Questions? Email us at [email protected]
Donation GUIDELINEs
* Please sort your donations. Bags of mixed, unsorted items may be turned away.
* We accept 3 bags/boxes per appointment
* Donations must be smoke, mothball, mildew and pet hair free. We cannot accept soiled items.
* Please ensure all personally identifying information is removed from materials before donating!
* Changes/cancellations require 24 hour advance notice
* Please do not leave donations outside our door when we are closed
* We accept 3 bags/boxes per appointment
- A box = 1 banker's-style box
- A bag = 1 paper grocery bag
- For larger donations, email us at [email protected] to arrange drop-off
* Donations must be smoke, mothball, mildew and pet hair free. We cannot accept soiled items.
* Please ensure all personally identifying information is removed from materials before donating!
* Changes/cancellations require 24 hour advance notice
- Please use the "Cancel Appointment" button in your confirmation email or send an email to [email protected]
- For day-of cancellations please call the shop at 703-861-8705
* Please do not leave donations outside our door when we are closed
WHAT WE DO AND DO NOT COLLECT
We only accept items marked as ACCEPTED in the list below
If your donation includes items marked as NOT ACCEPTED or CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED,
those items will be returned to you during your appointment
We only accept items marked as ACCEPTED in the list below
If your donation includes items marked as NOT ACCEPTED or CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED,
those items will be returned to you during your appointment
ARTIST SUPPLIES
ACCEPTED: Brushes, pastels, glue, chalk, ink, carving tools, stencils, markers, rulers, unopened clay, glue guns and sticks, silk screens, canvas (blank and used), easels, loose crayons, pencils, pens, stretcher bars (complete sets), print-making materials, rubber stamps, stamp pads, Gelli plates
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: incomplete stretcher bar sets
BOUND MATERIALS
ACCEPTED: composition books, drawing pads, vintage/antique magazines (pre-1970)
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: Lined notepads and notebooks
NOT ACCEPTED: books, magazines, used notebooks/drawing pads, photo albums, 3-ring binders
CRAFT SUPPLIES
ACCEPTED: pipe cleaners, craft foam, glitter, silk flowers, wooden craft sticks and dowels, straws, feathers, sheets of cork, small craft wood pieces, wooden spools
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: Pom-poms
NOT ACCEPTED:
CONTAINERS WE DO NOT ACCEPT PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINERS
ACCEPTED: tins (especially small ones), glass baby food jars, paper grocery bags (17x12x7), cigar boxes, small cardboard boxes
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: film canisters, cookie tins, fabric gift bags
NOT ACCEPTED: glass jars (unless they are small lidded jars), prescription bottles (no labels), Rubbermaid type bins, Vases, plastic food containers, plastic bags
DISCARD ITEMS (a.k.a Tinker Supplies) We only accept these supplies if they are clean. Please sort accordingly.
In addition to traditional craft supplies, we also accept the following types of CLEAN discard items, which we use as re-purposed art materials:
ACCEPTED: Jar lids, caps, twist ties, bread tabs, can tabs, bottlecaps, unused toothpicks
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: corks, egg cartons, unused straws, unused plastic flatware, white lids/bottlecaps, bubble wrap
NOT ACCEPTED: plastic flatware sets in bags
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
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: pillow filling, batting, upholstery fabric
NOT ACCEPTED: 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, small looms (with instructions)
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: needlepoint yarn
NOT ACCEPTED: small bits of yarn, disassembled looms without instructions
GIFT & PARTY SUPPLIES HOLIDAY ITEMS are accepted in the two months preceding the given holiday
ACCEPTED: tissue paper, greeting cards, packages of latex balloons
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: gift bags, holiday themed décor, gift wrap, gift ribbon, gift bows
NOT ACCEPTED: mylar balloons, plastic easter "grass"
INTERIOR DESIGN SUPPLIES & SAMPLES
ACCEPTED: Untreated wood blocks and boards 10" or less, paint chip and acrylic samples, wallpaper sample books, fabric sample books,
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: trophies, large wood pieces, architectural salvages, quartz, tile, frame samples
JEWELRY
ACCEPTED: necklaces (chains, beaded, shell), bracelets, earrings, rings, pins, watches, loose and packaged beads, jewelry findings, mardi gras beads, charms, findings, pendants
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED:
MAT BOARD, FRAMING, SIGN MAKING
ACCEPTED: mat board, acrylic, corrugated plastic, sign board, adhesive vinyl
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: foam core
NOT ACCEPTED: framed artwork/photos, large frames, broken/incomplete picture frames (must have glass), frame sample pieces
MEDIA/TECH
ACCEPTED: slides, coated wire, CD's, film canisters, motherboards and CPU parts, disassembled keyboards
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: DVDs/CDs, CD cases
NOT ACCEPTED: VHS tapes and cases
METAL
ACCEPTED: hooks, doorknobs, armature wire, screws, nails, keys, bottle caps, candy/mint tins, keys, doorplates, craft wire, floral wire, magnets, unused packaged tin foil
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: flatware, appliance pieces, lampshades, oily machine parts or chains, metal bars and poles
OFFICE SUPPLIES WE DO NOT ACCEPT 3-RING BINDERS
ACCEPTED: scissors, hole punches, staplers, staples, staple removers, tape dispensers, tape, transparencies, rubber bands, paperclips, envelopes, labels, organizers, note pads, clipboards, brads
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: binders, file folders (manila, hanging and pocket), page protectors, organizers, used quilted mailing envelopes
PAINT
ACCEPTED: craft paint, house paint samples (nothing larger than quart size), small latex paint samples in plastic containers, unopened spray paint, fabric paint
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: House paint - gallon sized, exterior paint, hazardous materials
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 rolls, blueprints, butcher paper, wax paper, freezer paper, unused brown paper lunch bags, paper grocery bags with handles that measure 17x12x7
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: Large cardboard tubes, toilet paper rolls, egg cartons
NOT ACCEPTED: file folders (manila, hanging and pocket), used packing paper
SCRAPBOOKING & COLLAGE
ACCEPTED: tickers, scrapbook paper, embellishments, transfer letters, paper punches, postage stamps, photographs, maps, ephemera, sheet music, photo slides, die cuts
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: calendars
NOT ACCEPTED:
SEWING NOTIONS
ACCEPTED: zippers, buttons, sequins, thread and floss, sewing tools, ribbon, Velcro, felt, sewing machine attachments, sewing patterns
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: travel sewing kits
NOT ACCEPTED: Broken or incomplete sewing machines and Cricuts
TOYS AND GAMES
ACCEPTED: small plastic figurines, school manipulatives, playing cards, small game pieces, dice, marbles
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: children's toys (besides small plastic figurines), stuffed animals, incomplete craft kits
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