At Great Forest, we believe in transforming waste into opportunity. By donating for reuse, businesses have the power to make a significant impact by turning potential landfill waste into valuable resources for others. This guide will show you how we have helped businesses give a second life to everything from electronics to pianos, old wallpaper, bulky items like mattresses, beds and office furniture, thousands of hangers, hundreds of coffee makers, lamps, curtains, and even a gym full of fitness equipment (see examples of our success stories below).
Every year, over 100 million tons of material are discarded into landfills, including assets from businesses undergoing renovations or upgrades, or clearing out storage spaces. Hotels, for example, frequently face the challenge of disposing hundreds of items when they remodel and update. These items, often seen as burdensome, still hold tremendous value—they just need to be connected with those who can use them.
The solution is simple: rethink “waste” and bridge the gap between donors and recipients. We help businesses make these connections seamless and impactful. Ready to make a difference? Dive into our guide and start transforming waste today.
By Donating For Reuse, Businesses Will:
- reduce waste by keeping reusable items out of the landfill
- help communities in need
- generate good will among staff and clients. Doing good is contagious and sustainable.
Added Benefits of Donating For Reuse Include:
- save money on waste disposal, hauling and storage costs (eg: for bulky items, electronics, and other materials that need special handling).
- get a tax deduction for charitable donations.
Donating For Reuse: Success stories
What can be donated for reuse? You might be surprised.
With just a little effort, even seemingly hard-to-place items can find new homes. We know because we have been helping clients avoid the landfill for years.
- We helped one client “recycle” an entire gym full of equipment.
- In San Francisco, we helped a hotel donate several thousand tons of old wallpaper!
- When one building did a spring cleaning of their office basement, we helped to coordinate the donation of old construction materials to a nonprofit for reuse.
- In Maryland, we facilitated the donation of furniture to a school.
- In NYC, we helped hotels place a discontinued line of amenities with the Rescue Mission.
- We even helped one hotel set up an ongoing partnership with a nonprofit that has helped the hotel by clearing out a host of items, including two grand pianos and over 400 beds that are now serving people in need in shelters.
Donating For Reuse: 3-Step Guide For Businesses
1) CONNECT
Find and make connections with charities and organizations that can use the items you no longer need. You can do this in various ways:
- Through personal connections. Think about who you know. Perhaps a professional contact at an industry association might have relationships with a charity. Perhaps a cousin or friend works at a nonprofit organization?
- Staff network. Reach out to staff, tenants and colleagues for ideas and connections.
- Look at what’s nearby. For example churches, community centers and schools.
- Research. Sometimes matches are made just by calling around to charitable organizations. Do an online search. Look for resources from your local Department of Sanitation, like Donate NYC.
2) COMMUNICATE
Once you establish a connection, keep those communication lines open.
- Communicate clearly. Have pictures of what is available for donation, and make sure you know details like the quantity of items, when they are available, the location for pickup, etc.
- Establish a point of contact. Establish one point of contact on both sides – the donor and receiver.
- Be a patient go-between. Being the “glue” between donors and recipients can take time but the results are worth it every time.
3) COMMIT
- Do what you say. This carries a lot of weight on both sides of donor-recipient equation. It may also lead to a lasting, mutually beneficial ongoing relationship.
- Senior management support and buy-in is essential. Everyone needs to be on board.
Ready to start? Give us a call.
Learn more:
Client Spotlight: Fairmont Hotel Keeps Two Baby Grand Pianos Out Of The Landfill