops.
- Fara Charity Shops.
Do charity shops Wash clothes before selling them?
People occasionally ask if clothes donated to charity shops are washed before they go on sale; I can’t speak for every charity shop, but in general, I would say no. As a side note, the steamers used in charity shops are incredible.
How do I donate books to the library?
If you have books to donate, start by contacting your local public library; many libraries, or the Friends of the Library group, hold regular book sales and welcome appropriate materials for resale. Some libraries have donation guidelines posted on their website, while others will require you to call.
What to do with books after reading them?
8 Things to Do with Books You Won’t Read Anymore
- Sell them online.
- Look for a local missionary group to take them.
- Donate magazines to local clinics.
- Donate magazines to a local school.
- Donate magazines to the troops and veterans.
- Use the pages for crafts.