Next, get your unwanted items into the hands of people who can use them.

Clothing and Textiles

Bring your textiles to the Ecosmith box at any of Ipswich's schools (a portion of the proceeds benefits the schools' environmental clubs and other student initiatives) or to the American Red Cross box at the transfer station. All textiles, including ripped or stained items, must be clean and dry. Additional items are listed below and in the DONATION GUIDE.

Other useful items not listed? Offer them on Freecycle.org, NextDoor or Craigslist.

Plastic bags and film (case wrap, paper towel wrap, etc.) can be recycled! Many grocery and retail stores (Shaw's, Market Basket, Target, Kohl's, Staples, Lowe's) have recycling bins for plastic grocery bags (labeled #2 or #4) and plastic film. Recycle them during your weekly shopping trip, or consider reusing them for some other household purpose. Avoid using them completely by investing in reusable bags, which are available at most grocery and retail stores or online.

Working appliances can be brought to Goodwill. Appliances that have outlived their usefulness can be brought to the transfer station for recycling. If you need curbside pickup of your appliance, call JRM to prepay a pickup (978-536-2500) and they will give you a date to put your item at the curb.

Batteries

Rechargeable, car and household batteries can be recycled at the Transfer Station. Tedford's Hardware, Best Buy and Staples will also take rechargeable batteries for recycling. Button-cell batteries (watches, hearing aids, remote car starters, etc.) may contain mercury and are collected at Town Hall at the Treasurer's office, the Department of Public Works office and the Council on Aging.

Book donations can be placed in the More Than Words bin at the Transfer Station. The Ipswich Public Library will accept small donations of newer books that can be resold.

Cars & Trucks

Several charities in Massachusetts will recycle your car and/or other vehicles, and guidelines for donating are offered by the Attorney General's office. Here are some charities that accept vehicle donations: American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Goodwill, Make-a-Wish, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, Vehicles for Veterans MA. You can also check with your favorite charity to see if they have a program.

CDs, DVDs and Video Games

Unwanted but still good CDs, video games and DVDs can be donated in the More Than Words collection box at the Transfer Station.

Bring these to the Public Works office for recycling. Phones are sent to Cellphones for Soldiers and MP3 players in working order are sent to nonprofit organizations in need of devices for music.

Live trees (decorations removed) should be brought to the transfer station (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 AM to 3:30 PM). Artificial trees are considered a bulky item and require a sticker.

Computers & Electronics 

At special collection events in May and September, Ipswich organizations offer electronics recycling for a small fee. For curbside pickup, call JRM at 978-536-2500 to schedule and prepay a pickup ($25). Goodwill accepts some electronics (no TVs) that are in working order at their donation sites. Staples and Best Buy will recycle electronics for free and monitors and computers for a fee even if they were not purchased there. Call before you go.

Eyeglasses

The Ipswich Lions Club collects eyeglasses at the Council on Aging (Town Hall) and in their mailbox in the parking lot of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church at One Pineswamp Road. The mailbox for eyeglasses is clearly marked and located in the back right corner of the lot, next to the clothing bins. Costco also collects eyeglasses.

Market Basket has an American flag receptacle at the entrance. American Legion Posts and VFW Posts also accept flags for proper disposal.

Plastic flower pots need to be put in the trash.

During the holiday season, Lowe's recycles holiday lights. Be sure to call before you go. 

Household Items

Donations of working, gently used household items can be given to the Goodwill Store, Savers and Project Home Again. Some organizations, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Epilepsy Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, Salvation Army, and St. Vincent de Paul will pick up reusable household items from your home on a schedule or by appointment.

Ink Cartridges

Cartridges can be dropped off at Staples and Best Buy.

These should be put in the trash.

Metals

Any item at least 60% metal can be brought to the Transfer Station. You will need a beach sticker or Transfer Station permit (available free at the Department of Public Works -- bring your Ipswich car registration).

Vinyl records can be donated to Savers (139 Endicott Street) or Goodwill (301 Newbury Street) in Danvers.

Remove the batteries (see above for recycling batteries) and then put these items in your trash.

Sneakers/Athletic Shoes

Items that can still be worn may be put in the collection bin at any Ipswich school. But worn-out athletic shoes can be recycled! Nike collects all brands of worn-out athletic footwear (no cleats or dress shoes) in their Reuse-A-Shoe Program at Nike and Converse locations. (Nike stores with collection bins are located in Somerville, MA; Kittery, ME; and Merrimack and Tilton, NH. Converse stores are in Somerville at Assembly Row and in Merrimack, NH.) Donated shoes are ground up and used in making new clothing, athletic shoes, and surfaces for football fields, weight rooms, basketball courts and playgrounds.