Marlow Ultimate Recycling List 2020
Please check charities actually need what you are offering, as they have limited storage and it is expensive for them to dispose of surplus donations.
Art and Craft Items
Crayons; pencils; felt tips; card; paper; glitter; glue; ruler; rubber
Marlow Opportunity Playgroup- this is a fabulous cause and no longer in Marlow but needs to keep topping up these things. http://www.marlowopportunityplaygroup.org.uk/
Felt tips: (but please replace with pencils and crayons!) Terracycle will recycle – many drop off points https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/the-writing-instruments-brigade-r
Crayons – please use instead of plastic highlighters
Bedding, sleeping bags, and towels: clean and presentable
Wycombe Homeless Connection
High Wycombe Helping Others: see Mixed Collections
London homeless Run see Mixed Collections
YMCA: single bedding
Bedding, towels, and carpet pieces: clean, old and scruffy
Temple End Vets use old towels for operations and pet care – drop into their Marlow Bottom branch (part-time opening) or they have branches elsewhere.
stokenchurchdogrescue.org.uk uses non-feather duvets + pillows as well as towels, blankets and sheets for animal bedding.
Bikes
Cyclehub.org.uk is based in Maidenhead, teaches bike renovation and sells donated bikes. Look under “bikes and shop” for “bike donations.”
Re-cycle.org: your bicycle will be a much-valued alternative to walking for someone in Africa, enabling them to transform their life. Bike drop-off points are listed.
For used inner tubes see ragsto.com in Mixed Collections
Books
Book Exchange - Phone box on the Newtown/Newfield Roads corner. Swap books
Find a School Library that no-one else has donated to. Wycombe schools usually have less than Marlow ones. Your books will be appreciated and enjoyed for years to come.
Marlow, Bourne End and Wycombe Libraries accept donated books.
Wycombe Hospital: Scannappeal collects and sells books in the front reception area.
buildonbooks.com: see Mixed Collections
Hughenden Manor collects and sells books next to the café
Books and sheet music
Helen Hospice Charity Shop has a whole room devoted to books and sheet music. Please help us build up a fantastic collection of sheet music like Oxfam in Marlow had before it closed!
Oxfam in High Wycombe, Henley and Beaconsfield.
Clothes
Smart designer or nearly new: Any charity shop
Presentable
Ladies + children: sell at The Thrift Shop, Medmeham. Check Facebook page, open Wednesday mornings plus one evening a month.
Baby: see thebabybank.org Mixed Collections
Children: see High Wycombe Helping Others see Mixed Collections
Men: see London Homeless Run Mixed Collections
All clothes and pieces of cloth including scruffy and worn out
Burford School Friends collect and weigh for money.
Also Holy Trinity School and various other schools.
See H & M and Salvation Army in Mixed Collections
See ragsto.com in Mixed Collections
Cooking utensils and new home basics
See YMCA and Sainsbury’s Mixed Collections
When some people move into a new home they cannot afford basics such as crockery, pans, cutlery, cooker, microwave, fridge, small table, chair; bed, washing machine, curtains, bedding, and so on. Find someone moving into a home who would appreciate your items by phoning a charity such as:
Saunderton Lodge: 01844 345436
Wycombe Homeless Connection: check their giving list https://www.wyhoc.org.uk/
Padstones: supports homeless young people https://wwwconnectionssupport.org.uk/
Link Foundation: a local charity that supports young people in need. http://www.linkfoundation.co.uk
Curtains; cloth; sewing items; wool
Some charity shops do not sell these so always check before leaving.
Schools, Brownies, Cubs, Guides, Scouts.
Find a Retirement, Care Home or library that runs a sewing or knitting club.
Curtains/sewing kit: see New Home Basics
See workaid.org Mixed Collections
Food and unopened toiletries
onecantrust.org.uk: drop at supermarkets and All Saints Church, Marlow.
See Wycombe Homeless Connection and High Wycombe Helping Others in Mixed Collections.
