If you’ve made it this far, it’s probably with a small mountain of used textbooks. don’t worry, you’re not alone. According to the NACs, university professors assign an average of 1.2 required materials per course with occasional optional materials on top of that. if you’re doing math at home, that means most students use a minimum of 5-7 textbooks per semester and up to 40-60 in a four-year program.
That’s a lot of textbooks, so it’s not uncommon to have a few extras gathering dust. If it’s time to say goodbye, here are some options for what to do with old textbooks:
You are reading: Can you recycle text books
- sell textbooks
- donate textbooks
- trade textbooks
- recycle textbooks
sell textbooks
The most obvious thing to do with old textbooks is to sell them. Simply run each ISBN number through our textbook sales tool to see if they have retained any value. Keep in mind that a variety of factors will impact the value of your textbooks. Make sure you know the best time to sell textbooks, and take care of your books so they’re in pristine condition when you’re ready to sell them.
Unfortunately, all textbooks have a shelf life when it comes to monetary value. the industry is constantly changing and new editions are constantly coming out with important updates. but that doesn’t mean his books are worthless. here’s what to do with old textbooks you can no longer sell.
donate textbooks
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Even if they are no longer useful to you, your old textbooks could be invaluable to someone else who is eager to learn. In fact, there are several organizations that facilitate the donation of old textbooks and serve a variety of different communities and groups. That’s what makes donating textbooks great: you can choose an organization that means something to you and know that your books will go to a great cause.
Wondering where to donate old textbooks? Here are some of our favorite options:
- Libraries: It is unquestionable that libraries are pillars of the community. they provide access to knowledge, promote literacy and provide a safe place to learn for everyone, regardless of their background. donating gently used textbooks to your local library will allow them to add to their collection or resell them to help fund various programs.
- goodwill: for over 115 For years, Goodwill has been serving local communities by selling donated items and using those funds to provide vocational training and other related services, such as further education and child care, to those in need. visit the goodwill website to learn more about the process and find a location near you.
- salvation army: We’ve all seen Santa collecting donations for the amy’s salvation at christmas, but did you know you can also donate used products to them? These donations go to The Salvation Army Family Stores and the funds raised help support the organization’s many excellent programs. visit the salvation army website to find drop-off locations or schedule a free pickup.
- World’s Best Books: This organization accepts book donations and uses your generosity to send books to people in need, provide literacy grants to nonprofits and libraries, and protect the environment by preventing unnecessary waste. visit the better world books website to learn more about the submission process or find a drop box in your area.
- Books Through Bars: Want to help provide education and training crucial to prison inmates? Books Across Bars collects a variety of genres, from entertainment to instruction, and their textbooks may fit the bill. however, be sure to read the guidelines and checklist first, as they do not accept hardcovers or other types of books.
- books for soldiers: books for Soldiers allow any deployed member of the US military to request books and more to enjoy abroad. from this point, users can sign up to volunteer on their website, check out soldiers’ book requests, and submit a much-needed book.
- Books for Africa: another great organization, books for africa accepts almost all of its surplus books and sends them to africa to help improve educational conditions for those in need. textbooks published at any time in the last 15 years are in demand, so visit their website if you can help.
These are just a few places you can donate old textbooks, but there are many more. take your time and find the right option for you.
trade textbooks
Another easy thing to do with old college textbooks is to host a book swap at a local coffee shop, store, or community center. This can be a fun way to pass your textbooks along to someone who might need them and maybe find a new favorite. just be sure to approach the owner or manager of the venue you select and discuss the idea with them before setting anything up.
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You can also use social media platforms to find and meet other students at your school or in your area. Consider creating a book swap group where everyone can share which books they’re looking for and which ones are ready to give away.
Another online option is to use a site like paperswap books, which allows users to list the books they want to share with the community and request the ones they’d like to read. think of it like borrowing a book from a friend, except now you have thousands of friends and over a million books to choose from.
recycle textbooks
If all else fails and you don’t know what to do with your old textbooks, it can seem like the only option left is to throw them away. But before you open the bin, consider recycling your textbooks. according to the most recent data from the environmental protection agency, 25% of the 17.8 million tons of waste generated each year belongs to the “paper and cardboard” category. this includes textbooks, and with a few simple steps we can help reduce this total.
- book recycling: if your book is paperback, you can recycle it directly by throwing it in the appropriate bin. To recycle hardcover books, you may need to remove the cover and spine first, as these contain other materials such as plastics, thread, and glue. see this guide for help unbinding hardcover books.
- Locate a Center: If you don’t have a recycling service and you’re not sure where you can recycle textbooks from Safely, this tool will help you find government and commercial options in your area.
- Be Smart: Another option to prevent your textbooks from ending up in the landfill is to recycle and convert them into something decorative or practical. the possibilities are endless, from a tablet case to a lamp. start here to get inspired.
remember that everything helps. Whether you choose to recycle, donate, or sell textbooks online, you’ll be helping reduce waste, supporting a community in need, or both! the choice is up to you.
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sources:
- national association of college stores. “Higher Education Retail Market Data & figures.” https://www.nacs.org/. June 25, 2020.
- Environmental Protection Agency. “National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Waste and Recycling.” https:/ /www.epa.gov/ June 25, 2020.