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Key Points
- Most thrift stores do not accept box or tube TVs.
- Do not donate electronics with missing cords, chargers, or exposed wiring.
- Be sure to deep clean any kitchen appliances you’re donating, and check if the organization accepts appliances.
Donating items you no longer use to a local thrift store is a great way to give them new life, but there are some items thrift stores can’t accept, and oftentimes, electronics fall into that category, often because they’re outdated, oversized, faulty, or don’t have all of their cords.
Read more below about the electronics thrift stores won’t accept and why.
Meet the Expert
- Jeremy Keen is the director of the ReStore Expertise Hub at Habitat for Humanity International.
- Sara Shannon is the owner of Bargain Thrift Center in Philadelphia.
Box TVs
Jeremy Keen, the director of the ReStore Expertise Hub at Habitat for Humanity International, says many thrift stores can’t accept box-style televisions or large console TVs because they “are costly to dispose of and, in some areas, illegal to throw away.”
“It is also common for stores to turn down old electronics that have hazardous materials, like tube TVs,” Shannon adds.
To safely dispose of old televisions sets, check for for e-waste drop-off sites through your city government or contact an e-waste pickup service.
Tip
Speaking of oversized and dated electronics, some thrift stores, such as St. Vincent DePaul Dig & Save Outlet in Madison, Wisconsin won’t accept is a console stereo, . Check your local thrift store guidelines.
Dirty Kitchen Appliances
Many thrift stores won’t accept large kitchen appliances, but Habitat for Humanity ReStore does. That said, a secondhand store (ReStore included) is not going to accept an appliance that’s covered with food crumbs and grease.
Sara Shannon, the owner of Bargain Thrift Center in Philadelphia, says thrift stores see—and reject—many attempted donations of dirty kitchen appliances.
Before you donate a kitchen appliance, even if it is in perfect working condition, give it a deep clean. Remove any solid dirt particles, wipe off dust, and scrub clean any burnt-on grease and grime.
A good rule to follow: “If you wouldn’t buy it from a thrift store in its current condition, then don’t donate it!” Shannon says.
Tip
If you have vintage equipment that isn’t necessarily fully functional but might appeal to a collector, check with your local vintage store, not thrift store.
“They can be rare and interesting,” Shannon says.
Incomplete Electronics
Shannon says to make sure you include the power cord or the power cord with any device donation.
Similarly Keen says to avoid trying to donate any broken or incomplete electronics, “such as items missing power cords or requiring mechanical repair.”
Any electronics with safety hazards—be it frayed wiring or exposed components—are not acceptable for donation according to Keen.
Can Lighting
Speaking of exposed wiring, the Big Reuse in Brooklyn, New York, can’t accept used canned lighting, for example.
“We do not accept: used recessed lights, high hats, or bulbs, including those that contain mercury,” the Big Reuse site says.
The secondhand store does, however, accept some electrical cords, light switches and switch plates, switches, fuses, junction boxes, breakers, LED bulbs, and more, so check with your local thrift store if you’re swapping out lighting and looking to offload some electrical equipment.
Medical Equipment
St. Vincent DePaul Dig & Save Outlet’s donation guidelines state that it cannot accept medical equipment, and in addition to crutches, stethoscopes, and more, this includes electronic devices.
If you have an electronic thermometer, pulse oximeter, or vein finder, for instance, contact your local hospital. The hospital might not be able to accept a personal donation but can point you toward organizations in your community that might, such as the Afya foundation.
Read the original article on The Spruce
