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Well done you! You have done an amazing job decluttering some of your clutter! But now you have bags and boxes of unwanted items to dispose of. Decluttering can be an overwhelming job all on its own, let alone deciding what to do with everything you have decided to get rid of.
I have done some of the groundwork and I am here to help!
As part of the services provided at Perfectly Organised Interiors, I offer to take away all unwanted items free of charge and pass on donations on your behalf. Below is a list of my top 6 favourite options for recycling and disposing of unwanted items.
There are so many ways we can dispose of unwanted items, hopefully I can help you find an option that works for you. These options are aimed for those living in Christchurch, New Zealand, however I am sure you can find similar options near you.
#1 SPCA OP SHOPS
Local SPCA Op Shops are a great option for donating unwanted items. The SPCA (Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated) is a charity that relies heavily on donations and volunteers to be able to rescue, provide medical assistance and essential care and to provide a home until a home is found, saving the lives of many animals in need throughout New Zealand. The SPCA also provides free education to children in schools to teach children about animal welfare, respect, responsibility, understanding and compassion.
They will happily accept items that are in good sellable condition, e.g., not broken, damaged, stained or torn.
All profits from donations go towards helping the SPCA do the amazing work that they do. With locations throughout New Zealand, an SPCA can be found near you. Christchurch has 2 handy locations:
Riccarton Op Shop - 52 Acheron Drive, Riccarton, Christchurch 8041
Woolston Op Shop - 656 Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch 8023
For more information or to find an SPCA op shop near you, Click Here.
#2 H&M
I find this next option very interesting!
To help reduce textile waste, the clothing store H&M have a Garment Collecting program, where old or unwanted garments are collected at all participating H&M Stores. Items are then given a new life.
All textile items, in any condition are welcome!
(This is major! As a lot of places can be picky about what they accept)
A partner company sorts donated items into 3 categories:
re-wear (clothes that still have wear left in them and can be sold as second-hand items)
reuse (textiles that will be turned into something else, such as cleaning cloths/rags).
recycle (items to be turned into textile fibres and used for things like insulation).
For every bag of textiles donated, you will receive a discount card with up to 15% off your next in-store purchase. If this is a store you like to shop at, this can be a great incentive for you!
** Due to Covid-19 related issues, services may be temporarily disrupted. For more information, please contact your local H&M Store. **
#3 Dress for Success Christchurch
Dress for Success Christchurch is a community funded Charity in Christchurch providing woman in need with the necessary tools, support and clothing required to thrive in the workforce.
Dress for Success Christchurch is always in need of donations of good quality clothing, accessories, and footwear in good condition, that is suitable as attire for Job Interviews. Donations can be dropped off at any Maxwells Dry Cleaning.
To find your closest Maxwells, Click Here.
There are currently 7 Dress for success affiliates in New Zealand, for more information or to find your local affiliate, Click Here.
#4 Recycle Boutique
Christchurch has two Recycle Boutique stores; One in the CBD on High Street and the other is the wonderful Tannery on Garlands Rd in Woolston. Recycle Boutiques Specialise in high quality recycled clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Accepted items can be sold on your behalf and up to 50% of the sale price can then be reimbursed back to you.
Click Here, to find a Recycle Boutique near you.
#5 Junkman
The Junkman is a fantastic option if you have a lot of items to dispose of and am unable to do it on your own. These guys will come and pick it up, clean up and take it all away for you. They even sort the items and donate, recycle, upcycle and reuse materials wherever they can.
The Dump Shuttle costs start from as little as $65 for small to medium loads or for larger loads they offer Trailer Skip Hire from $380.
#6 Sell (Trademe & Facebook Marketplace)
If you have the time and patience, selling your unwanted items is a great way to make some extra pocket money. Trademe and Facebook Market Place are both common places to go to sell your goods online. I personally prefer Trademe, as the sale process is more reliable. Facebook Marketplace does however have the benefit of free selling. Trademe charges a success fee for each item sold, unless they have a special on, which they sometimes do. For example, sometimes they have free selling for $1 reserve items or free selling in certain categories or certain days.
There are many other places to pass on your unwanted items. Including a few special programs with the aim of helping others in need. Some of these include:
Angel Gowns – A place that turns donated Wedding gowns into gowns for stillborn babies.
** (Angel Gowns are however not currently taking donations, as they have plenty for now) **
The Lions Club in Ferrymead, Christchurch collect unwanted glasses frames to recondition and send off to help people in need, in the Pacific Islands.
If you have any old unwanted glasses frames, they can be dropped off to most optometrists for distribution or you can send them directly to one of the Lions Clubs.
For Christchurch residents, to send directly, the address to use is:
Lion Neil Pugh
Convenor
P O Box 10 187 Philipstown
Christchurch, 8145
For more information on how and where to recycle a certain item, a great place to look is your local city council website. Click Here, for Christchurch City Council information on Rubbish, Recycling and Organics.
If you have any interesting places to recycle unwanted items in Christchurch that you know of or you love supporting, please comment, I would love to hear about them!
Thanks for Reading!!
KB xx
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