Decluttering your home - where to donate and recycle in Lincoln

If you're getting ready to move home or if you just want to have a clear out to reset your space, we've got some great advice on the best places to sell, donate or recycle your unwanted belongings.

Decluttering can sometimes feel like a daunting task, but organising your space and your belongings can have a very positive effect on your mental wellbeing. And if you have unwanted items that are good enough to sell, it can also have a positive impact on your wallet too!

  

Organise your time

The good news is that having a clear out can be done in a weekend, and if you organise your time to incorporate some socialising it won't feel like such a difficult task.

Decluttering top tip: Plan your decluttering in bite-size chunks of between 30 minutes and 2 hours and remember to take plenty of tea breaks!

  

Sort your items into piles:

Trash - Any items that you're not able to recycle that can be easily disposed in your normal household waste.

Recycle - Any normal household recycling, and also larger household items that are not good enough to donate or sell.

Donate - Any clothes, shoes, books, homewares, DVDs, and soft furnishings that are preloved but good enough to donate to charity.

Sell - Good quality clothes, shoes and accessories, Books, music, DVDs, sports equipment and other items that are good quality or sought after.

Keep - Any keep items can be put away as you declutter to save on space.

  

How to throw your items away safely

A lot of smaller non-recyclable items can be thrown in your normal household waste (black wheelie bin) for your regular weekly collection.

City of Lincoln Council give clear guidance on what can be put in the bins. You can find your regular collection days on the Council website to help you plan when you are having a clear out:  City of Lincoln Council - Bin Collection Days

Remember not to put certain items into your black bin, such as:

• Batteries (these can be recycled in many locations including supermarkets. Check Recyclenow for your closest location)
• Lightbulbs
• Electrical items
• Small items of furniture
• Mobile phones
• Vapes and e-cigarettes
• Wires and cables

Many of these items can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre on Great Northern Terrace, which is open 8am-4pm every day except Wednesday and Thursday. You can find out more details of what can be disposed of, including excess general waste and recycling, on the website here: Lincoln Household Recycling Centre

  

How to recycle your items

Any everyday household recycling can be disposed of as normal in your brown wheelie bin. When bins are collected any excess recycling in clear bags or broken down boxes put neatly next to your bin will be collected. Larger items can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.

  

Where to donate your unwanted items

If you are already making a journey to the Household Recycling Centre, you can find a clothes and book bank on site. If you're not disposing of other items, there are plenty of other ways to donate in Lincoln.

Clothes can be taken directly into any of the many charity shops around Lincoln. Make sure they are in a clean box or bag. We've put together a list of the charity shops in Lincoln to make this easier for you:

• Barnardo's The Carlton Centre, Unit 2a Alexander Walk, Lincoln LN2 4FN
• British Heart Foundation 328 High St, Lincoln LN5 7DQ
• British Heart Foundation Furniture and Electrical 180 High St, Lincoln LN5 7AF
• British Red Cross shop 279 High St, Lincoln LN2 1JG
• Cancer Research UK 254 High St, Lincoln LN2 1HW
• Cats Protection - Lincoln Charity Shop Unit 6 Morrisons Store, Tritton Rd, Lincoln LN6 7QL
• Lincoln Cat Care 85 High Street, Lincoln LN5 7DQ
• Linkage Charity Shop 14, Birchwood Centre, Jasmin Road, Lincoln LN6 0QB
• Linkage Charity Shop 167 High St, Lincoln LN5 7AF
• Mind 340 High St, Lincoln LN5 7DQ
• Mind 34 The Forum, North Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8HW
• Oxfam 327 High St, Lincoln LN5 7DQ
• Oxfam Bookshop 5 Cornhill, Lincoln LN5 7HE
• Relate Charity Shop Fulbeck House, Turner Ave, Lincoln LN6 7NQ
• RSPCA St Marks Church Hall, St Marks St., Lincoln LN5 7BA
• RSPCA Lambeth House, 6 Woodhall Drive, Lincoln LN2 2AD
• Scope 261 High St, Lincoln LN2 1HW
• St Barnabas Unit 17, Birchwood Shopping Centre, Lincoln LN6 0QB
• St Barnabas Lowfields Centre, Brant Rd, Lincoln LN5 9TR
• St Barnabas 25 Monks Rd, Lincoln LN2 5HL
• St Barnabas 117 Burton Rd, Lincoln LN1 3LL
• St Barnabas 175 High St, Lincoln LN5 7AF
• St Barnabas 265 High St, Lincoln LN2 1HW
• St Barnabas Unit 5, Darwin Plaza, Wragby Rd, Lincoln LN2 4QQ
• Sue Ryder 10 The Forum, North Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8HW
• Sue Ryder Unit 2 Deacon Retail Park, Deacon Rd, Outer Cir Rd, Lincoln LN2 4JE
• The Nomad Charity Shop Moorland Avenue, Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7RD

If you don't have time during opening hours, you can also drop off clothing and books at clothes banks around the city. To find the closes location to you visit Clothingbanks.co.uk

Decluttering top tip: Make a day of it with friends and see if you can find any hidden gems in your local charity shop!

  

Sell your items to make a little extra cash

There are plenty of selling platforms to try out including eBay, Vinted and Facebook Market Place. They are relatively quick and easy to list items and you can sell almost anything in a short space of time.

Decluttering top tip: Set aside an afternoon in a clean, well-lit room, to take photos in one sitting ready to list your items later in the day with a cup of tea!

Check with the University, Students' Union, or local Facebook groups for any opportunities for tabletop sales.

If you've got a car you could team up with a friend and do a car boot sale on the weekend. There are sites a short drive away at Hemswell, Torksey Lock, Metheringham and Sleaford. Even if you're not selling, they can be a great day out bargain hunting with mates.

You can sell unwanted books, DVDs, CDs, and games using multimedia selling apps like Ziffit, Zapper, Music Magpie, and We Buy Books. These apps are great if you're looking for a quick clear out and someone to take the items away from your address, but you often don't make as much money as you would selling elsewhere.

If you are looking to sell electricals, mobile phones, or games consoles you will find a few places in Lincoln that give you cash for these items, but you can also trade in online for cash, vouchers, or part exchange against new items.