Books
Donate good, usable books to local libraries, schools and community centers. Recycle unwanted books at a paper drop off bin or paper recycling company.
Do not place bound books in curbside recycling.
Drop-off Recycling
Unwanted books, including hardcover and softcover books, can be recycled at the paper drop-off bins operated by River Valley Paper Company and Royal Oak Recycling, typically found in school or municipal parking lots, nonprofits, places of worship, and in the Cleveland Metroparks.
Royal Oak Recycling (Paper Retriever bins) and Integrity (fka River Valley Paper Company) do not provide a list of their locations to the Solid Waste District. Check with your city service department to see if they have an up-to-date address list of paper bins in your municipality. Books should be clean and dry before being placed in the paper bin.
As of April 20, 2026, the Solid Waste District is no longer a host location for a Royal Oak Recycling paper bin, and the bins have been removed from our parking lot. Please find an alternate location for cardboard and mixed paper recycling.
Home Recycling
Pages of books can be removed and included in home or curbside recycling. See how to unbind a book. Learn more about recycling mixed paper.
Donate Books
General interest books in good condition can be donated to public libraries, Little Free Libraries, schools, and community centers.
The Association for Continuing Education at Case Western Reserve University accepts donations for its annual Book Sale. See details about making a donation.
For donation opportunities and businesses that recycle paper, see the list below.
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Looking to recycle, donate, or dispose of other items? Use the dark blue 'What Do I Do With?' search bar at the top of every page of this website. Allow location services or use the city drop-down to find opportunities in your local area.