Books

Where to Recycle: Donation Centers, Community Recycling Drop-Offs, Some Curbside Programs

Books have great potential for reuse, consider selling or donating your books if they are still in good condition. Bookstores, thrift stores, and local libraries will often take donations of used books for resale and reuse.

Organizations like Better World Books will take donations in a “box” site drop-off. They provide large, metal containers where you can drop off your books through a door or slot. The books are then sent to areas of the world where they are needed. Some communities also host tiny libraries or neighborhood stations where books can be donated or taken.

The best way to make sure you don’t have to find a place to recycle your books is to borrow them from your local library or rent and listen to books online instead of buying hard copies. This way these rich resources can be  reused over and over again by many different people. If you want to buy a book, or your local library doesn’t have it in stock, consider buying used. Sites like Half.com, thriftbooks.com, and Amazon have used books for sale. Check with your local bookstores, too!

Some local recycling drop-off sites will take books that are no longer in good condition. The covers, bindings, and paper from the books are then recycled separately into new commodities. Check with your community recycling contact to find out if books can be recycled near you or if they require hardcovers to be removed before recycling in the curbside bin.

What are books recycled into?

Paperboard, tissue, egg cartons, new paper, chipboard, insulation