Where to upcycle or donate our things?

In the mood for spring cleaning or decluttering? Don’t throw away your things just yet, someone else might be able to make better use of your pre-loved stuff! Here’s a list of organisations, groups, and people you can gift your things to.

REUSABLE BAGS & SHOPPING BAGS

A group of eco-conscious retailers have taken steps to reduce plastic waste and now customers leave their shops with crowd-sourced reusable bags. Have extra cloth totes sitting around? Here’s where you can give them a better life:

1. Yihong Trading Enterprise
   24 Desker Road, Singapore 209559
   • Accepts clean reusable bags of any size for their operations.
   • Drop them off at the box on their premises 12pm–11pm daily!
2. Wardah Books: https://www.facebook.com/wardahbooks
   58 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199474
   • Accepts non-woven cloth bags, for their book shoppers.
3. Central Public Library
   Basement 1, 100 Victoria St, Singapore 188064
   • Accepts reusable bags in this large wooden bin at the entrance of the library
     
4. Plastic-Lite Singapore: https://www.facebook.com/SayNoToPlasticsSG
   • Regularly collects reusable cloth bags to redistribute to supermarket shoppers to allow them to get used to plastic-free grocery shopping. Fill in this form to donate your bags.
5. The Fashion Pulpit
   Liang Court, #02-08, 177 River Valley Road, Singapore 179030
   • Accepts paper and cloth bags for their customers to reuse when swapping there!
   • Open daily from 11am–9pm.
6. Ridge View Residential College
   Level 1, 25 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119081
   • There’s a monster-shaped box against the brick wall near the Theme Room. Anyone can drop off or take reusable bags to use! Especially great for NUS staff and students!

SPECTACLES & SUNGLASSES

1. Visio Optical: http://www.visiooptical.com/services/charity
   43 Holland Drive, #01-67, Singapore 270043
   • Donations will be refurbished (if necessary) and offered to those with financial difficulties who would otherwise have to do without prescription spectacles — typically elderly.
   • Drop off at their shop and call +65 6776 0052 for more information.
2. EyeWise Vision Clinic: http://eyewisevision.com.sg/the-gift-of-sight-recycle-project
   #06-04 Gleneagles Medical Centre, 6 Napier Road, Singapore 258499
   • Collects old spectacles and sunglasses to be cleaned and repaired and donated to beneficiaries of mission trips organised by Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Lions Club Singapore.
   • Drop off at the clinic and email them if you have enquiries: enquiry@eyewisevision.com.sg

SHOES

1. In My Shoes: https://www.facebook.com/pg/InMyShoesSG
   • Collects pre-loved, lightly-worn or brand new sports shoes and redistributes to underprivileged people who need them.
   • Drop off at:
     • SportSingapore (Athlete Services Centre), 3 Stadium Drive. Turn right after exiting Stadium MRT Station. Open Monday-Friday, 8.30am-930pm.
     • BodyWatch Gym, Nanyang Polytechnic (Carpark 5), 180 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8. Open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm and Saturday-Sunday, 9am-7pm. Tel: 6550 1960.
   • Enquiries: inmyshoessg@gmail.com.
2. New2U Thrift Shop: https://www.scwo.org.sg/what-we-do/facilities/new2u-thrift-shop
   96 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187967
   • Volunteer-run store at the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations selling pre-loved, good-condition, and often well-curated shoes, clothing, accessories, toys, kitchenware, ornaments, black retail hangers, and books at prices as low as SGD 1.
   • Proceeds go to the Star Shelter and SWCO initiatives.
   • Check their website for updates on whether they are still collecting. Some seasons see an excess of donations. For more details email scwo@scwo.org.sg

BRAS

1. The Uplift Project Singapore: http://upliftsg.pagedemo.co
   • Collects pre-loved and new bras for underprivileged women around the world in countries like Botswana, Fiji, Uganda, India, and Pakistan. Get updates on when they are collecting bras on their Facebook page.
   • Drop off at supporting companies:
     •  D’Elegance — 10 Anson Road #03-15/16, International Plaza, Singapore 079903)
     • Perk by Kate — 28 Senang Crescent #05-09, Singapore 416601
   • If you’re keen to host a collection drive or have a venue for a public collection point, see their website for details on volunteering! Give them a lift!
2. Wacoal Singapore outlets: http://www.wacoal.com.sg/secrets-of-wacoal/#!/bra-recycling
   • Organises bra donation drives every 6 months with redeemable Wacoal points in exchange for every bag of bras you donate for them to recycle.

