UpCycle Creative Reuse Center
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New location for DONATION drop-off!


4307 Wheeler Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304

Saturdays and Sundays, by appointmemt
​
10:30AM - 3:30PM 

Make a donation appointment


​Donation GUIDELINEs​ 

​Questions? Email us at [email protected] 
​
​
  * We accept 3 bags/boxes per appointment
  • A box = 1 banker's-style box, measuring roughly 12x16x12
  • A bag = 1 paper grocery bag, measuring roughly 17x12x7
  • For larger donations, email us at [email protected] to make arrangements

  * Changes/cancellations require 24 hour advance notice
  • Please use the "Cancel Appointment" button in your confirmation email and send an email to [email protected]
  
  * Please clean and sort your donations
. Bags of mixed, unsorted items may be turned away.

  * Donations must be smoke, mothball, rust, mildew and pet hair free. We cannot accept soiled items.

  * Please ensure all personally identifying information is removed from materials before donating!
​
  * Please do not leave donations outside of the building. Unattended drop-offs are considered illegal dumping, and
     will be monitored with video surveillance.

​​

WHAT WE DO AND DO NOT COLLECT

​​We accept ONLY the items marked ACCEPTED in the list below

​​If your donation includes items marked as NOT ACCEPTED, ​those items will be returned to you 

ARTIST SUPPLIES
ACCEPTED: Brushes, pastels, glue, chalk, ink, carving tools, stencils, markers, rulers, unopened clay, glue guns and sticks, canvas (blank and used),  print-making materials, rubber stamps, stamp pads, Gelli plates 

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: incomplete stretcher bar sets, loose crayons, pencils, pens, stretcher bars (complete sets), silk screens, easels


BOUND MATERIALS
ACCEPTED: 

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: books, magazines, photo albums, 3-ring binders,  Lined notepads and notebooks


CRAFT SUPPLIES
ACCEPTED: pipe cleaners, craft foam, glitter, silk flowers, wooden craft sticks and dowels, feathers, sheets of cork, wooden spools, Pom-poms

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: straws, small craft wood pieces,


CONTAINERS        WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING ANY DO NOT ACCEPT PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINERS
ACCEPTED: NO CONTAINERS @ TEMP LOCATION

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: ​glass jars (unless they are small lidded jars), prescription bottles (no labels), Rubbermaid type bins, Vases, plastic food containers, plastic bags, cookie tins, fabric gift bags, tins (especially small ones), glass baby food  jars, paper grocery bags (17x12x7), cigar boxes, small cardboard boxes, film canisters


DISCARD ITEMS  (a.k.a Tinker Supplies)   We only accept these supplies if they are clean. Please sort accordingly.
​ACCEPTED: Toilet paper and paper towel rolls

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: plastic flatware sets in bags, Jar lids, caps, twist ties, bread tabs, can tabs, bottlecaps, unused toothpicks, corks, egg cartons, unused straws, unused plastic flatware, white lids/bottlecaps, bubble wrap


FABRIC & TEXTILES
NOTE: Pieces must have regular edges, at least 1 yard, and smoke, mothball and pet hair free
ACCEPTED: fabric, leather, raw wool, felt, woven placemats, pillow filling, batting, upholstery fabric

NOT ACCEPTED: Small fabric scraps, pillows and pillow covers, towels, clothing, bedding, curtains, plastic placemats, unfinished sewing projects, bathmats/rugs, carpet samples


FIBER ARTS
ACCEPTED: raw wool, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, raw wool, embroidery hoops

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: small bits of yarn, all looms, needlepoint yarn


GIFT & PARTY SUPPLIES      HOLIDAY ITEMS are accepted in the two months preceding the given holiday
ACCEPTED: 

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: mylar balloons, plastic easter "grass", gift bags, holiday themed décor, gift wrap, gift ribbon, gift bows, tissue paper, greeting cards, packages of latex balloons


INTERIOR DESIGN SUPPLIES & SAMPLES

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: trophies, large wood pieces, architectural salvages, quartz, tile, frame samples, Untreated wood blocks and boards 10" or less, paint chip and acrylic samples, ​wallpaper sample books, fabric sample books


JEWELRY
ACCEPTED: Costume jewelry, necklaces (chains, beaded, shell), bracelets, earrings, rings, pins, watches, loose and packaged beads, jewelry findings, mardi gras beads, charms, findings, pendants


MAT BOARD, FRAMING, SIGN MAKING
​
NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: framed artwork/photos, large frames, broken/incomplete picture frames (glass must be secured in frame​), frame sample pieces, mat board, acrylic, corrugated plastic, sign board, adhesive vinyl, foam core


