Resources

Donate

  • Edmonton's Reuse and Recycle Directory is an amazing resource to find a home for the things you want to give away. Just type in your item, press Go, and it will give you a list of places in need of your stuff! 
  • DeliverGood matches charities and non-profits who need stuff with people and companies who have stuff. This is a brilliant resource. Visit DeliverGood.org to see if there is a charity in your area who needs what you have. 

  • The Freecycle and Earthcycle groups offer a community to pass along the things you are no longer using to other members.
Edmonton, Sherwood Park, and Camrose have Freecycle groups.
www.freecycle.org
This is another recycle group in Edmonton.
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/EdmontonEarthcycle/
  • Goodwill is a thrift shop which offers many drop-off locations. Check out goodwill.org for the location nearest you.
  • The Edmonton MCC Thrift Shop welcomes donations of used and new items.
  • The Salvation Army Thrift Store accepts clothing and household goods at the store or in the drop bins. They have a pick up service as well. 
  • County Clothes-Line Foundation accepts donations of clothing and household goods. The sales fund projects within Strathcona County. Located in Sherwood Park.
  • Bissell Thrift Shoppe has been serving Edmonton for decades, providing an economical alternative for shopping and a place to donate clothing and household goods.
  • Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta has many drop off bins in Edmonton and Sherwood Park. They even have a pick-up service.
  • Habitat for Humanity runs their ReStores to generate funds which support their local building programs. They are a building supply store that accepts and resells quality new and used building materials. They accept a wide range of new and gently used items. Commonly donated items include windows, doors, paint, hardware, lumber, tools, lighting fixtures, furniture and appliances. It's an excellent place to drop off that perfectly working sink from your last renovation or that extra box of tiles you won't use. Contact your nearest ReStore to determine if what you have can be donated to your local store. There are two in Edmonton and one in Camrose.
  • Find is an initiative of Homeward Trust Edmonton. Find accepts donations of gently used, quality home furnishings. The greatest need is for good condition sofas, couches, and chairs, along with dressers and tables (coffe/end/kitchen). 
  • Suit Yourself is an Edmonton-based charitable organization which collects and distributes quality clothing and accessories, free of charge, to low-income women who are seeking employment or making a transition in the workforce. They accepts gently-worn suits, blazers, pants, skirts, office dresses, shirts/blouses in all sizes, dress shoes/boots, jewelry, accessoriesand outerwear. They provide clients with current styles that have a professional look. They ask that clothing be clean, in ready-to-wear condition, and less than 5 years old. 
  • The Brick Sports Central accepts gently used sports equipment. They help kids where a need exists. Edmonton area is the first priority, but many other communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, BC, Quebec, the Territories and even overseas receive help.
  • Electronic Recycling Association provides donation and recycling programs for your electronics. ERA will remove your data, refurbish, and give it away to some very happy charities. They will even pick up. 
  • Books. Libraries will accept donations of books. If they can not be used in their collections they will add them to their yearly book sales which help to generate money for the library. Please visit their sites to find their donating criteria. Edmonton Public Library and Strathcona County Library.
  • The Reuse Centre accepts a variety of items such as arts and crafts supplies, office and school supplies, paper and plastic products and much more.

To Sell or give away
You can list items to sell or give away online.  
  • Kijiji.com
  • Craigslist.com
  • Ebay.com


Consignment stores are an option to sell up-to-date clothes in excellent condition. Check google or yellow pages for listings.


Recycle
  • Alberta Recycling offers information on recycling and where you can drop off.                        Alberta Recycling Hotline 1-800-463-6326 
    For answers to all your recycling questions.
  • Edmonton Eco Stations are comprehensive waste drop-off facilities. Check for hours, locations, and a full list of accepted items. 
    • Bring your household hazardous waste such as leftover paint, oven cleaner and car batteries at no charge!
    • Bring your electrical appliances, old computer monitors, toasters, printers, power tools, etc. at no charge (Charges apply to items requiring CFC removal)
    • Bring your big bulky items like old sofas, fencing and rubble, anything you might take to a landfill. (Charges apply).
    • Bring your household recyclables such as newspaper, metal cans, milk jugs, old clothing and textiles, and more!
  • Phones For Food. Rogers and Fido sponsor the Phones For Food program which allows people to recycle their phones while raising funds for Food Banks Canada.
  • Call 2 Recycle is an online site that shows battery and cell phone recycling drop off locations.
  • "Best Buy offers customers three options for recycling their electronics at our retail locations across the country:
    -Battery Recycling
    -Small Electronics Recycling (e.g. cell phones, MP3 players, portable DVD players)
    -General Electronics Recycling (e.g. TVs, personal computers and peripheral devices)
    Every one of our retail locations can accept batteries weighing less than five pounds for recycling, however, the number of additional recycling services we offer varies by location."
    Phone ahead to see what the location nearest you will accept. 

Closet Organizers

If you choose to get professional help to custom build a closet system or office that works for you, then there are local companies that will give you design consultation and do installation for you. I will come before your design consult to help pare down your things and determine your needs. This way they will be designing the closet or office for what best suits your needs today. No sense wasting your money on storing that hat from the 80’s you no longer want! When the installation is finished I can come back and help put things in their new homes in the best way possible.  

California Closets
http://www.californiaclosets.com/edmonton
Edmonton

Top Shelf Closets and Glass   
http://www.tscg.ca/
Edmonton

Closets by Design
http://www.closetsbydesign.com/locations/ClosetsByDesign-Edmonton
Edmonton


Scrapbooking
The Scrap Rack carries a system that will help to organize your scrapbook supplies. http://thescraprack.com/


Products

A fabulous invention to stay organized for auditory learners and many others. You write with their smart pen and then it will read your notes back to you.  It will send your written notes wirelessly to your computer and devices. I think we’ve just crossed over into Star Trek territory!
http://www.livescribe.com/en-ca/
Check out the Lifesaver Organizing Pinterest page for some great organizing ideas and tips.
I'd love to hear of any local places to donate or recycle. Send me an email and I'll add it to the list.