Public road division City of Geneva - Photo ©Ville de Genève

From time to time we find ourselves with more than we need or want to. More often than not, the objects of our disaffection end up forever hidden in the attic, the “cave” or on the street clogging the sidewalks, or worse yet, they end up in green areas.

Give them a second chance

If you are ready to part with your old -but still in good shape- refrigerator, jeans, skates, picture frames or anything else that no longer suits your lifestyle in Geneva, there are eco- and socially-friendly alternatives to the bin or the dumpster.

Clothes and accessories

The easiest option are the containers located every few blocks, usually next to the neighborhood recycling center, where you can drop off clothes and accessories in sealed bags which are distributed among several charities in town. You may not drop toys or books in these containers.

Objects still-in-good-condition

Several charity organizations also offer to pick up your objects free of charge in city limits and in most cities in the Canton. Two rules to follow: First, the donated items must be in good, working condition. Second, you should call at least two weeks in advance to make sure they can pick it up in a time frame that is convenient for you. Most of them accept books, clothes, house items, appliances and even computers in good working condition.

These are the four main charities that pick up small and large items from your home and re-sell them in their stores:

• Armee du Salut, +41 (0) 22 736 15 80
• Caritas Genève, +41 (0) 22 884 99 99
• Centre Social Protestant, CSP +41 (0) 22 884 38 00
• Emmaüs, +41 (0) 22 342 39 59

When your items really need to go the garbage

If your items need to go to the dump, call the public roads division of the city of Geneva (voirie). No electronics or appliances are picked up. Call toll free: 0 800 22 42 22 Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 11:30 or from 13:00 to 16:00, to schedule a pick up. You may also email them for further information: vvp@ville-ge.ch

Cities in the Canton, outside Ville de Genève have different rules for pick up so you must check your town’s regulations.

Disposing of electric and electronic products

You may do so at any store that sells that sort of items, (including some  supermarkets). Stores do not require proof-of-purchase to drop them off. How so? You may wonder. Well, Switzerland imposes a drop-off  tax on everyone buying new electric/electronic products at the time of purchasing and so voilá.

Be kind, don’t just throw it away!

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