A charity or school tombola, raffle or shop
Furniture/beds
Wycombe Central Aid and British Heart Foundation will collect certain items for free.
The Furniture Shop and La Maison in Bourne End will buy some items to paint or sell.
freecycle.org and ilovefreegle.org see Mixed Collections
Deck chairs see wyattandjack.com under PVC
Leather and canvas furniture see ragsto.com in Mixed Collections
Stackable metal desks and chairs see buildonbooks.com in Mixed Collections
Pet Items
Drugs (new, old, or part-used); food; beds; collars; leads; harnesses; saddles; tack; toys; tennis balls; animal coats; blankets; rugs
Any animal rescue: some are so desperate they will accept pet drugs which are out of date - so please post instead of throwing away!
Battersea Dog Rescue, Windsor, has a long list under “make or donate goods”
PVC
Punctured airbeds; paddling pools; arm bands; bouncy castles; windbreaks; deck chair canvas; swim rings
PVC is very harmful to wildlife and our food chain when it breaks down into pieces. wyattandjack.com makes bags out of waste PVC. They will courier-collect large items, or reimburse you for postage of smaller items.
School textbooks and uniform
Find a child who has lost their home – a box with uniform plus text books they will need is a great present. Remove all names and writing to keep anonymous. Suggestions to contact:
School Student Welfare Office
Saunderton Lodge
Link Foundation
Padstones
Shoes
Clarks shops collect and recycle old shoes.
See H & M, The Salvation Army and London Homeless Run in Mixed Collections.
Tools: gardening and carpentry See workaid.org in Mixed Collections
Toys
See Baby Bank, freecycle.org and ilovefreegle.org in Mixed Collections.
readingfamilyaid.org: accepts toys (see list) for children age 0-16. People are encouraged to organise a toy collection with friends.
thetoyproject.co.uk: donated toys are referred to families by professionals such as social workers
Underwear
Bras for Africa are collected at Oxfam and John Lewis (lingerie Department)
Bras and new pants: smallsforall.org
Packs of underwear see High Wycombe Helping others Mixed Collections
Mixed Collections
The Salvation Army has a recycling bin hidden behind the gate at Marlow Football Ground, Oaktree Road for clothing and shoes.
London Homeless Run: Currently requires men’s clothes, backpacks, men’s shoes and sleeping bags. But please check! sallydark@icloud.com Russellharpermarlow@hotmail.com;
thebabybank.org, Maidenhead, helps out families with pushchairs, baby clothes etc.
St Peter’s School, Prospect Rd, Marlow, collects and recycles food pouches (like Ella’s); used crisp packets; batteries; ink cartridges and used pens.
The YMCA is currently requesting single bedding + good quality kitchen utensils.
freecycle.org and ilovefreegle.org: register online, post your item, and people will request permission to collect. Clothes, furniture, toys, ANYTHING from a house or garden, even tooth brush chargers, WCs, sinks and kitchen units! The whole process is FREE as the objective is to keep things out of landfill.
H&M Shops collect all fabric and clothes + clean shoes for recycling.
Sainsbury’s Maidenhead (+ other branches?) collects and recycles Tassimo coffee pods and packaging; old pots and pans; Brita water filters; some plastic bags and wrappers.
ragsto.com, Marlow, makes bags and wallets from unwanted leather furniture and clothing, old tents, vinyl banners, sacks from coffee bean roasters and bicycle inner tubes.
workaid.org, Chesham, has drop off points for carpentry + gardening tools, lawnmowers, safety equipment, haberdashery, knitting equipment, knitting machines and sewing machines. It refurbishes and transports them to vocational training projects in the UK and Africa.
High Wycombe Helping Others helps refugees. Currently requires medical supplies, crutches, neck or leg splints, walking aids, packs of underwear, reusable sanitary pads, toiletries, baby care packs. The website gives good, clear and detailed lists of what is required and why.
buildonbooks.com, Marlow, helps rebuild schools in Sierra Leone. Usually requires books, stackable metal chairs, desks and other school equipment.
Information kindly researched by Marlow Resident, Jenny Coutts