Why 95% of Donations Should Be Rehomed — And How That’s Possible
When we donate items, most of us imagine them going to someone who needs them. But did you know that only a fraction of discarded goods are typically rehomed? Many end up in landfill or are recycled unnecessarily.
At Anglo Doorstep Collections, we’ve designed our service so that 95% of donations are rehomed, ensuring your old clothes, books, toys, and household items can continue to benefit people and communities — rather than being thrown away. But how do we make this possible?
Why Rehoming Matters More Than Recycling
While recycling is better than landfill, reusing items has an even greater environmental impact:
- Reduces waste: Rehoming extends the life of products, keeping them out of landfill.
- Conserves resources: No energy or raw materials are needed to produce a new item.
- Supports communities: People in need gain access to affordable goods.
Rehoming should be the first step in the donation process. Recycling should only be used for items that cannot be reused.
Challenges in Rehoming Donations
Even with the best intentions, many charities struggle to rehome items:
- Quality control: Broken or unsafe items cannot be reused.
- Sorting logistics: Large volumes of donations require careful organisation.
- Demand matching: Not all items have immediate homes or buyers.
Without proper planning and systems, more items end up recycled or discarded than necessary.
How Anglo Doorstep Collections Achieves 95% Rehoming
We’ve developed a process that maximises rehoming while keeping collections convenient:
- Careful Collection Guidelines
- We only accept items that are in reusable condition.
- Our “What We Can and Cannot Collect” list ensures donations are suitable for rehoming.
- Sorting and Quality Checks
- Every item is checked for usability.
- Clothes, books, toys, and small household items are separated by category and condition.
- Partnering with Charities and Local Communities
- Items are distributed to charities, schools, and community groups.
- This ensures goods reach people who can benefit immediately.
- Recycling Only When Necessary
- Around 5% of items are recycled responsibly — typically damaged or unusable donations.
- This ensures nothing goes to waste and environmental impact is minimised.
- Continuous Feedback and Improvement
- We track what items are successfully rehomed and adjust our collection criteria accordingly.
The Impact of Rehoming Donations
By rehoming donations instead of recycling them unnecessarily:
- We saved over 37 billion litres of water by rehoming unwanted clothes in 2024.
- Also in 2024, we saved just over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions by rehoming & reusing unwanted household items.
- Rehoming items saves significantly more energy than it takes to recycle materials – enough energy to power over 38,000 homes in the UK for over a year!
Every item rehomed contributes to a more sustainable, circular economy, turning what was once “waste” into a valuable resource.
Book a Collection Date
Conclusion
Rehoming donations should always be the priority. At Anglo Doorstep Collections, our 95% rehoming rate proves it’s possible to collect, sort, and redistribute donations efficiently while making a tangible difference for people and the planet.
Next time you declutter, remember: your unwanted items aren’t just clutter — they’re opportunities. Schedule a doorstep collection today and ensure your donations find a second life where they matter most.