MEDIA/TECH
ACCEPTED: slides

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: VHS tapes and cases, coated wire, CD's, film canisters, motherboards and CPU parts, disassembled keyboards, DVDs/CDs, CD cases


METAL
ACCEPTED: hooks, keys, bottle caps, candy/mint tins, keys, craft wire, floral wire 
 
NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: flatware, appliance pieces, lampshades, oily machine parts or chains, metal bars and poles, doorknobs, armature wire, screws, nails, doorplates, magnets, unused packaged tin foil


OFFICE SUPPLIES       WE DO NOT ACCEPT 3-RING BINDERS OR PHOTO ALBUMS
ACCEPTED: scissors, hole punches, staplers, staples, staple removers, tape dispensers, tape, transparencies, rubber bands, paperclips

NOT ACCEPTED: binders, file folders (manila, hanging and pocket), page protectors, organizers, used quilted mailing envelopes, envelopes, labels, organizers, note pads, clipboards, brads


PAINT
ACCEPTED: craft paint, fabric paint

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: House paint - gallon sized, exterior paint, hazardous materials, house paint samples (nothing larger than quart size), small latex paint samples in plastic containers, unopened spray paint, 


PAPER & PAPER PRODUCTS       
ACCEPTED: Art paper and pads, construction paper, scrapbook paper, rolls of paper, poster board, mat board, foam core, paper sample books, wallpaper, contact paper, paper towel & toilet paper rolls, blueprints, composition books, drawing/artist pads, 

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: file folders (manila, hanging and pocket), used packing paper, Large cardboard tubes, butcher paper, wax paper, freezer paper, unused brown paper lunch bags, paper grocery bags with handles that measure 17x12x7, egg cartons, printer paper


SCRAPBOOKING & COLLAGE
ACCEPTED: tickers, scrapbook paper, embellishments in packaging, transfer letters, paper punches, postage stamps, photographs, maps, ephemera, sheet music, photo slides, die cuts, vintage/antique magazines (pre-1970)

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: calendars, die cut machines


SEWING NOTIONS
ACCEPTED: zippers, buttons, sequins, thread and floss, sewing tools, ribbon, Velcro, felt, sewing machine attachments, sewing patterns, travel sewing kits

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: ALL sewing machines, Cricuts, and other crafting machines


TOYS AND GAMES
ACCEPTED: school manipulatives, small game pieces, dice, marbles

NOT ACCEPTED FOR SUMMER: children's toys (besides small plastic figurines), stuffed animals, incomplete craft kits, playing cards, small plastic figurines, 

​



WHERE CAN I TAKE OTHER ITEMS?​

Visit the City of Alexandria's website to find other opportunities for reusing, reducing and recycling items that UpCycle can't accept.

​Batteries, house and spray paint, pesticides, motor oil:
  • Alexandria residents can bring batteries to the City's Household Hazardous Waste Site. Check the website for other accepted household hazardous waste.

Building materials, appliances, home improvement items:
  • The ReStore, 869 S Pickett St, Alexandria, VA 22304, 703-360-6700
  • Community Forklift, 4671 Tanglewood Dr, Hyattsville, MD 20781, (301) 985-5180

Clothing:
  • Twig Thrift Shop, 106 N. Columbus Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-683-5544
  • Elinor Coleman's Vintage Mirage, 117 S. Columbus Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-535-8200
  • Goodwill Retail Store and Donation Center, 8228 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA, 22309, 571-527-4434; 10 South Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22204, 703-769-3711, or find a Goodwill near you.
  • The Salvation Army Donation Center, 6528 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, 703-642-9270
  • H&M garment collecting program

Textiles
  • The H&M garment collecting program will take your unusable textiles (clothing and other fabrics) and recycle them. Just bring them into a store location.

Toiletries, towels, blankets, twin sheet sets:
  • The Carpenter's Shelter, 930 North Henry Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-548-7500

Pet related items and towels, blankets, and bath mats:
  • The Animal Welfare League, Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304, 703-746-4774




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UpCycle Creative Reuse Center - Alexandria, Virginia - 22304 | 703-861-8705
Copyright © 2025
  • About us
    • Contact >
      • Newsletter Signup
    • Hours and Location
    • About UpCycle CRC >
      • About UpCycle CRC
      • Board of Directors
      • 2024 Impact Report
  • Materials Center
    • Shop
    • Material Donations
    • Memberships
  • Programs & Events
    • Kids & Family >
      • Scout Workshops
      • Tinker Time
      • Camps
      • Parties and Group Experiences
    • Adult Workshops
    • Teachers >
      • Lesson Plans
      • Professional Development
      • Outreach
  • Support UpCycle
  • Inspiration
  • Suggestion Box
  • Programs Survey