Discover Goodwill finding multiple uses for donations

If you’re getting ready to do some spring cleaning, you’ll have to be careful of how you dispose of unwanted items. Illegal dumping could cost you a big fine and jail time. But there are other options.

Discover Goodwill has multiple retail centers throughout southern Colorado, where they resell donated items.

“They come in through our donation centers, they wind up for sale at our retail centers and those sales, 90 cents of every dollar of those sales, actually go to programs and services that help individuals in our community,” Assistant Director of Communications Bradd Hafer said.

When the items aren’t sold at the retail centers, they get taken to Discover Goodwill’s outlet. Shoppers there buy items by the pound, at lower prices than the retail centers. When items aren’t sellable, they get recycled. Some things are sold in bulk to commercial dealers and resellers.

While they try to maximize the donations’ value, Hafer said they encourage people to donate things that are resellable. A rule of thumb is to donate items that you would give a friend or family member.

For items that aren’t in good enough shape to be donated, the city of Colorado Springs has the following options listed on its website:

LANDFILLS
1010 Blaney Road, Colorado Springs 683-2600
8925 Rancho Colorado Blvd, Fountain 382-8383
10000 Squirrel Creek Road, Fountain 382-9661

TRANSFER STATIONS
856 N. Washington 481-2340
543 Air Lane 574-8989
1965 Commercial Blvd 576-9175
3650 Bradley Rd 390-1859