Eco Nico's Guide to Recycling the Unrecyclable

This guide highlights a collection of easy-to-participate recycling programs — including mail-in services, drop-off locations, and brand take-back programs — that help give hard-to-recycle items a second life.

Inside this guide you’ll find resources for responsibly recycling items that often can’t go in your regular curbside bin, from beauty packaging and batteries to textiles and small electronics.

Please note that some programs may only be available in certain regions, so availability may vary depending on where you live. Be sure to check each program’s website for the most up-to-date information and local participation options.

Beauty

  • Pact Collective — Recycling for beauty packaging from any brand (mail in & drop off)
    • find bins at your local, sephora, credo, ulta, nordstrom, nordstrom rack & more!

Clothing, Textiles & Shoes

  • Trashie Take Back Bag - Fill a bag with unwanted clothing and textiles from any brand and send it back for recycling or reuse in exchange for rewards.
  • H& M - Bring your clean, previously loved clothing or textiles to one of their stores—they can be from any brand.
  • Retold Recycling - Mail-in textile recycling for clothing, linens, shoes, and fabric scraps.
  • ThredUp Clean Out Kit - Send in gently used clothing to be resold or responsibly recycled.
  • Patagonia Worn Wear - Repair, resale, and trade-in program to extend the life of Patagonia products.
  • REI Re/Supply - Trade-in and resale program for gently used outdoor clothes & gear.
  • The North Face Renewed - Mail in or drop off your like new or gently worn items to earn a voucher.
  • Lululemon Like New - Drop off or mail in any gently used lululemon for store credit.
  • Madewell - Drop off your used jeans for $20 off a new pair.
  • GotSneakers - Mail-in sneaker recycling program that may offer payment for accepted shoes.
  • Shoes4Souls - Main in gently used shoes for donation.

Electronics & More!

  • Lego Replay - Mail in used legos to find a new home.
  • ReBounces Tennis Ball Recycling - Collects used tennis balls to be refurbished or recycled.
  • ReCorked - Drop off corks at any of their participating locations for recycling.
  • Best Buy Electronics Recycling — Drop-off, mail in or haul away for electronics.
  • Call2Recycle — Battery and device recycling locations.
  • Apple Trade-In / Recycling Program — Drop off devices and accessories.
  • Staples Recycling — Drop-off recycling for tech, batteries, school supplies, ink cartridges, bags & luggage.
  • Pick Up Please - Donate the below items to give them a second life.
    • Clothing: Ladies, men's, kids, children’s, baby, purses, belts, ties, wallets, dresses, shirts, pants, shoes. Virtually all types of Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories.
    • Household: Dishes, glasses, silverware, small household appliances, bedding, linens, pillows, draperies, curtains, rugs, jewelry and cosmetics, comforters, home decor, baby items, art and frames.
    • Toys: Stuffed animals, board games, dolls, action figures, and sports equipment.
    • Electronics: Stereo, radio, Xbox, Nintendo, Playstation, computers, laptops, monitors, DVD players, cameras, typewriters, and electronics. All types of small kitchen appliances. Not accepting TVs at this time.
    • Books: Hardcover, softcover, fiction and non-fictions, e-readers.
    • Equipment: Exercise equipment: small weight benches, weights, sports gear, Sporting equipment: ski equipment, snowboards, helmets, baseball bats, basket balls, soccer equipment, tennis equipment, Tools: drills, saws, nail guns, Yard tools: lawnmowers, weed eaters, and handtrucks (no fuel of any type please!).
    • Small furnishings: Mirrors, nightstands, headboards, office chairs, decor and other small home items.
    • Other: Bikes, musical instruments, small filing cabinets, garage sale leftovers, small appliances: microwaves, blenders, toasters, coffee makers, and almost anything else.
  • Terracycle - offers free and paid recycling programs for items like beauty packaging, snack wrappers, coffee capsules, personal care products, cleaning product packaging, and more through mail-in and brand-sponsored collection programs.

Ridwell

Ridwell makes it simple to recycle stuff you can’t recycle curbside. Everything goes to trusted partners—and you see exactly what it becomes.

Items they collect Bi-Weekly -

  • Mulit-layer plastic
  • Plastic film
  • Plastic & metal bottle caps
  • Bread tags
  • Corks
  • Pill bottles
  • Batteries
  • Lightbulbs
  • Electronics
  • Ink cartridges
  • Recyclable threads
  • Rewearable clothes & shoes
  • & more depending on your location!

Get your first 2 pick ups FREE or $10 OFF your first mail in!

At Eco Nico, we believe that reducing and reusing always come first. Whenever possible, try to extend the life of what you already have by refilling, repairing, repurposing, or buying secondhand. Recycling should be left as the final step after a product has been used for as long as possible.

Thank you for taking small steps toward reducing waste and living more intentionally!

 

Back to blog