Donating & reselling in Lincoln

Reworking your waste stream > Reducing your waste production > Donating & reselling in Lincoln

Donating or reselling products helps gives them a second life, as well as gives others in Lincoln more opportunities to purchase secondhand.

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Donating products vs. re-selling

Donating and re-selling products are both better alternatives to simply throwing them away – however, they’re far from the same thing. A large percent of products that are donated to thrift stores still end up in the landfill; after all, thrift stores receive a lot of donations, and they can’t store and display everything. Additionally, many items that are purchased at thrift stores are done so impulsively – meaning that there is a good chance that those products end up right back on thrift store shelves or the landfill in a few months.

However, when you sell something directly to someone – or even put it up on the Facebook Market for no cost – you know someone is willing to go out of their way for the product, and likely find genuine interest or use in owning the product. Re-selling products isn’t perfect – it takes more time to individually list and meet up to sell products – however, if it’s an option, it is typically a more sustainable alternative to simply donating old goods.

Methods of reselling in Lincoln

There are a variety of ways to get started with re-selling the things you own and no longer need in Lincoln.

• The Buy Nothing Project – https://buynothingproject.org/

The Buy Nothing Project is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to increase community, reduce waste, and create a circular economy. Their free-to-use app – BuyNothing – allows you to input your location, and list / view listings of free products from other people within a six mile radius of the address you input. The goal is to keep products out of the landfill, help you declutter, and and ensure your neighbors have the things they need!

• Consignment stores – https://www.consignmentshopper.com/lincoln-ne/

In short, consignment stores will sell products you’re looking to get rid of and pay you a small share of what they make (either up-front or after it has sold). A list of all (or most) of the consignment shops in Lincoln is available at the link above – it can be a great way to get the ease of donating with the sustainability of re-selling!

Map of some consignment stores in Lincoln

• Facebook Marketplace – https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/

The Facebook Marketplace is a great and simple way to sell your products to other people within the community. Listing your products for sale only with local pickup helps avoid the hassle of shipping, and only takes a few minutes!

Methods of donating in Lincoln

There are a variety of secondhand and thrift stores that accept donations in Lincoln. To learn how to donate at the closest location to you, simply visit their website, stop by, or give them a call!

To see a list of all (or most) of the secondhand stores in Lincoln, visit the SustainLNK page on Shopping secondhand in Lincoln.

Donating old phones: Mobilize for Good

Have any old phones lying around? Don’t throw them away – donate them to Mobilize for Good! Send Mobilize for Good your old phone (even if it’s broken) in a pre-paid box, and they will help sell it to secondary markets, keeping it out of the landfill. Not only that, but they will walk you through how to clear your data, and send a tax-deductible donation to a local nonprofit for the value of the phone(s) you send in!

While you can enter the information for any nonprofit you like, CenterPointe – a Lincoln-based nonprofit – has already partnered with Mobilize for Good to streamline the process. Learn more and request your pre-paid box at the link below!

What to do with products too beat up to donate/resell

Once a product is too beat up to serve its original purpose, it’s important to dispose of it properly. Use the City of Lincoln’s “Which bin does it go in?” tool or visit SustainLNK’s page on Recycling drop-off in Lincoln to find the best end-of-life path for your product!