Thrift Stores

Local thrift stores usually accept a wide variety of reusable goods. Please call individual stores to verify drop-off times and if they can currently accept your items.

Big Blue Barn Thrift Store, Yolo County Central Landfill 44090 County Road 28H, Woodland
530-666-8856
Donations accepted 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
The Yolo County Central Landfill is a one-stop-shop where you can donate items for reuse, recycle what can't be reused, and throw away whatever is left. Many times residents turn in items at the household hazardous waste drop-off days that are still usable. The Yolo County Central Landfill offers free reusable household products like paints, cleaners, etc. during household hazardous waste drop-off day. Call the landfill (530-666-8729) or visit their website for more information.

Community Mercantile 
622 Cantrill Dr. | 530-379-3070
Please call or text to see if items are accepted. Some pick ups available.

Goodwill Donation Xpress
417 Mace Boulevard | 530-231-5111
Donations accepted Mon. – Sat. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Goodwill Thrift Store
1640 E. 8th St. | 530-564-4474
Donations accepted 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

R & R Thrift 
2801 Spafford St. | 530-759-9648
Donations accepted Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Yolo County SPCA Thrift Store
920 3rd St. | 530-758-0544
Donations accepted Mon. – Tues and Thurs. – Sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wed. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

For more reuse and recycling options, check out Recology's What Bin web page!

Internet Posting

Post items online that you would like to sell or give away.

Facebook:  There are a number of local Facebook groups where you can post items to sell or give away (Davis Kids2Kids Resale, Davis Sale or Trade, Davis Yard Sales, etc).
Sacramento.Craigslist.org
FreeCycle.org

Other Reuse Ideas

• When possible, mend clothes and repair worn shoes, boots, handbags.
• Buy reusable products and avoid single-use items.
• Reuse bags, containers, paper, boxes and other items.
• Reuse paper and plastic bags and twist ties. You might keep a supply of bags or boxes in your car to reuse on your next shopping trip.
• If you buy only one or two items and did not bring your own bag, carry your purchases without a bag.
• Take advantage of offers by grocery stores that provide a cash credit for reusing their grocery bags.
• Reuse scrap paper. Staple together sheets of scrap paper to make note pads and shopping lists.
• Use both sides of a piece of paper before recycling it.
• Save and reuse gift boxes, ribbons, tissue paper and larger pieces of wrapping paper.
• Reuse newspaper, polystyrene peanuts and "blister-wrap" to ship your next fragile package. Use brown paper bags to wrap parcels. If you have more than you need, you can bring it to a packing/shipping store for reuse. Call ahead to confirm whether they can currently accept the materials that you have.
• Borrow, rent or share things you use infrequently.
• Share newspapers and magazines. Bring them to work or offer them to your doctor's office.
• Donate or resell items to thrift stores or organizations in need

Garage Sales

Garage sales are an excellent way to find a reuse for items you no longer need and to buy previously owned items instead of brand new. Reuse is a very important member of the 4 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy). The following tips are intended to help ensure that your day of selling or shopping will be a pleasant one.

Tips for Yard Sale Shoppers

• Early birds should respect a host’s decision to welcome guests at the posted starting time.
• Remember to carry some small bills and change for small purchases.
• Drive carefully on neighborhood streets. Anticipate distracted pedestrians and frightened animals. Be Street Smart!
• Resist the temptation to double park, block driveways or park on the wrong side of the street. A traffic citation or fender bender will diminish the thrill of a great bargain and most likely ruin all your fun.
• Respect the work and time that went into your host’s landscaping. Navigate plantings with care.
• Refrain from offending hosts by ridiculing their taste or the value they attach to their possessions. Most reasonable offers will gladly be accepted, and civilized guests are usually able to negotiate a better deal.
• Relax and enjoy the day! You have a rare opportunity to make new friends, meet community members, bring home a new treasure and act environmental by promoting Reuse, the second member of the important 4 R’s!

Tips for Hosts

• Early birds and professional bargain hunters may arrive at your home before your advertised starting time. You are in no way obligated to comply with their requests or demands for a preview. You will likely have many guests visit your home before the day is over, so try not to worry about the loss of a sale.
• If you post signs around the neighborhood to advertise your garage sale, be sure to taken them down immediately after the sale is over to keep your neighborhood clean and prevent litter (when the signs blow away).
• Encourage people to bring their own shopping bags to reduce waste.
• Be prepared with change for guests who arrive with only $20 bills in hand.
• Keeping your money in a fanny pack or a zipper pocket inside your coat may prevent your unhappy separation from each other. If your profits become substantial, reduce their visibility and increase your safety be periodically stashing your excess cash in a safe place (preferably indoors and out of reach of guests).
• Keep your pets confined out of the way and your children by your side. Enthusiastic shoppers may be too distracted to slam on their brakes when driving past.
• Do not invite strangers into your home to view your sale items. They may enter your home at a later date without your invitation. Keep all sales items outside your home.
• Many shoppers may arrive at your home at the same time. Marking prices on sale items ahead of time may help you maintain a calm demeanor and maximize sale opportunities.
• It’s always wise to keep precious items close at hand. If you want to sell trinkets worth a small fortune, a garage sale is not your best bet. Remember, garage sale pricing usually starts at around one-third the value of your items when they were new.
• To prevent confusion and embarrassment, place your give-aways far away from your sale items and mark them with a “free” sign. Recruiting sale helpers with tasty treats or profit sharing opportunities will preserve your strength and may deter the uncompensated removal of your possessions during busy or distracted moments.
• Having clean bags, newspaper and boxes available for carrying away newly purchased treasures is a thoughtful touch that guests will appreciate.
• Be a good neighbor and be honest about the condition of your items for sale. Rise above the temptation of laissez faire, let the buyer beware philosophy.
• Before advertising your garage sale, you may want to notify your next door neighbors of the date you are planning your garage sale to see if they want to host a garage sale too. More than one sale in an area will likely draw more shoppers.
• It’s also good to check and make sure your neighbor is not already planning an event that may disturb or be disrupted by your garage sale (example: a birthday party or a wedding).
• You may want to advertise your garage sale in a local newspaper to draw more shoppers.
• If you’re ill or you need to cancel the garage sale, be sure to place a “sale canceled” sign so shoppers will move on and not disturb you.
• Relax and enjoy the day! You have a rare opportunity to make new friends, meet community members, supplement your income and act environmental by promoting Reuse, the second member of the important 4 R’s!