Yes!! I donated perfectly good builder grade light fixtures and old cabinets during our kitchen remodel to habitat for humanity. Please try to salvage instead of trash!

A good friend who oversaw and managed the renovations for my home--about a three-month project--is even more passionate that I am about recycling and donating. So we donated whatever we could, including free offers on CraigsList of custom drapes and curtains, fluorescent lights, windows, carpeting, and more. I am now getting rid of lots of rocks and stones all around the home that were used for the low-maintenance landscaping. It's all going or gone, and we had some really happy takers. A mother and adult son took all of the drapes and curtains and their hardware and were thrilled beyond thrilled. A woman looking to build a kind of home/greenhouse insisted on driving from more than two hours away to take the old, single-paned windows.

The only thing we didn't even attempt to re-home was a small camera that had been hidden high up in a corner of the bedroom wall and ceiling and was pointed right at the most logical place for the bed to go. (My friend, who was walking around with one of the contractors pointing out things to be done had initially thought it was a smoke alarm so requested that they all be put lower. "It's not a smoke alarm," he said. "No?" she questioned. "What is it?" I freaked out when I heard this story and insisted that the camera be handled with disposable gloves and wrapped tightly in two opaque plastic garbage bags. I don't even want to think about the kind of person who might answer an ad for it.

I totally agree with removing items carefully and donating or otherwise repurposing when renovating a room. The problem comes in when demo guys want to just destroy everything. It's much more difficult to remove cabinets for re-use than to just trash them. Witness every HGTV renovation show that starts with a gleeful host with a sledgehammer in his hands.

However, I'm curious as to how you treated that camera, Aphaea. Why disposable gloves? Why not destroy THAT??? If someone does find it, it's in perfect condition for whatever was filmed to be viewed.

I was the Executive Director of a Habitat with ReStore and a fundraiser for another Habitat with a ReStore. We received some interesting donations like an expensive chaise to a local college donating all their dorm furniture. Some Habitats' are more organized than others and will have limits or standards on things they accept versus smaller ones who will take anything. Safety-wise Habitat ReStores has implemented no acceptance of faucets and plumbing since 2013 and probably extended that.

I found it takes a combination of Habitat ReStore, Nextdoor, 'no meet' Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or leaving it out on the curb to get things moved on to their next life. It takes a bit of work to re/upcycle.

I donated a ton to Habitat for Humanity during my remodels, lighting fixtures, furniture, household goods, TVs, etc., but before we demo’d I asked if they would take my kitchen cabinets, which were in perfect shape we just were ready for a change, and they said no, they don’t accept them. I was kinda surprised by that, but as the above poster said maybe certain Habitats only accept certain items. Doesn’t hurt to ask before though.

@K R - every Habitat ReStore chooses what it will take or not take based on its store size, what sells (which cabinets do but they take up a lot of floor space), and if they can manage the products. This can make some donors upset thinking we will (should) take everything. If they don't have a way to unload or move the items around, it doesn't make sense to take them. Small ReStore focuses on decor, lighting, and some appliances whereas Habitat's with multiple locations will segment their inventory; the east side has cabinets and doors while the west side has decor and building supplies. My ReStore's were pretty big so we had a little bit of everything and some things were pretty crazy.

thank you for this! I found that if Habitat for Humanity doesn't take some things, there are many types of second hand home stores (such as Second Use in Seattle). just ask around!

I've also had great luck with the facebook buy nothing group -- there are people who will take the most random things.

I also know a local guy who will take really odd stuff for recycling -- such as old mini blinds, a grill, whatever, as long as it has some metal. you may find people like this through Nextdoor or your local neighborhood facebook group.

Have a ton of broken cables and christmas lights? some local hardware stores and used computer stores take that. And a place called Thread Cycle will take torn old shoes, backpacks and clothes.

stuff piles up in my garage from time to time, but I manage to keep a majority of it out of the landfill!

"However, I'm curious as to how you treated that camera, Aphaea. Why disposable gloves? Why not destroy THAT??? If someone does find it, it's in perfect condition for whatever was filmed to be viewed."

The idea of a camera up there focused where it was shook me a lot. I am not a prude but that kind of thing makes me feel icky. So I wanted nothing to do with it except get rid of it. Nope, no way did I want anyone touching it or, outside of us, knowing about it. (None of you know who I am or where I live so sharing here is okay.) i no longer gag at the story and do see some amusement in it but at the time I was really freaked out. I just wanted it gone. And, yes, we all checked the entire house three times to be sure it was the only one.

Cabinets are so easy to get rid of! People can use them in their shop or garage if not in a home. I hate seeing those remodel shows that ruin perfectly good cabinets!

@LJ JL - I wish HGTV would nationally partner with Habitat or another similar non-profit in the area that they're filming a show and say, 'We're going to gently remove the cabinets and donate them to XYZ non-profit,' so the viewers can learn about the resource. You'll hear a reno host say they'll donate them but not where which I think the viewer wants to know that information.

I totally agree with you Jen K! The destruction and wastefulness just makes me sick.

A lot of the demolishing is just for “show”. They do donate items.

https://www.hgtv.ca/renovations/blog/scott-mcgillivray-weighs-in-on-kitchen-cabinets-to-demolish-or-not-to-demolish-1920650/

My parents recently sold the 5 bedroom home they built in 1966. We've slowly been emptying it for 3 years, and are quite pleased at how very little has ended up in the dump. Even the garden tools which were very well used, were gladly taken by people just starting out with their own gardens.

The most interesting item was a very heavy double piece of glass about 3 ft x 8 ft, edged in aluminum trim. No idea what it was from but it had been in the back of the shed for many years. After a few hours on Kijiji someone came by to buy it for a few dollars. I wish that asked them what it was going to be used for!

I definitely agree. As someone who's been on the receiving end of many things donated to Habitat or listed on Marketplace I am really thankful when people do this. With our remodel we always try to salvage what we can and post it for free on Marketplace and it's surprising how quickly it all gets taken and how appreciative people are. Even our old kitchen cabinets, which were not boxes but were built against the wall and had to be torn out in pieces, were snatched up quickly. Someone who was trying to make extra money selling woodcrafts took all the wood and really appreciated it.

When I was with Habitat in central Texas, my affiliate was near a city that had a big retirement community. Every time a new resident moved in they changed out the lighting and appliances and sometimes cabinets - those items sold so quickly because they were nice and someone new. Many habitats have a partnership with brand names or local businesses that donate discontinued or overstock items.

When we moved into our short-term purchased home in Fort Worth I donates a laundry cabinet set with countertop, extra dryer venting, and all the weird shelves in every bedroom. And then when we had to get a new roof I asked the contractor to save the downspouting and one window we had to replace because the only thing that was broken was a chip in the exterior frame. Habitat is always great as a resource when we move because we had extra paint from our whole home interior project and gardening items.

We're building a house in Raleigh and purchased standard lighting and fans so when we're ready to upgrade we'll donate them.

I have donated to the local Habitat store but it's a ways from me. I've had success giving away items that I know Habitat won't take through Craigslist and Marketplace. It's amazing what people will take away. If that doesn't work I set it at the curb and it'll be gone in a day.