:

Donate: Building Materials

What we do and don't take | Guidelines for donating | Gift with donation pick-up | Donation drop-off instructions

Donating high-quality building materials, new or used, helps people repair and improve their homes while also sparing the environment from needless waste. Because the Reuse Center at Boston Building Resources is a 501(c)(3) charity, both material and financial gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.


Directions to donations entrance

Dropping off a donation? Please note that we have a new, separate entrance for donation drop-offs. Do not enter the parking lot. Park on Terrace Street near the rear of the building and look for the “Donations” sign.

Donation drop-off hours are 10:00-2:00 Friday and Saturday.

If you can’t drop off your materials during these times, please contact us to make other arrangements: donations@bostonbuildingresources.com.

More drop-off tips


What we do and don't take

We accept donations of most building materials in reusable condition. Donations may be of new or used material, so long as it retains a value and quality that we can pass along to our customers. All donations are accepted at staff discretion. We reserve the right to refuse a donation for any reason.

Please call 617-665-8753 or email donations@bostonbuildingresources.com with any donation related questions—we’re happy to answer any questions you may have!

What we accept

  • Doors

  • Windows

  • Kitchen Cabinets

  • Vanities

  • Appliances

  • Flooring (100 sq ft minimum)

  • Clean lumber

  • Lighting fixtures

  • Fencing

  • Clean masonry

  • Tile (50 sq ft minimum)

  • Tools

  • Gardening equipment

  • Much more!

We don’t accept

  • Materials that are damaged, broken, mildewed, rotten, or otherwise unsaleable

  • Materials with peeling or flaking paint

  • Loose glass panes

  • Used drywall

  • Used carpet

  • Masonry materials with mortar or adhesives

  • Flooring with nails or adhesives

  • Lumber shorter than 6 feet and/or full or fasteners

  • Liquids or chemicals of any kind

  • Loose window sashes

  • Paint

  • Smoke/CO detectors

  • Gas fired heating systems

  • Gas fired water heaters

  • Propane tanks of any size

  • Loose fasteners

Guidelines for donating

 

Materials being picked up by our truck must be at street level and in close proximity to the street or driveway. Materials in basements or several floors up will not be picked up unless specific arrangements have been made.

In most cases, our two-person pickup crew can handle the collection of your materials. If we are picking up your donated items and they are extraordinarily heavy or large, like a six burner Wolf Range or large Sub-Zero refrigerator, for instance, it may require an able-bodied person at the pickup location to help load it onto our truck—but we will let you know ahead of time if we think it requires extra labor.  If it is extra-large, and you have told us that such a person will be available, and that person is not there, we will be unable to pick up the donation.

We encourage taking photos of the materials before they are donated. Keep the photos with the Boston Building Resources receipt to document your donation.

Because Boston Building Resources cannot test or warranty appliances, we accept only appliances that are in like-new condition and not more than a few years old. As with all donations, our staff member has the last word on appliances.

Contribution with pick-up

We request a contribution from our donors of materials to help cover vehicle and staffing costs associated with collecting your donation. The amount is up to you, but we suggest at least $50 for locations up to 20 miles from BBR.

If you prefer, you may give a check to the driver. Checks should be made out to “BBR - Reuse Center.”

You may drop off donated materials Friday and Saturday 10:00-2:00.

Donation drop-off instructions

If you plan to drop off your donation, we strongly encourage contacting us first to make sure that we will be able to accept the materials. We are open for drop-off donations from 10:00 to 2:00 Friday and Saturday.  

Feel free to park curbside at 88 Terrace Street, Boston, MA 02120. If there is no space on the street, you may park in front of our garage doors. Look for an orange "Donations" banner on the side of the building. Ring the bell when you arrive.

All donation drop-offs will be done via this side entrance. We are unable to take in donations at the customer entrance. 

If you'd like to shop once you've completed your drop-off, please park in the Reuse Center parking lot at 100 Terrace Street to avoid blocking the garage doors. 

If you need help when you arrive, call 617-665-8753 to speak with a member of the donations staff.   

Please contact Reuse Center donations staff with any questions, or to give feedback and/or suggestions. They can be reached at 617-665-8753 or donations@bostonbuildingresources.com.