Does the Salvation Army take mattresses? What about furniture or food? Follow our donation guide to determine what they will and won’t accept.
According to The Guardian, the US throws away a shocking 18.2 million mattresses yearly. That means that over the course of five years, around 91 million mattresses will end up in landfills if not recycled. But why is this such a problem? The issue is simple. Landfills emit harmful greenhouse gases and pose a threat to the environment.
Landfills produce methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and non-methane organic compounds. These gases pollute the environment and threaten wildlife, contributing to climate change. Sending your mattresses to landfills contributes to this problem and creates unnecessary waste. Instead, it is best to donate or recycle your used items to have less of a negative environmental impact.
Likewise, donating items also means you are contributing to a good cause. Often, donated items are given to people in need, who will make great use of them. Items may also be repurposed or thrifted, which is an excellent alternative to ending up in a landfill, as fewer CO2 emissions will be produced.
So, now onto the most important question — does the Salvation Army take mattresses? And what other items do they accept?
Does the Salvation Army Take Mattresses?
You may be wondering: does the Salvation Army take furniture and mattresses? Thankfully, they do! The Salvation Army accepts a wide range of household items, including but not limited to the following:
- Mattresses
- Coffee tables
- Desks
- Chairs
- Beds
- End tables
- Dining room furniture
- Cabinets
- Sofas
The full list can be found on their website, alongside other accepted items, including clothes, household goods, and other miscellaneous items. It is best to check with your local center before donating anything, as each can differ in terms of what they accept. This way, you can be sure you don’t waste a trip.
If you can’t drive or transport items yourself, does the Salvation Army pick up furniture too? You can arrange for a pickup service to collect your items. All you have to do is go on their website and select “schedule a pick-up” before entering your zip code. Once you’ve completed this first step, you will then be able to fill in the rest of your details, including the items that you wish to donate.
Does the Salvation Army Accept Food?
As well as various types of furniture and mattresses, the Salvation Army also accepts food donations. The food must be non-perishable, like canned items, coffee, tea bags, jelly, and dried nuts, among other items. These donations are welcome via their charity shop. However, there are also items that cannot be accepted, including but not limited to perishable foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.
Salvation Army Donation Rules: What Not to Bring
Items that the Salvation Army does not accept include the following:
- Appliances with mechanical difficulties
- Gas appliances
- Large console model televisions and stereos
- Televisions older than five years
- Automobile parts
- Paints and chemicals
- Gas and kerosene heaters
- Built-in appliances
Just like when you donate furniture, it is best to check with your local center, which can be found on their website.
Salvation Army Donation Guide
To donate to the Salvation Army, you can either organize a pick-up or drop off items at your local center. All you have to do is find your local store’s hours and drop off the items. Again, you can do this all from the comfort of their website. After that, it should be smooth sailing!
If you find yourself with items that cannot be donated to the Salvation Army, such as a in-built stove or a very old TV, there are still ways that you can prevent it from going to landfill. You can offer items for free on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and see if there are any takers. Another option is to recycle. You can check if your item is eligible online and even look at the recycling database in the US and Canada for a facility near you.
You can recycle your old laptops or pieces of scrap metal. Recycling or upcycling are both great ways to prevent your old waste from going to landfill and potentially polluting the environment. There are even eco-friendly ways that you can get rid of an old mattress if it is no longer fit for donation.
Read more:
- Does Goodwill Take Underwear, Bras & Socks?
- What to Do With Old Clothes: 10 Impactful Ideas
- Donating Toys: Doing Good Instead of Throwing Them Away
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