What To Do With Return to A-Z Guide

Books, paperback

Paperback books that are in good usable condition, are accepted for donation at locations throughout the A2 Area Reuse Network. 

Recycle Right!

Do not put paperback books in your curbside recycling cart! The covers and bookbinding are too thick to make it through MRF sorting and bailing machines. They can jam up the machinery, causing damage and delays and creating unsafe conditions for our workers. Loose pages can be recycled, but only if they are torn from the binding and cover.

Choose Zero Waste!

There are many ways to reuse books in Ann Arbor! Donate books you no longer need and look for used books instead of purchasing new ones. Take advantage of your local library or explore little free libraries in your neighborhood. Donating unwanted but still usable books, rather than throwing them away or recycling them, is the best way to ensure they are reused!

Accepted locally for donation at:

Check your local area for libraries or stores that accept used books. Some options in and near Ann Arbor are:

• Friends of Ann Arbor District Library: Books must be in sellable condition and meet their acceptability requirements. Books are resold to raise funds for library programming. 
• Goodwill of Greater Detroit and Goodwill of Southeastern MI: Accepts hardcover books in good condition for resale. Books that are in less than sellable condition are recycled. Books like encyclopedias, dictionaries, and old textbooks that are generally not accepted for resale can be donated for recycling. 

While we do our best to stay updated on alternative reuse and recycling locations, we recommend that you call locations before taking your item(s) to confirm that they currently accept them.