by Rick Bavera

Created on: March 17, 2009   Last Updated: June 14, 2009

Reduce, reuse, recycle: Uses for your unwanted CDs and books (and even magazines, records or tapes).

The simplest and least environmentally-friendly choice for your spring cleaning chore of ridding yourself of unwanted items would be to throw them away. But that is not a good choice for many reasons, among them being the years and years they will be sitting in a landfill. Bad choice.

Another choice would be to box all those CDs you never listen to anymore, the already read books and magazines, and take them to the local non-profit thrift shop. Donate them to the Goodwill Store, St. Vincent de Paul Store, or Salvation Army Store. These stores take your donations and sell them at relatively inexpensive prices, providing work training and employment for those who may not have other opportunities. In any economy, this is a good thing. When the economy is struggling, the people being served by places such as these need the goods and services provided even more.

There are other donation options for you, as well. Your local public or school library (or one that may be part of a school or organization you support) probably does not have the budget that they would like to purchase new materials for their collections. If they cannot use what you donate for their collection, they often have "used book" sales to help raise support for their programs. You could also donate the materials to senior centers, nursery/day care centers for the elderly or children, the local hospital or any of several personal care homes that are nearby. Personal care homes are a great option, because they often get overlooked. It would be a great way for you to make some connections with older people who may not have lots of visitors or chances to get out, and give them access to materials for the lonely hours between visits from family or friends (if they do get visits at all).

Are you looking for a little cash for yourself? There are often thrift or resale shops that will pay for your used items. Some stores also are "regular" retail stores that sell new merchandise, but also purchase used CDs, books and even magazines for resale. There are several independent, locally owned businesses in my home town, most of them specializing in music or general merchandise, that will purchase your unwanted goods. A national chain that is one of my favorite places to shop and to sell my used CDs, movies, and print materials is Half Price Books. Your town may have one nearby. If not, there may be a small,

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