CLOTHES

1. Movement for the Intellectually Disabled in Singapore (MINDS):https://www.se.minds.org.sg/minds-shop
   • This Voluntary Welfare Organisation collects good-condition clothes, bags, books, small furniture, household items, toys, and other household items for sale at their 4 thrift stores (MINDS Shop) around the island. These shops serve as a training ground for intellectually-disabled seeking employment in the retail and customer services, while giving these items a second chance at being upcycled!
   • Walk in and drop off your pre-loved items at:
     • MINDS Shop@Margaret, 800 Margaret Drive, Singapore 149310
       
     • MINDS Shop@Woodlands, 30 Woodlands Ring Road, Singapore 737883
       
     • MINDS Shop@Rosyth, 29 Rosyth Road, Singapore 546190
       
   • MINDS welcomes corporate partners who wish to organise company-wide collection drives for their staff. Transportation to pick up the items from your workplace can be arranged in advance. Contact MINDS (https://www.se.minds.org.sg/minds-shop) for details! 
2. HOME (Humanitarian Organization for Migration): https://www.home.org.sg/donate
   304 Orchard Road, Lucky Plaza #06-22, Singapore 238863
   • A local charity that advocates human rights for migrant workers, victims of human trafficking, and forced labour in Singapore. They collect pre-loved clothes (washed, stain-free, and in good condition), toiletries, and sewing machines for their beneficiaries.
   • Drop off your donations at their shelter at 11am–4pm on Monday–Friday.
3. Swapaholic: http://www.swapaholicevents.com
   • Organises swaps for quality clothes, shoes, and accessories once every few months, charging a registration fee to pass them your pre-loved pieces (S$10 for 3 items; S$30 for 3–20 items). Follow them on Facebook for updates on their next swap!
4. Greensquare Textile Recycling: https://www.greensquare.com.sg
   • Collects good-to-wear clothes,wearable paired shoes, household linen, belts, and bags to be sold to secondhand textile importers in developing countries for cheap sale, patches up not-so-good clothes, and collects unusable textiles for recycling and sale to as industrial cleaning cloth.
   • Collection points:
     • The Green Collective @ OneKM Mall #01-26/27, 11 Tanjong Katong Rd, Singapore 437157
     • Zhai @ #02-26, Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247933
     • Foliage @ #01-58, 101 Thomson Road, Singapore 307591
   • If you have more than 10kg of such fabrics and clothes to recycle, contact Greensquare Textile Recycling for collection and they will collect it from you.
5. Singapore Really Really Free Market: https://www.facebook.com/srrfm
   • Provides a space (typically at a park or void deck) where people can set up a makeshift stall/booth to give away things—that’s right, anything. You’ll find booths with clothes, DVDs, make up, costumes, tarot cards, and occasionally, vermicomposting enthusiasts sharing their passion for a great way to recycle nutrients in the kitchen.
6. New2U Thrift Shop: https://www.scwo.org.sg/what-we-do/facilities/new2u-thrift-shop
   96 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187967
   • Volunteer-run store at the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations selling pre-loved and often well-curated clothing, accessories, toys, kitchenware, ornaments, black retail hangers, and books at prices starting at SGD 1.
   • Proceeds go to the Star Shelter and SWCO initiatives.
   • For more details email scwo@scwo.org.sg
7. Metta Welfare Association: https://www.metta.org.sg/hq/index.php/support-us/donation-in-kind/#clothing
   Metta Building, 32 Simei Street 1, Singapore 529950
   • Collects wearable and usable clothing for men, women, and children; belts and handbags. Items need to be put in a plastic bag before dropping off.
   • Drop off point: basement carpark of the Metta Building. Side gate is open daily from 7am–7pm. Closed on public holidays.
   • Enquiries: 6580 4688
8. Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmy.org/singapore/dik_fts
   They do tend to get tons and tons of donations every year end and start – so this would really be the last choice! Donation booths can be found in various locations around Singapore.
   • Collects pre-loved clothes, books, furniture, toys, household goods, and electronics to stock its social enterprise: Family Thrift Stores.
   • Collection service available with a fee (~S$60), for bulky items.

BOOKS & TEXTBOOKS

1. Public Libraries (National Library Board)
   • There’s a shelf reserved for the public to leave and take books whenever they please! Pass on the good reads.
   • Find a Public Library near you: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/VisitUs.aspx
2. National University of Singapore libraries
   • At the end of every semester, NUS libraries collect used textbooks and books of any subject, genre, and topic. Items will be sold at a heavily discounted rate the following semester and fund the book prize for NUS students who need financial aid to purchase school books.
     
3. FairPrice Share-A-Textbook. Selected FairPrice outlets.
   • An annual textbook donation drive that happens end of the year (Nov–Dec), accepting primary, secondary, JC-level books to be donated to the underprivileged or recycled.
   • See all supporting FairPrice outlet locations and more details: https://www.fairprice.com.sg/wps/portal/fp/csr/SAT/FAQ 
4. Migrant Library Singapore
   1C Rowell Road, Level 2, Singapore 207958
   • Accepts all types of books in Bengali, English, Chinese, Indonesian, Tamil, Filipino, Malay, Burmese, and Thai! For migrant workers, by migrant workers, who don’t often get to browse and borrow books at the local libraries.
   • When to drop off: Sundays (until 5pm) OR afternoons of public holidays — they work almost every other time. Check their Facebook page for updates and to follow the project!
5. The Book Bank (Singapore Botanic Gardens)
   Outside Gardens Shop, Tanglin Gate, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
   • Two children-friendly shelves of books for the enjoyment of visitors to the Botanic Gardens welcome all book contributions
     
