Donation GUIDELINEs
- We accept 3 bags/boxes per appointment. If you have a larger quantity of donations, please contact our Store Manager.
- A box = 1 banker's-style box
- A bag = 1 paper grocery bag
- Please review the list below carefully. This information changes frequently, so please re-check this list on the morning of your appointment day.
- Donations must be smoke, mothball, mildew and pet hair free.
- Please sort your donations. Bags of mixed, unsorted items may be turned away.
- Changes or cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. 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.
- HOLIDAY ITEMS are only accepted in the two months preceding the given holiday
- Please do not leave donations outside our door when we are closed
- Email us at [email protected] if you have questions
WHAT WE DO AND DO NOT COLLECT:
We can only accept items that are designated as ACCEPTED in the list below. Your donation will be assessed during your appointment, and any items designated as NOT ACCEPTED in the list below will be refused. Sometimes we get too much of a good thing! We are currently unable to accept any items designated as Currently Overstocked in the list below.
ARCHITECTURE/INTERIOR DESIGN
ACCEPTED: wood, quartz, tile, paint chip and acrylic samples, contact paper, wallpaper sample books, fabric sample books, small latex paint samples in plastic containers
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: carpet samples, trophies, loose tile larger than 6" square, large wood pieces, architectural salvages
ARTIST SUPPLIES
ACCEPTED: most types of paint, brushes, pastels, glue, chalk, ink, carving tools, stencils, transfer letters, markers, rulers, clay, glue guns and sticks, silk screens, canvas (blank and used), easels, loose crayons, pencils, pens, house paint samples (nothing larger than quart size)
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: House paint - gallon sized
BOUND MATERIALS
ACCEPTED: notepads, notebooks, composition books, drawing pads
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: books, magazines, used notebooks/drawing pads, photo albums
CRAFT SUPPLIES
ACCEPTED: pipe cleaners, craft foam, glitter, marbles, game and puzzle pieces, silk flowers, craft sticks, straws, plastic bottle caps
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED:
CONTAINERS
ACCEPTED: tins (especially small ones), glass baby food jars, small cardboard boxes, paper grocery bags, plastic crates, cigar boxes
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: bubble wrap
NOT ACCEPTED: glass jars (unless they are small lidded jars), prescription bottles (no labels), Rubbermaid type bins, Vases
FABRIC & SOFT ITEMS
ACCEPTED: fabric (pieces must have regular edges, and be at least 1 yard and smoke, mothball and pet hair free), leather, raw wool, felt, woven placemats
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: Fabric scraps, pillows and pillow covers, towels, clothing, bedding, curtains, plastic placemats, unfinished sewing projects, bathmats
GIFT & PARTY SUPPLIES
ACCEPTED: tissue paper, greeting cards
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: gift bags, holiday themed décor, gift wrap, gift ribbon
NOT ACCEPTED: mylar balloons
JEWELRY
ACCEPTED: necklaces (chains, beaded, shell), bracelets, earrings, rings, pins, watches, loose and packaged beads, jewelry findings, mardi gras beads
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED:
MAT BOARD, FRAMING, SIGN MAKING
ACCEPTED: mat board, foam core, acrylic, corrugated plastic, sign board, adhesive vinyl
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: framed artwork/photos, large frames, broken/incomplete picture frames (must have glass)
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: metal fixtures (hooks, doorknobs, etc.), armature wire, screws, nails, keys, bottle caps, tins (small ones), keys, knobs
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: flatware, appliance pieces, lampshades, oily machine parts or chains
OFFICE SUPPLIES
ACCEPTED: scissors, hole punches, staplers, staples, staple removers, tape dispensers, tape, transparencies, rubber bands, paperclips, envelopes, labels, organizers, note pads, clipboards
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: binders, file folders (manila, hanging and pocket), page protectors, organizers, used quilted mailing envelopes
PAPER
ACCEPTED: Art paper and pads, construction paper, scrapbook paper, rolls of paper, poster board, paper sample books, wallpaper and blueprints
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: Cardboard tubes
NOT ACCEPTED:
SCRAPBOOKING & COLLAGE
ACCEPTED: tickers, scrapbook paper, embellishments, punches, rubber stamps, stamp pads, playing cards, postage stamps, photographs, maps, calendars
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED:
SEWING NOTIONS
ACCEPTED: zippers, buttons, sequins, thread and floss, sewing tools, ribbon, Velcro, yarn (except white), knitting needles, crochet hooks, raw wool, felt, sewing machine attachments, sewing patterns
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: white yarn, upholstery fabric
NOT ACCEPTED:
TINKER SUPPLIES We only accept these supplies if they are clean. Please sort accordingly.
ACCEPTED: lids, caps, twist ties, bread tabs, pop tops, can tabs, bottlecaps
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: corks, egg cartons, straws, plastic flatware
NOT ACCEPTED: plastic flatware sets in bags
TOYS AND GAMES
ACCEPTED: small plastic figurines, school manipulatives, playing cards, small game pieces, dice, board game pieces
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED: puzzle pieces
NOT ACCEPTED: children's toys (besides small plastic figurines)
WOOD
ACCEPTED: small blocks and boards (untreated), sheets of cork, craft wood, spools, dowels, stretcher bars, craft sticks
CURRENTLY OVERSTOCKED:
NOT ACCEPTED: Large wood pieces
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
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