Now that most communities are under stay-at-home orders, it can be the perfect time for people to do some much-needed spring cleaning and decluttering, and then donate their unwanted items to Goodwill. But Goodwill reminds everyone that not all items can be donated.
“Many municipalities have temporarily suspended bulk item collection, so we are starting to see those types of items being dropped off at our stores and donation centers,” said Jaymie Eichorn, interim vice president of marketing and communications for Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina. “We want and appreciate donations of clothing and household items that are in working order, but we can’t accept soiled or broken items, items with missing parts or large appliances. We also can’t dispose of or recycle things like batteries, tires and paint.”
Some of the items that CANNOT be donated to Goodwill include:
- Stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers and water heaters
- Building materials (carpet, shutters, doors, windows, toilets, lumber, concrete, bricks and stones)
- CRT televisions (including CRT computer monitors)
- Automobile parts, tires, wheels, batteries, seats, body parts and engines
- Paint and chemicals
- Mattresses and box springs
“Goodwill incurs substantial costs in disposing of these items that can’t be recycled or sold in our stores,” said Eichorn. “This detracts from the funding we generate for our mission services that are needed now more than ever.”
For a list of items that can and can’t be donated, please visit goodwillnwnc.org/accepted-items/. To learn how Goodwill is responding to COVID-19 and helping the community through expanded virtual services, visit goodwill-cares.org.