Whether you're moving, downsizing, or clearing out an estate, sorting items for reuse, recycling, and proper disposal keeps usable goods out of landfills. Here's how to handle common categories.

Clothing and Textiles

Furniture and Housewares

  • Working items — donate to charities, post online, or place curbside with a "free" sign
  • Non-working items — contact your garbage hauler about bulky pickup or take to a transfer station. Bulky items guide
  • Mattresses and box springs — dedicated recycling programs exist. Bulky items guide
  • Furniture worth saving — consider repair before disposal. Furniture repair guide

Electronics and Appliances

  • Working electronics — donate or sell
  • Non-working electronics — take to an HHW facility. Electronics guide
  • Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, stoves) — contact your garbage hauler for bulky pickup

Hazardous Items

These require special handling — never put them in your regular bins:

Moving Supplies

  • Cardboard boxes — reuse, share with neighbors, or flatten for recycling
  • Packing paper — recycle in your blue bin
  • Bubble wrap and plastic film — reuse or return to grocery store film collection bins
  • Styrofoam packing — most goes in garbage; check your city's guidelines

Hiring Help? Choose Responsibly

If you're hiring an estate cleanout service, make sure they sort for reuse — including donation and recycling drop-offs at legitimate organizations. Ask about their process before hiring.

Recommended services:

  • Rebuilding Together's ECO (Estate Clean Out) program
  • Remoov — Bay Area donation and consignment services
  • College move-out programs (Stanford Give & Go, UC Davis Give & Go, CALMoveOut)

Resources