Are you getting started on clearing out winter clutter? As you dive into spring cleaning, remember there is most likely a place your unwanted items can go for a second life. Let’s talk about how to upcycle, or reuse, those unwanted items this spring.
Recycle Coach
The Recycle Coach App is a great tool to help you decipher which items can go where. You can snap a picture of your item or search the extensive directory to find places that will take your spring cleaning extras. Use our web widget or download the app here!
Have you considered utilizing one of the fabulous drop-off depots around town to give your unwanted items a second life instead of ending up in the landfill? Here are some to consider:
Upcycle Treasure Box / STL Teachers Trading Post
Owner Jenni Owens is a teacher with a passion to provide affordable, upcycled materials! The mission is to inspire creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the creative community. She even has an extensive collection of TerraCycle boxes for collections from the community. Upcycle Treasure Box is the spot to donate your items such as books, magazines, jars, craft supplies to be reused and upcycled by teachers and other community members!
Check out their website to learn more!
Remains LLC
“Transforming Textiles, Reducing Waste”
Remains LLC takes used clothing and textiles to keep these items out of landfills. They are community focused and pick up from area thrift shops, donation centers, charities, non-profits, schools, churches, and other organizations, making it easy to contribute to the recycling process. They have in-house drop off as well as a dumpster drop off service. If you have clothes that are beyond further wear or fabric scraps, this is a great place to take them!
Check out their website to learn more
Perennial STL
Perennial is a non-profit organization in St. Louis where you can take classes to learn creative ways to reuse materials. Check out their website to find classes and more! By reducing waste and crafting with salvaged materials, Perennial reports they divert more than 20,000 pounds from the landfill each year!
Habitat for Humanity: ReStore
The ReStore reuses and repurposes donated home goods. This is a great place to donate items such as lumber, furniture, and lighting, or to shop for the odd replacement piece. These efforts divert items from landfills. Habitat for Humanity Restore St. Louis has two locations with gently used home improvement products and building materials available.
To see a full list of donatable items, click here
St. Louis BWorks
BWorks is a local non-profit that has “Earn a Bike” and “Earn a Computer” programs! They work with schools to teach bicycle safety and maintenance as well as computer mechanics. They take donations of old computers and use the parts for their program and donations of bicycles to give to students. All donations directly support their programming and students across the city benefit by learning bicycle safety and maintenance or how to build their own computer!
For more information, click here
STL City Recycles Electronics Recycling Event
Saint Louis City Recycles is partnering with Midwest Recycling Center to host two annual Electronics Recycling Events. MRC professionally recycles almost anything with a power cord or battery! For more information about what MRC accepts, check out their website. Document shredding will also be available at this event! There is a limit of two document boxes per vehicle.
Fees for this event are waived for City residents, while funding lasts. *ID is required*
Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Time: 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: 1640 S. Kingshighway 63110
https://stlcityrecycles.com/event/electronic-recycling-event/
Electronics Recycling Drop-off Sites
If you can’t make our event, there are other electronics recycling businesses open regularly throughout St. Louis. Nilo-Tech is located in South city and provides electronics waste recycling services to businesses and residents.
Check out their website to learn more and schedule a drop off.
Another option to keep e-waste like cell phones, batteries, TVs, computers, and appliances out of landfills, Spectrum Ecycle Solutions is located in Overland, just North of the city, with drop off and pick up times available. Pick-ups are scheduled Monday through Friday on the hour between 8:00 and 3:00.
For more information on drop off and pick up scheduling
Household Hazardous Waste
Don’t forget, there are household hazardous waste items hiding in nearly every room! These items can easily become contamination if not disposed of properly. Check out this handy list for some popular ones and go to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility website (HHWSTL.com) for more information and to schedule a drop off appointment.
Some common items that are considered HHW include: paints, aerosols, automotive fluids, batteries, bottles of household cleaners, fire extinguishers, and fertilizer.
All of these amazing places are listed in our database on the Recycle Coach app! Download the app today or use our web widget to find locations for your spring cleaning extras!
If you aren’t sure about an item please call or email STL City Recycles and we can help you get the information you need: 314-772-4646 or recycle@stlouis-mo.gov
