Spring cleaning or planning for your next move? Either way, it’s the time of year for cleaning out closets and getting a fresh start. If you find that you have too much stuff, here are some ideas of how to shed yourself of unwanted clothes, books, and household items. And you may help someone in need at the same time.
The city of Paris offers free curbside pick-up of bulky items in the different arrondissements and greater city area. The service is generally offered twice each week with varying times for each area. Before placing any items curbside, please call 01 55 74 44 60 for direct information and scheduling. Note that it is not lawful to place oversized items on the curb without pre-authorization. For pick-up details in your area or to make an appointment on line, visit the city’s Web site and fill out the online form.
Emmaus Communautes will come to your apartment and pick up bags of clothes, shoes, toys and/or furniture that are in reusable and resalable condition. They are similar to what many Americans know as the Salvation Army. They will not come for just one bag, so if you call, be sure you have enough to make their trip worthwhile. Be prepared to tell them how much you have for pick up.
Les Orphelins d’Auteuil
40, rue La Fontaine, 75016 Paris,
Tel : 01 44 14 75 20
Les Orphelins d’Auteuil is a Catholic-run orphanage in the lower 16th that has a second-hand shop to help fund the home. According to the web site they sell the following :
- clothes and shoes for all ages
- costume jewelry, silverware, dishes, artwork
- linens such as sheets, towels, tablecloths, curtains
- books, records, toys
You can leave things in good condition, Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sales take place on Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. and then again from 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Saturday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There is parking available on-site so you can unload without fear of blocking traffic or being ticketed.
You can also find drop boxes for clothing at several locations in and around Paris:
8th arrondissement: St. Philippe de Roule, at the intersection of rue Faubourg St. Honoré and Franklin Roosevelt
12th: La Halte des Femmes (Coeur de Femmes day shelter) 16-18, passage Raguinot, M: Gare de Lyon
13th: La Maison Coeur de Femmes, 77, rue du Château des Rentiers, M: Porte d’Ivry or Nationale
A list of 300 collection boxes managed by the organization, Le Relais, can be found on-line. In addition, these organizations may also accept secondhand clothes and shoes:
La Croix Rouge at 01.44.43.11.00
L’Armee du Salut at 01.43.62.25.00
Le Secours Catholique at 01.45.49.73.00
Le Secours Populaire at 01.44.78.21.00
Yahoo hosts a bilingual online recycling group called Freecycle Paris that not only enables you to donate your items (clothes, furniture, appliances, etc.) to other members who need or want them, but also allows you to browse for items that may be of interest to you. The group is free to join.
Finally, both the American Library in Paris and SOS Helpline will accept used books, CDs, and DVDs in good condition
Hmmm, I wonder if anyone has ever told Parisians that they can’t leave an old couch or a lamp or maybe a computer monitor on the sidewalk. Or perhaps they’re all getting permission? We dodge unpredictable oddities all the time at our corner crosswalk! Thanks for the post, useful info.
I left two computers on my sidewalk (minus their hard drives which I smashed to bits with a hammer) and they were gone within minutes.
… fascinating perception of The Salvation Army, insomuch as you’ve seemingly categorised it as a thrift store(alone)
That’s just a tiny strand of what they’re about – in the US, in well over 120 countries globally, and in France as well, BTW.
J
That’s true and the same can be said for the other organizations mentioned here. But this post is about places that accept donations, not about the work done by nonprofits!
Very helpful. Thanks. I need to get rid of a lot of stuff.
To give away books, I logged on to SOS Helpline but couldn’t see where to find out how to donate books. Could you help? Thanks.
Will check with SOS and get back to you!
We have a call into SOS and are waiting for them to respond to our questions about book donations. Hopefully we’ll hear something soon and be able to update the post.
Re books … Don’t forget Shakespeare and Co. they will buy used Books written in English.
Wonderful information. We are travelling to Paris for a holiday and would like to donate our stuff before we come back.. thanks for the detailed info.. !!
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American Library in the 7th accepted books and office supplies from us
Just this week