by Karen Schroter

Find the fair market value for your donated items

If you itemize deductions on your income taxes, you may be able to deduct the value of your donations. Check current tax laws. You must provide a description of noncash donations that exceed $500 in value on Form 8283. Items worth more than $5,000 require an appraisal.

Salvation Army’s “Donation Value Guide” 

Intuit’s “It's Deductible” program

 

Send your donations where they are needed most

Give Back Box allows you to reuse shipping boxes to send donations to a multitude of needy organizations. You chose the recipient, pack your box with gently used or new items, pay $15. for the shipping label, drop off at USPS/UPS or have it picked up.

GiveBackBox

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Donate to benefit teachers - The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse

Donate items to be used creatively by Bay Area teachers. Visit this site to see acceptable donations, location and hours of operation.

What is accepted? Click here

http://creativereuse.org/ 

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Donate books and movies to your local Library

Find your local library.

http://find-your-public-library.dp.la/

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Save time with menu planning with Real Plans

(monthly/annual subscription cost)

One of my personal favorite resource. This affordable, easy to navigate, time saving site will benefit the entire family! 

https://realplans.com/​

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Safe Medication Drop-off

Keep expired and unused medications out of our water supply and away from children and others by dropping off at a local CVS. Look here for a location near you.

https://www.cvs.com/content/safer-communities-locate​

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Earth911

Find recycle centers near you. 

Recycling Center Search

 

Recycle Where

Find locations in your area to recycle just about anything.

Recycle Where  also available as an app

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re:source

Your Online Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal

Serving Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto

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PaperKarma

(possible minimal monthly cost for a subscription after trial)

Rid yourself of unwanted mail simply by taking a photo.

https://www.paperkarma.com/   app with phone camera needed

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Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste

Properly dispose of paint, cleaning products, fluorescent bulbs, batteries...

What is accepted? Click here

https://www.centralsan.org/household-hazardous-waste-collection-facility

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Electronic Waste (and metal)- Rapid Recycle

Dispose of electronic items and more. Working items are recycled and sold on Wednesdays (10a-2p). I found a great monitor for a fraction of the price new and felt good about the recycling aspect of keeping items out of our landfill.

Rapid Recycle

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Cardboard & boxes (and more) filling your space? Easy recycle drop off-

Dispose of flattened cardboard and more. There are 2 drop off addresses, for paper/cardboard and steel /appliances visit 1313 Galaxy Way, Concord. For eWaste, non-ferrous and CRV items, go to 1320 Galaxy Way, Concord. What is accepted? Click here

Concord Recycling Center website

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