Donating and reusing household goods in Madison

Start with the city's reuse list

The City of Madison keeps a "Donate, Reuse, Resell" page that lists resale stores, specialty donation sites and local sharing options, and it says the list is not exhaustive. It's a good first stop for items that don't fit the categories below, such as art supplies, fabric or baby items, and it points to Freecycle Madison and neighborhood sharing groups for giving things away directly. To browse rather than donate, see our thrift and vintage directory.

Furniture, appliances and building materials

Habitat for Humanity of Dane County runs two ReStores that sell reusable furniture, appliances and building materials: ReStore West at 6201 Odana Road and ReStore East at 4207 Monona Drive. Its donation page lists items it accepts, including:

• Furniture such as dressers, tables, chairs, sofas, shelving and bed frames (frames only).
• Kitchen and bathroom cabinets and vanities, with all doors and drawers.
• Newer working appliances, lumber and other building materials, sinks, doors, lighting, and working tools.

It does not take paint or stain, recliners, futons, sleeper sofas, file cabinets, electronics, clothing or household items. Donations must be in working order and free of mold, water damage and, as far as you know, lead paint or hazardous materials.

The ReStore offers free pickup for select items such as cabinet sets, appliances and building materials, and lists a separate partner service for priority pickup. See its donation page for contacts and drop-off hours. For a whole-house cleanout, a junk removal company is the other option.

Clothing and household goods

Thrift stores run by nonprofits take clothing and household items, and each one has its own do-not-accept list.

Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin says it accepts clothing, accessories and shoes, books and media, household items, toys and games, jewelry and collectibles, and furniture that's already assembled. It won't take building materials, cribs, car seats, large appliances, mattresses, paint or recalled products. Use the Find a Donation Center page on Goodwill's website for locations near you.

St. Vincent de Paul Madison says it takes gently used clothing, furniture and household items at its thrift stores, including its Williamson Street store (1309 Williamson St.) and Odana Road store (6301 Odana Rd.), plus stores in Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona and Waunakee. It also offers free home pickup of clean, working items, with pickup days that vary by area. It does not take broken items, mattresses, computers, televisions, large appliances or cribs.

Open Doors for Refugees asks you to contact it with photos and get confirmation before dropping off furniture. The city's reuse page links this and other nonprofits.

Food donations

Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin at 2802 Dairy Drive says each $10 given can provide up to 25 meals, and that cash is the most effective way to help because it lets the foodbank buy fresh food. If you'd rather give food, its Host a Drive page explains how to collect non-perishables with your own boxes or bins, or with a barrel you pick up from the Dairy Drive site. It links to a most-needed list.

The River Food Pantry (3301 Packers Ave.) has a donation bin in its back parking lot that it says is available at any time. It takes unexpired, unopened shelf-stable food, hygiene and cleaning supplies and pet food. It also takes clean clothing and household items in good condition, but not furniture, perishable food, medications or electronics. See our volunteering guide if you'd rather give time.

Electronics and hazardous waste

Electronics don't go in carts or at the curb in Madison. City residents can drop them off for free at the three city drop-off sites: 4602 Sycamore Ave., 402 South Point Rd. and 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway. The city says that if an item has a plug or runs on batteries, it will probably take it. Goodwill says it recycles electronics free at its South Central locations, except the Outlet.

Dane County Clean Sweep at 7020 Maahic Way takes household chemicals such as paint, stains, pesticides, solvents, antifreeze and most batteries, plus some refrigerant-containing appliances. It accepts electronics only from Dane County residents and K-12 schools, and it charges fees for some items, which are on its page. It does not take CFL bulbs, smoke detectors, medication or sharps. Our trash and recycling guide covers the drop-off sites in more detail.

Books

Madison Public Library accepts new or gently used books, magazines, DVDs and music or books on CD. It doesn't take encyclopedias, dictionaries, VHS tapes, textbooks or damaged books. Not every branch is taking donations and some limit the amount per day, so check the donation page. At the Central Library, drop off one or two boxes at the Friends' Book Store. Donated items that don't join the collection go to the Friends of Madison Public Library's book sales, and the proceeds buy new materials. Browse our libraries directory to find your branch.

Bikes and tools

Freewheel takes bikes and bike parts in any condition. It says donations go to its Build-A-Bike classes, are refurbished and sold to fund operations, or are sent to Africa. You can email or call to arrange a pickup in the Madison area, or drop off at 31 S. Mills St. during open shop hours, which its site lists as noon to 4 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month. If a bike just needs a tune-up, a local bike shop can help.

If you need a tool once rather than a permanent one, Madison Tool Library rents tools and equipment to Madison residents and neighbors through a membership. Its site doesn't mention accepting tool donations, so ask before dropping anything off.

Before you go

• Check the organization's current accepted-items list. They differ more than you'd expect.
• Clean items first. The River asks that clothing be washed before you bring it.
• Don't leave items unattended at drop-off areas. St. Vincent de Paul and The River both ask for this.
• Anything a charity can't take may still go to the city drop-off sites, Clean Sweep or a junk removal service.