
Reduce, Reuse, Repair
Choosing to reduce, reuse, and repair is among the most effective ways to minimize your environmental footprint. These practices help decrease water and air pollution caused by waste and production, conserve valuable resources, and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
How to Reduce, Reuse, and Repair
Reduce
Minimize waste and conserve resources by avoiding unnecessary purchases and preventing waste at its source.
- Buy only what you need
- Purchase products in bulk to reduce packaging
- Purchase locally produced items
- Rent or borrow instead of buying new
Reuse
Extend the life of items by using them multiple times, repurposing them for new purposes, or donating them to keep functional items out of landfills.
- Use reusable items (shopping bags, water bottles, travel mugs, foodware)
- Select durable, long-lasting products over disposable ones
- Donate gently used clothing or household items
- Repurpose containers or materials for other uses
Repair
Fix broken or damaged items to restore their functionality and extend their lifespan, reducing the need for replacements.
- Mend clothing
- Repair electronics
- Fix damaged furniture
Programs and Resources
Explore our initiatives and tools designed to promote waste reduction and reuse.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Resources for Unwanted Items:
- Recyclestuff.org: a convenient search engine that helps you find nearby donation and recycling options.
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Guide (PDF): a comprehensive guide for reusing, donating, and recycling your items.
- Online Platforms: websites like Craigslist, NextDoor, Buy Nothing, Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, and PennySaver allow you to post items for sale, donation, or giveaway
- Sustainability Department Recycle Page: provides additional resources for recycling or disposing items in non-usable condition
Learn more about what the County is doing to ensure the longevity of the County’s landfill capacity by reviewing the Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan (CIWMP).
Donation and Reuse Companies
The following are donation and reuse resources for frequently inquired items. All donated items must be in good condition with no rips or stains. Please note that as accepted materials can change, it is recommended to contact the company for the most up-to-date information before dropping off items. For more donation and reuse resources, visit Recyclestuff.org or check out our Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Guide (PDF).
Organization | Accepted Items | Offers Pickup |
---|---|---|
748 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park |
Books (current novels, cookbooks, no medical or older books), clothing, electronics, household items (antiques, kitchenware, lamps, artwork, and musical instruments except pianos), toys |
|
2411 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto |
Appliances (small and large; less than 8 years old), Baby Supplies (no expired car seats), Cars, Boats, and rvs (working only), clothing, electronics, Food (catered and nonperishable), furniture (no particle board, smoking, animal hair, tears, scratches, or stains), household items, toys, microwaves |
Yes (Sunnyvale to Burlingame) |
Redwood City, Menlo Park, and East Palo Alto locations |
Appliances (no large), Books and Toys (preschool childrens books and toys) |
Yes |
San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties |
Appliances (no large), baby supplies, books (no encyclopedias or magazines), cars, boats, RVs, clothing, electronics, furniture (no large), household items, toys, textbooks, bicycles, snowboards, wetsuits, skis, exercise equipment, skateboards |
|
South San Francisco |
Appliances (gas and electric dryers and refrigerators), furniture (couches, dressers, small pieces; no large pieces.), mattresses (twin size) |
Yes |
3137 Jefferson Road, Redwood City |
Cars, boats, RVs, sheets, blankets, towels |
Yes (cars, boats, motorcycles only) |
See Savers for drop off location, Burlingame |
Appliances (tabletop microwaves, no toasters, no large), books (no reference, encyclopedias, textbooks, or magazines), cars, boats, RVs, clothing, electronics (flat-screen tvs 60” and smaller), household items, toys, bicycles, sporting goods, and garden tools |
Yes |
12 Airport Boulevard, San Mateo |
Cars, boats, RVs, food (pet food, apples, berries, corn, hot dogs, creamy unopened peanut butter), household items (heating pads [nonautomatic shut off], blankets, and towels are accepted for pet care, pet supplies and items for animal care |
|
1127 Chula Vista Avenue, Burlingame |
Books, cars, boats, RVs, clothing, electronics (call for approval), household items, toys (puzzles and board games only), holiday decorations |
Yes (for large donations) |
Pescadero |
Appliances (no large; small TVs and microwaves only), baby supplies (new diapers and wipes; no car seats), clothing (new with tags), bicycles, blankets |
|
151 Buckingham Avenue, Redwood City |
Appliances (no large), baby supplies (diapers, clothing), clothing (casual and barely used baby and children’s), electronics (computers 4 years old or less), food (nonperishable food within the expiration date and fresh produce), furniture (call first), household items, blankets, sheets, and towels |
|
Daly City, South San Francisco, San Mateo and Redwood City locations |
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs and boats, clothing, furniture (no tears, stains, particle board, desks over 4 feet long or items needing repairs), household items, sleeping bags, holiday items, bicycles, and medical supplies (wheelchairs, walkers and canes) |
|
4031 Pacific Boulevard, San Mateo |
Baby supplies (no car seats), books, clothing (infants-teens gently used), electronics (current cell phones, laptops, computers [5 years old or less], tablets, video game consoles, flat-screen TVs), food (nonperishable), toys (new from October-December only), toiletries, bicycles |
|
875 Main Street, Redwood City |
Appliances (no large), baby supplies (clothes only), books, clothing, electronics, furniture, mattresses, toys, sporting goods, bicycles, medical supplies (walkers, crutches, canes, wheelchairs) |
|
2041 Pescadero Creek Road, Pescadero |
Appliances (no large), books (no health, textbooks, or outdated computer manuals), clothing, household items, jewelry, CDs, records, utensils, tools, rugs, bicycles, collectibles |
|
Redwood City, South San Francisco and San Bruno locations |
Appliances (no built-in), books, cars, boats, RVs, clothing (must have 10 or more bags for pickup), electronics, furniture, household items, mattresses, toys, bicycles, medical supplies (walkers, canes, wheelchairs, electric scooters, power wheelchairs) |
Yes |
60 North B Street, San Mateo |
Appliances (no large), baby supplies (no car seats or furniture), books (no encyclopedias), clothing, electronics (no TVs, computers, or printers), furniture (no large), household items |
|
1060 El Camino Real, San Carlos |
Appliances (no large), baby supplies (car seats 5 years old or less, no drop-down side cribs, strollers, or high chairs), books (no encyclopedias or textbooks), cars, boats, RVs, electronics (computers, no TVs over 32”), furniture, household items, toys, bicycles, art supplies, sporting equipment, office supplies |
Yes |