RECYCLING AT THE ROTARY AUCTION AND RUMMAGE SALE
Since 1960, the Bainbridge Island Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale has been the largest recycling event on Bainbridge Island. Items that are sold fulfill the REUSE portion of our Auction and Rummage Sale Purpose. As many unsold items as possible are either RECYCLED or REPURPOSED.
When donated items arrive at the drop-off curb, volunteers sort them into one of thirty-four different departments. Auction Department Managers evaluate what items will sell, what needs to be cleaned or repaired before the Auction, and what items have to be disposed of by some other means.
Even though we do our best to sell all donated items we collect, there are always items left at the end of the Auction and Rummage Sale. Some of the items are gathered and given to other organizations. Over the years we have developed a network of local non-profit organizations and charities that claim many of the remaining items. We are pleased that these items are put to good use and help support other community organizations.
In 2011, over thirty non-profit organizations claimed items not sold at the Auction and Rummage Sale from the landfill:
- Goodwill – seven 27 ft. trailers (over seven tons of materials) including clothing, appliances, children’s toys, lamps, sporting goods, kitchenware, luggage, books, arts and crafts. (Even the clothing that is torn or too badly worn is turned into rags, which they sell.)
- Island Family Eyecare – eyeglasses for their Africa donation program.
- Boys and Girls Club – partially used art supplies and unsold musical equipment and outdoor games.
- Wildlife Shelter – unsalable towels and sheets.
- YMCA – uncertified Children’s Car Seats (which Rotary is not allowed to sell)
- YWCA – cell phones that can be used for emergency calls
- Islandwood Art Department – broken ceramics.
- Salish Sea Expeditions – used and broken candles for their art teacher.
- Prison Art Projects -100 old or broken keyboards
- GreenSneakers project – 200 lbs of running shoes.
- Mission to Africa, Jenny Brewster – outdated first aid supplies.
- Local women’s shelter – personal care products (soap, shampoo etc.)
- ARC – clothing, furniture, bedding.
- Abraham’s House – clothing and beds.
- Four different organizations took all the unsold books.
- Helpline house picked up one a load of bedding, linens, and small appliances.
- Children’s Hospital Guild, Bainbridge Island – women’s clothing.
- Senior Center Shop – all unsold collectables.
- Women’s Shelter – all unsold jewelry.
- Evergreen Hospital Medical Center – all unsold medical equipment.
- Bainbridge Island Metro Parks and Recreation – art supplies, picture frames.
- 4-H Clubs – fabric, yarn and sewing supplies.
Other items that were unsold or unclaimed were repurposed or recycled by local non-charitable organizations:
- Cardboard that came with donated items – recycled.
- Metals and paper were sorted – cans, jugs, paper and aluminum – recycled.
- Utensils, plates, napkins and bowls used when feeding the volunteer help at lunch and dinner during the week of Rummage Sale preparation and for the food service during the Auction – composted.
- Electronic items (five bins) including televisions, computers, stereo equipment, appliances, non-working Christmas tree lights – repurposed for their parts or recycled.
- Printer cartridges – recycled and reused by Olympic Printer Resources.
- Styrofoam – recycled at Bay Hay and Feed
- Commercial flower vases – donated to two local florists.
- Batteries – taken to Bainbridge Disposal.
- Plastic Bags – delivered to Town & Country Market for free recycling.
- CFL bulbs – delivered to Poulsbo recycling center.
- Christmas Tree Stands – donated to local tree farms.
- Packing Peanuts – delivered to UPS store for reuse.
- Used Tires – picked up by Kitsap Tire.
It is only with the help of hundreds of volunteers and the Auction Recycle Team that this great “sort” happens. Many man-hours guarantee the best possible use of donated items.