Alternative Options

Sometimes, for legal, OH&S or space issues, The Bower is unable to take your donation of preloved goods directly. In this event we will provide you with up to 3 alternative options including businesses, community and charitable organisations. We maintain a database of over 1000 organisations, below are a few examples.

PLEASE NOTE: The Bower may still be able to accept goods in many of these categories, but where it is unable to, will refer customers onto other solutions, such as those shown below.

This brief randomly selected list shows the type of organisations and businesses the Bowerhas on its Reuse Referral database.

The list is not an endorsement of these enterprises, but an indication of the sort of people out there working in reuse, repair and recycling.

Building Materials

Orlando and Brown Antique and Decor

Fountains, lights, fire places, doors, led light windows, gates, balustrades are all the sorts of secondhand goods that Orlando and Brown Antique and Decor will accept, so long as they are reasonably good condition.

They also a repair service for damaged items. Collections and deliveries are offered, and they will buy or accept donations of appropriate items from 10am to 6pm weekdays.

If you're interested in buying salvaged building materials and elements you might also try;

Terrace House

The Heritage Building Centre

Computers

With much upgrading occurring there is much demand for places to take superseded computer equipment.

When the Bower is too full with computers we suggest the following people, amongst many others, who might be able to assist.

Technical Aid to the Disabled (TAD), Phone: 9808 2022

Computerbank NSW Phone: 4961 3095,x

Work Ventures Phone: 8337 4000

Furniture

St. Vincent De Paul Society

The Salvation Army

If the Bower is overstocked in small retro furniture items and 50’s bric-a-brac, then we might suggest somewhere like the St. Vincent De Paul Society in Abercrombie Street,Chippendale. They also are happy to take vintage style clothing too. But they shy away from goods like built-in wardrobes, electricals and whitegoods.

Give them a try around 11am to 6.30pm weekdays. Phone 9699 6167

You might also try the Salvation Army. In most cases they'll pick up your unwanted furniture items, or provide you with just what you were looking for as a second hand buyer.

Garden Materials

Andrew O’Sullivan &Associates

If you have garden or landscape materials surplus to your needs, then Andrew O’Sullivan & Associates may be able to assist. They salvage the likes of pot plants, building materials, timber, stone and pavers. These are used for landscaping of schools, council streetscapes and personal residences, as well as for waste education programs.

Printer Cartridges

Cartridge Works

One of the many businesses in this field is Cartridge Works in Rozelle, who recycle ink cartridges on behalf of Planet Ark. Drop off your donations there, and pick up replacement remanufactured cartridges or refills.

Weekdays 9am to 5.30pm and Sat 9am to 12 noon.Phone: 9818 1600 or Web;

You might also try SCRAP for cartridge recycling

Toys

The Toy Restoration Centre

The Toy Restoration Centre in Jannali restore toys for charitable purposes. Senior citizen volunteers repair the toys to be donated to disadvantaged children. Some are sold to helpcover cost. They are happy to take wooden toys, books, games and puzzles but avoid softtoys. Last year they gave away 6,000 toys. Open Monday to Thursday 9am to 1.30pm.Phone: 9528 4024

The Doll Repair Centre

In the business of repairing, buying and selling old and new dolls, rocking horses, prams, teddy bears, is the Doll Repair Centre. A one woman show, Mary Reeman, specialises in antiques rather than reproductions, although she has had some success in repairing plastic and mechanical dolls. Although not able to do collections she will accept donations. Hours in the Kings Place store are Weekdays 10am to 2pm with Sat being 9.30am to 12.15pm.

Phone: 9502 2999

 

Anything & Everything Else

Freecycle

The web based Freecycle is like an online dating agency for unwanted goods. You list the goods you are happy to give away, or alternatively the items you’d like to obtain. It is sort of like Ebay but no money changes hands, the products are freely provided. Also operating in Sydney’s South, North and the Southern Highlands

You might also try www.yoink.com, another internet swap site.

Removalists

Citymove

Sydney Furniture Removals

Whether you're moving up the road or across town, you might want to consider working with people who share your concern for the environment. Citymove has certified as NoCO2 carbon neutral business with the Carbon Reduction Institute. A NoCO2 certified business has a valid claim to carbon neutrality. Under the NoCO2 program, businesses calculate their carbon footprint, then investigate reducing their emissions wherever possible and finally offset any unavoidable carbon emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. Minimising environmental impact is a goal that informs everypart of the Citymove service.

Sydney Furniture Removals are another option - With a packing service that uses butcherswrap paper and carboard cartons. Sydney Furniture Removals buy back boxes from their clients and then sell them again on the next  job. Old boxes that are not good enough to sell again get torn up into pieces and put back into packing materials service for reused as stuffing.