Seems like most of us collect all sorts of things in our basements during the cold and dreary months—worn-out clothes, boxes of papers and office supplies, old batteries, defunct electronics, art work never to be hung. It’s amazing just what we collect and never use. But many of these items can and will be used by others, if you just release them to the appropriate sources. Garage and yard sales, thrift and consignment stores, conventional and unique recycling centers abound in Portland.
What follows are some fantastic resources to help you farm out your unwanted items to those who really do want—and will make good use of—them.
REDUCE
Who doesn't love a good yard sale?Clothes, furniture, games, sports equipment, art, electronics, kitchen and housewares—just about everything that’s gathering dust in your basement, garage or back room closet would probably be coveted by someone else. Garage and yard sales are a great opportunity to make some cash, meet your neighbors and enjoy a summer day. If you’re not equipped to pull one off on your own, why not host a yard sale en masse with your neighbors? Or, better yet, if you live in Laurelhurst, Concordia or Eastmoreland neighborhoods, join these neighborhood group sales coming up in June. And, if you’re a connoisseur of used items, be sure to attend these events. Treasures await!
25th Annual Laurelhurst Garage Sale
WHERE: Laurelhurst Neighborhood
WHEN: Father’s Day, June 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CONTACT: Kristine Akins, Laurelhurst Garage Sale Chairman at 503.236.8367 or kristine@treeinabox.com
Kristine is this year’s new sale chair—and she has plenty of enthusiasm to go around. This sale is HUGE, with hundreds of neighbors participating. If you’re interested in volunteering to place signs around the hood and also staff the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association booth to sell T-shirts, hats and food, greet neighbors and answer questions, contact Kristine.
12th Annual Concordia Neighborhood Yard Sale
WHERE: Concordia Neighborhood
WHEN: June 25, 26, 27
CONTACT: Donna Carrier, Yard Sale Coordinator at 503.288.9826 or
donna.carrier58@gmail.com
Donna’s been the yard sale coordinator since day one. The sale averages about 100 participants each year, and it’s the summer neighborhood event many look forward to all year. Donna and her team deliver packets of information—signs, maps, balloons—to participants and says that "It has been a wonderful experience to do this each year and hope we are able to keep it alive a little longer. I have always liked a good sale.” We like a good sale, too.
24th Annual Eastmoreland Garage Sale
WHERE: Eastmoreland neighborhood
WHEN: June 27, 28; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CONTACT: Amy Reiersgaard at 503.775.9675 or azpony@comcast.net
This annual garage sale has been called the largest event of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Over 140 homes participated in 2009, with more expected to be part of the scene this year.
REUSE
Used computers for sale at Free Geek.If you’re not into interacting with the public as they root through your wares for sale in your yard, perhaps unwanted items are in good enough condition to be donated to a worthy cause or even sold on consignment.
Community Warehouse
This terrific local nonprofit not only donates furniture and household items to families in need, but hosts the Estate Store and Chair Affair. The Estate Store sells donated cool items—antiques and retro collectibles—to help support neighbors who need assistance. The Chair Affair is a beloved annual fundraising event that raises money to keep the Community Warehouse in business. Why not get rid of that Danish modern furniture that you haven’t sat on in years and help support a family in need?
ReRun
The hippest consignment shop in town, ReRun sells your clothing, jewelry, books, furniture, household goods, collectibles, art and more. Consigners get a good cut of the sale. DIYers and artists can also get in on the action. There are gift certificates and discounts for teachers. (North)eastsiders know that this is the place for birthday presents.
Free Geek
Old computer monitor? Multiple cell phone battery packs? Speakers collecting dust? Scanner/fax not part of your office plan? Take “nearly everything that plugs into a computer or an electrical outlet” to Free Geek. But it’s more than just a place to drop off your unwanted electronic parts and bits. Free Geek runs a thrift store, volunteer and education programs, and they reuse and recycle what is unwanted, too. (Plus, they are nice people.)
SCRAP
The School and Community Reuse and Action Program is a nonprofit organization that rocks. Their mantra “Create More, Consume Less” rings true in all that they do. What do they do? SCRAP collects “clean, reusable clean, reusable creative materials from businesses and individuals.” School and office supplies. Fabric and sewing materials. Pens and paints and pencils and notebooks and…the list in endless, the inventory ever changing. SCRAP is the place to go to find arts and craft supplies for your project. The organization has a dedicated volunteer corps that does education and outreach, and also hosts unbelievably awesome events that are DIY-inspired like May’s Rebel Craft Rumble.
RECYCLE
Cardboard at the Metro Transfer Station in Northwest Portland.
So, you’ve sold your couch on consignment, donated clothes to Goodwill, and offered your extra kitchen tiles to SCRAP. You’re now down to the bare bones stuff you don’t know how to handle. Most of us recycle paper, plastic, aluminum and glass at the curbside each week. That’s easy. But what about those not-so-typical or hazardous objects or sensitive papers that shouldn’t end up in the landfill? As someone famous in my house says: Everything has a home.
Aveda’s Caps Recycling Program
The purveyors of beauty products and salon services do a lot of nice things for the environment, but perhaps their most compelling program is one that recycles caps. From shampoo bottles, beverage container caps, food flip tops, and more, Aveda is one of the few places around that handles proper recycling efforts of those pesky caps and lids that all too often end up in the landfill or in the sea, where they do serious harm. And, you can bring in ANY cap—not just from your Aveda conditioner bottle. They’ll recycle it to make more lids for their products.
Paper Chase Shredding-Recycling
Got bank statements dating back to the Eisenhower era? Boxes of old business receipts? Shred ‘em. Paper Chase offers “low cost confidential record destruction and office paper recycling” both onsite and offsite, with equal levels of security.
Far West Fibers
This neat company not only handles your curbside (and beyond) recycling needs, but it offers some helpful educational support around recycling concepts, and participates in creating a stronger community with youth and service activities. With locations around the greater Portland Metro area (and Spokane), you’ve got plenty of access to a smart recycling center for the basics (paper, plastic, glass, metal) as well as large appliances, electronics, cell phones, batteries and athletic shoes. Yes, athletic shoes.
Metro Garbage and Recycling
Metro is the city source for recycling solutions—be it hazardous materials, paint, compost, metal. The comprehensive site is chock full of helpful information for recycling at home, work or school, finding a garbage hauler or even narcing on illegal dumping down your alley.
Total Reclaim
Offering environmental services for two decades, Total Reclaim will take your computers, TVs and other electronics, fluorescent lamps, batteries, Styrofoam, and refrigeration equipment. An official Oregon E-Cycles site, Total Reclaim also secures the destruction of hard drives and deals with refrigerant gases (which we know you’ve got plenty of). Check out their amazing facility in the Columbia Corridor.
Feel motivated to clean your space? Ready to sell those treasures or recycle 22 years worth of batteries and fluorescent bulbs? Inspired to find treasures in someone else’s give-away pile? You’ve got plenty of options to succeed on all accounts.
