Where to donate, recycle and resell items in the Netherlands

When you move, declutter, or refresh your home, you’ll often find items you don’t need anymore. Instead of throwing them away, you can donate, recycle and resell them easily in the Netherlands.

List by material, A–Z:

Item	Examples	Where it goes	NOTES
Batteries	AA, AAA, button batteries	Supermarket battery bins / Afvalbrengstation	Do not throw them in the regular trash
Baby Items	Clothes (sizes 0-80 cm), shoes (sizes 0-22), toys, baby bottles, books	Baby Spullen Bank: https://www.babyspullenbank.nl/home	PDF Information with all items that they take: https://stichtingbabyspullen.nl/wp-content/uploads/Wat-zamelen-we-in.pdf
Books and Paper	Books, magazines	Kringloop / Marktplaats / Paper bin / Vinted	Donate if usable; Damaged books → paper bin Mangrove Boekhandel in Amsterdam
Chemicals	Cleaning products, solvents	Afvalbrengstation (KCA)	Hazardous waste only
Clothes and Textiles	Clothes, bed sheets, towels	Textile containers / Kringloop  / Vinted / Sellpy	Even damaged items can be recycled
Cooking Oil	Used frying oil	Afvalbrengstation	Never pour down the sink
Cosmetics	Makeup, creams	Residual waste / PMD / Glass	Empty packaging → PMD or glass; Leftovers → residual waste
Electronics	Phones, cables, chargers	Afvalbrengstation / Electronics store  / Vinted
Food (donations)	Canned food, dry goods	Voedselbank	Non-perishable only
Furniture	Tables, chairs, shelves, sofas...	Kringloop / Afvalbrengstation	Many kringloops offer free pickup
Glass	Jars, bottles	Glass Container	Lids removed
Light Bulbs	LED, energy-saving bulbs	Afvalbrengstation / Store return bins	Remember: not allowed in glass bins
Medicines	Pills, syrups,	Pharmacy (Apotheek)	Never in the regular trash
Paint	Leftover paint, cans	Afvalbrengstation (KCA)	Hazardous waste
Plastic and Metal Packaging	Bottles, cans, cartons	PMD bin	Empty
Shoes	Any kind	Textile containers / Kringloop  / Vinted / Sellpy	Tie pairs together or put in a bag
Toys	Plastic, wooden toys	Kringloop / Schools / Afvalbrengstation  / Vinted / Sellpy	Donate if complete, clean and safe

• Vinted: Check the catalogue guidelines to determine which items can be uploaded: https://www.vinted.ie/catalog-rules

  
  

• Sellpy: Check the catalogue guidelines to determine which items can be uploaded: https://www.sellpy.nl/pack-tips

  
  

• Kringloopwinkel Directory: https://www.kringloop-info.nl/kringloopwinkels

  
  

• Afvalbrengstation Lists:

  Recycling centers are managed locally by each municipality. To find your nearest one, check your local city or gemeente website for “milieustraat” or “afvalbrengstation.” Here’s an example city page:

  🔗 Amsterdam Recycling Centres for Residents — info on how to bring bulky waste and recyclables.

  For your specific gemeente, search for your city name + afvalbrengstation or milieustraat (e.g., “Rotterdam milieustraat afvalbrengstation”).

  
  

• Voedselbank Lists:

  This is the central info and links to local food banks where you can donate food or volunteer.

  https://www.voedselbankennederland.nl/ 

  
  
  
  

Final Tip

Before donating, ask:

• Is it clean?

• Is it safe?

• Is it usable?

  
  

If yes → donate. If not → recycle properly.

Donating and recycling reduces waste and helps others; good for your home and your community.