Donation Logistics in the East Bay

A Guide to Preparing Items and Understanding What Charities Accept

Hayward • Oakland • San Leandro
40%

Donated items discarded

$75-150

Avg disposal cost per rejected load

1,200+

Tons donated annually (Alameda Co.)

85%

Prepared items accepted

East Bay Donation Centers: What They Accept

Hayward

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

25485 Clawiter Rd, Hayward

  • ✅ Accepts: Cabinets, vanities, sinks, doors, windows, lighting, appliances (working, ≤7 yrs old)
  • ❌ Refuses: Mattresses, water heaters, particle board furniture, recalled items

Pickup: Fee-based • 510-803-3369

Oakland

St. Vincent de Paul

9235 San Leandro St, Oakland

  • ✅ Accepts: Furniture (clean, no rips), appliances (tested), clothing, books, housewares
  • ❌ Refuses: Sofa beds, entertainment centers, tube TVs, hazardous materials

Pickup: Free within service area • 510-777-8632

East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse

4695 Telegraph Ave, Oakland

  • ✅ Accepts: Art supplies, craft materials, fabric, buttons, frames
  • ❌ Refuses: Furniture, appliances, large electronics
San Leandro

Goodwill of the East Bay

14550 Washington Ave, San Leandro

  • ✅ Accepts: Small furniture, electronics (flat screens), household goods, clothing
  • ❌ Refuses: Large appliances, mattresses, hazardous waste, building materials

Donation hours: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Davis Street Resource Recovery

2615 Davis St, San Leandro

  • ✅ Accepts: Mattresses ($25 fee), e-waste, scrap metal
  • ❌ Refuses: Furniture, appliances (call first)

Always call ahead. Acceptance policies change with inventory, staffing, and market conditions. A 5-minute call prevents wasted trips.

How to Prepare Items for Donation

Furniture
  • ✓ Vacuum upholstery, wipe wood
  • ✓ Tighten loose screws, knobs
  • ✓ Remove pet hair (auto-refusal)
  • ✓ Include all hardware, shelves
  • ❌ No stains, tears, odors
Electronics
  • ✓ Test before donating
  • ✓ Include remote, cables
  • ✓ Remove personal data
  • ❌ No CRT TVs/monitors
  • ❌ No broken screens
Clothing & Textiles
  • ✓ Clean, dry, no stains
  • ✓ No rips, missing buttons
  • ✓ Fold or box neatly
  • ❌ No wet or moldy items
Appliances
  • ✓ Clean inside and out
  • ✓ Test all functions
  • ✓ Remove freon (refrigerators)
  • ❌ No units over 7-10 yrs

📸 Photo pre-approval: Many East Bay charities accept photos via text/email for large items. This 2-minute step guarantees acceptance.

Universally Refused (All Organizations)

Car Seats

Expiration date unknown, crash history invisible. Always trash.

Recalled Cribs

Drop-side, CPSC recall list. Illegal to resell.

Stained Upholstery

Pet stains, odors, smoke damage. Cannot be sanitized for resale.

Mattresses

Most thrifts refuse; CA law requires special recycling.

CRT Televisions

No resale market, hazardous waste. E-waste only.

Hazardous Materials

Paint, chemicals, batteries, oil. HHW facilities only.

⚠️ Financial reality: It costs thrift stores $75-150 to dispose of unsellable furniture. When you donate unusable items, you're not helping—you're shifting your disposal cost to a nonprofit.

East Bay Specialty Donation Programs

🖥️

E-Waste

GreenCitizen, eLoop — Computers, monitors, small electronics. May charge for TVs.

🛏️

Mattresses

Bye Bye Mattress — Davis Street (San Leandro), Alameda County HHW. $20-25 fee.

📚

Books

Friends of the Oakland Public Library — Accepts donations for annual sales.

🔨

Building Materials

Habitat ReStore, Urban Ore — Cabinets, doors, windows, hardware.

When Donation Isn't Feasible

Large estates, hoarding situations, or items beyond repair require professional handling. Junk removal services can identify salvageable donations and ensure non-reusable items reach appropriate recyclers or disposal facilities.

Storage Cleanout GMB Netlify App
East Bay donation tip: St. Vincent de Paul offers free furniture pickup in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and San Leandro. Schedule 2-3 weeks out; availability varies. Habitat ReStore charges a fee but can often pick up within 3-5 business days.