What To Do With Your Stuff After You Declutter
Decluttering your home is a refreshing process, but figuring out what to do with everything you no longer need can be overwhelming. In the Nashville area, there are many great donation centers and disposal services that ensure your items go to the right place—whether they’re being reused, recycled, or safely discarded. This guide breaks down where to donate and dispose of just about everything! Since I live in Franklin, these sites tend to be centered around Nashville and South to Williamson County in Brentwood & Franklin, TN.
Keep in mind there are so many wonderful organizations around town and also online options – these are just some of our local go to places.
General Donation Rules and Guidelines
- donate items that are in clean, usable condition - if it's broken or filthy - it's just going to cause more work for the staff at the donation site
- keep all of the parts together - we often use ziploc bags for small pieces and tape it to the items with painters or packing tape
- make sure if it needs a cord or charger that it's securely attached to the items
- if there are instructions, securely attach these to the item
- if it is a food or personal hygiene item - it needs to be unopened and not expired more than a year
- if it's a game or puzzle or toy with lots of pieces - make sure they are all there
- check the donation/disposal site website if you aren't sure if they'll take a particular item
Thrift stores and donation sites are not dumps or trash heaps – items that are donated should be in usable condition so they can be sold to support that charity. If you wouldn’t use it if you needed it – think twice about donating it.
Where to donate items in Nashville & Williamson County
General Household Goods
- ThriftSmart - proceeds support local charities.
- Goodwill - accepts gently used clothing, furniture, and household goods + wedding dresses for their yearly event
- Arc of Davidson County & Greater Nashville - picks up clothing, furniture, and household items to benefit individuals with disabilities.
- AmVets - offers pick up services for household goods
- Habitat For Humanity ReStore - appliances, building materials, furniture, lighting, etc.
Donation Spots in Nashville & Williamson County
Baby Items & Kids’ Supplies
Where to donate items in Nashville & Williamson County
Durable Medical Goods
Food Donations
Art & Craft Supplies
Where to Donate in Nashville & Williamson County
Specialty Donations
Books/DVD's
Clothing, Hygiene & More
- Nashville Rescue Mission - clothing, personal hygiene, vehicles
- Dress For Success - womens business appropriate clothing & accessories
- Room In The Inn - mens clothing, personal hygiene, hats, gloves, hand warmers, batteries, etc.
- Shower The People - hygiene items, linens, socks & underwear, hats/gloves/coats
Specialty Donations
Specialty Disposal Services in Nashville, Brentwood & Franklin
Proper disposal is essential for items that can’t be donated to ensure safety and environmental responsibility. While I can’t say that Tennessee is a hot spot for environmentalism, we do have options for most items!
E-Waste (Electronics Recycling)
- City eWaste (our fave!) - 2 locations for all electronic waste
- City of Nashville e-Waste Recycling - offers drop-off locations for electronics recycling.
- Best Buy Recycling Program - accepts small electronics, appliances, and batteries.
- Staples Recycling Program – accepts printers, ink cartridges, and other office electronics.
Hazardous Waste Disposal
- Metro Nashville Public Works - hosts hazardous waste disposal events for items like paint, chemicals, and batteries.
- Williamson County Recycling Center - accepts BOPAE items for residents in Franklin and Brentwood.
- Williamson County Landfill - paint + building materials, yard waste, metal, etc.
- Sneed Road & Nolensville Convenience Centers - yard waste, building materials, metal, plastic, glass, mattresses
Shredding & Document Disposal
- Richards & Richards - mobile shredding & locations in Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin (our preferred vendor)
- Shred-It Nashville - mobile shredding & drop off in Nashville
- Staples, UPS & Office Depot - in-store paper shredding services
Large Item & Junk Removal
- Junk Drop - full service junk removal that supports mothers in need (our preferred vendor)
- Junkluggers - full service junk removal, estate clean outs
- Music City Junk Removal - picks up furniture, mattresses, and other bulk waste
- 1-800-GOT-JUNK? - full-service junk removal for items that can’t be donated
Nashville’s Guide to Donating & Disposing
By thoughtfully donating and properly disposing of unwanted items, you not only create a more organized home but also contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable community. Whether you’re clearing out clutter, preparing for a move, or handling an estate clean-out, these Nashville-area organizations and services make it easy to do the right thing.
There are a few other non-charity options which are actually some of my favorites:
- Buy Nothing – a local group run by volunteers to share items between each other *I love my local group in Franklin!
- Freecycle – grassroots organization to share items amongst the group
Need help decluttering or organizing? Contact us at A Fresh Space for expert assistance in creating beautifully organized spaces!