6. Thrift Store @ Yishun: http://siloamxperience.org/index.php/thrift-store?fbclid=IwAR3qfgB0TPNBm49f_eOJN3Q4ImedDATtA-FjWBr3BC7dGGzhqIU9gRyFnWA
   1 Yishun Industrial Street 1, A’Posh BizHub #05-15 & 16, Singapore 768160
   • A non-profit that collects pre-loved books (among other items) in the spirit of reusing while reducing consumption. Items will be made available for mission groups like Siloam Xperience or to the underprivileged in the community.
   • Proceeds from sale of these items will go towards causes that support youth in Singapore and Cambodia.
7. Books and Beer: http://booksandbeersingapore.tumblr.com
   • Organises a travelling book swap at beer haunts in Singapore every now and then. You’ll get to mingle with bookworms and beer bellies while you exchange your titles. Follow them on Facebook for updates on the next swap!

USED PENS

1. Save That Pen: https://www.facebook.com/SaveThatPen
   Bins can be found in various locations at NUS, NTU, SMU, and NTUC Centre
   • Collects pens around Singapore and refills the pens (with the help of sponsors like Pilot) for redistribution to underprivileged students in Singapore and the region. Pens that cannot be refilled get upcycled into artwork or taken apart for recycling.
   • If you have pens in bulk and would like to mail them to Save That Pen, private message them on their Facebook page!

FURNITURE & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

1. Movement for the Intellectually Disabled in Singapore (MINDS): http://www.minds.org.sg/Shop.html
   • This Voluntary Welfare Organisation collects good-condition small furniture, household items, clothes, bags, books, and others for sale at their 4 thrift stores (MINDS Shop) around the island. These shops serve as a training ground for intellectually-disabled seeking employment in the retail and customer services, while giving these items a second chance at being upcycled!
   • Drop off your pre-loved items at:
     • MINDS Shop@Margaret, 800 Margaret Drive, Singapore 149310
       
     • MINDS Shop@Woodlands, 30 Woodlands Ring Road, Singapore 737883
       
     • MINDS Shop@Rosyth, 29 Rosyth Road, Singapore 546190
       
     • MINDS Shop Plus@NTUC Healthcare, Blk 71 Redhill Road, #01-29, Singapore 150071

FOOD

1. HOME (Humanitarian Organization for Migration): https://www.home.org.sg/donate
   304 Orchard Road, Lucky Plaza #06-22, Singapore 238863
   • A local charity that advocates human rights for migrant workers, victims of human trafficking, and forced labour in Singapore. Food items they regularly use: Milo, tea, coffee, condensed milk, bee hoon, instant noodles, oyster sauce, tomato sauce, chili sauce, baked beans, canned tuna/sardines, biscuits, jam, kaya, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, macaroni.
   • Drop off your donations at their shelter at 11am–4pm on Monday–Friday.
2. The Food Pantry: http://www.foodbank.sg/index.php/programmes-events/programmes/about-the-food-pantry
   100 Sims Avenue, Singapore 387426
   • A shop set up by the Food Bank Singapore to sell consumable food that is close to its expiry date for SGD 1 or less! Bring your unwanted but still-good food items (with at least 2 months before expiry) to the bins in the shop, and do your round of grocery shopping there to save food from the bins! Feed bellies, not bins!
   • Open daily from 12–6pm and 7–10pm.
   • See list of locations of the other food bins around the island that you can deposit your good-to-eat food here!

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MAKE AN ONLINE LISTING

If you’ve got more usable or good-condition paraphernalia / knick-knacks that don’t fall into any of those categories, you can also:

1. List on Carousell (app or website) for free or for some money: https://carousell.com
2. Post in these Facebook give-away groups:
   • sgfreerecycle – for clothes, furniture, food things, household items, books
   • Art Don’t Throw (SG) – for (potential) art supplies, wooden crates, notebooks
   • Green Warehouse – for plastic bottles, papers, old tools, wooden products (e.g. wine crates, wooden pallets)
   • RE-USABLE OBJECTS: for things too useful to be thrown away
3. List on Freegood app for free: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freegoods&hl=en_US
4. Snap, list and rent out your items on the Lendor – Rent Anything app
5. See this crowd-sourced Facebook Note by the members of Journey to Zero Waste Life in Singapore group, with really informative info on matching your useful items with people who need/want them.

One of the biggest problems with throw-away culture is how unaware we are of alternative options to throwing our things away. But good things shouldn’t end up in the incinerators. In Singapore, it’s hard to even find out where your recyclables end up!

The above sources are often good ways for us to get rid of things, but also a good place to receive new and secondhand items that you might need—for cheap or free of charge! If you want to learn where to recycle your electronic devices when they are damaged, check out this list: Where to recycle our electronic waste!

If you’ve mastered the art of living with less, spread the word so we can contribute to the sharing economy and prevent first-world waste in Singapore.

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This list will be updated every now and then! Do write to us if you know of another source we should add/update 🙂