SHOPS
Items we can’t accept as donations
When you have some donations to take to one of our Donation Centres or Donation Points, please be aware that there are some items that we are unable to accept.
Find out more below and check our list.
Why are there items we can’t accept?
There are a number of items that we’re unable to accept at our Donation Centres and Donation Points. Mainly it is for legal, hygiene or health and safety reasons, or sometimes that based on our experience, we just aren’t able to sell a particular type of item.
It also goes without saying that we can only accept donations of items that are in a saleable condition. Damaged, broken or incomplete items that have to be disposed of by us, cost our charity money – funds that should be spent on providing the care at our hospices.
So we ask that when you bring your items to us, you check that your items are in saleable condition and not one of the items we cannot accept. If you’re in any doubt, please get in touch the Donation Centre to check in advance of your visit.
Below you’ll find details of what we currently can’t accept.
Heating and Cooking Equipment
- Gas appliances – either mains or bottled
- Gas cookers
- Paraffin and gas stoves
- Gas heaters
- Storage heaters
- Ovens with glass fronts/doors
- Oil and gas Agas
- Kitchen and Utility White goods
Baby & Children’s Items
- Car seats
- Highchairs
- Cots, carrycots, moses baskets and playpens
- Stair gates
- Roller skates and inline skates
- Inflatable swimming pools
- Inflatable toys
- Soft toys without a CE or UKCA label attached
- Broken or soiled toys
- Incomplete board games and jigsaw puzzles
- Hand knitted items; including hand knitted toys and baby clothes
- Prams, pushchairs and buggies
- Outdoor tree-hanging swings and hammocks without safety instructions
Medical and Disability Equipment
- Commodes
- Hospital Beds
- Crutches
- Bath aids or seats
- Items supplied by the NHS
- Incontinence pads/pants
- Medical equipment and medication including vitamins
- Prescription spectacles
- Sanitary items or nappies
Furniture and Homewares
- Used duvets, pillows and sleeping bags
- Upholstered furniture without a fire label
- Upholstered furniture no longer in a saleable condition (soiled, stained or ripped etc)
- Furniture with missing parts that make them unsafe
- Veneered wood furniture with damage to the veneer exposing the inner wood
- Flat packed furniture without instructions or unboxed (except beds)
- Candles without fire warning instructions
- Sunbeds and tanning equipment
- Waste disposal units
- Upright pianos and organs
- Damaged pictures or frames; split framework or water damaged prints
Sports Equipment
- Bicycles, scooters, unicycles or trikes
- Buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies
- Inflatable swimming pools and pumps
- Safety helmets, riding hats, cycle helmets and crash helmets
- Climbing equipment, ropes and harnesses
- Tents
- Exercise bikes, treadmills and cross trainers
- Skis and snowboards
- Ski boots to fit skis
- Ice skates
Technology and Electrical Items
- Personal Computers (PCs), computer hard drives and unusable laptops
- CRT Tube/old fashioned TVs
- Printers unless new in box
- Electric showers
- Electric blankets – even when new
- Power tools without instructions
- Refrigerators and Freezers – site restrictions may apply
- Landline telephones (subject to discretion)
- Any electrical item with excess rust, broken parts or exposed wiring
- Mains Christmas/fairy 240v lights
- Electronic devices (such as TVs or DVD players) missing the correct power cord or remote
- Personal appliances such as shavers, foot spas etc (unless unused and in original sealed box)
DIY and Garden Items
- Safety equipment and eye protection
- Firefighting equipment
- Chemicals, paint thinners, aerosols
- Cleaning agents, solvents and adhesives
- Stepladders and ladders
- Petrol or diesel garden tools such as lawn mowers
Sharp knives and weapons
- Knives
- Swords, sword stocks and crossbows
- Guns and ammunition (including replica guns, unless obviously toys)
Miscellaneous
- Coat hangers
- Damaged suitcases
- Hand knitted or heavily soiled clothing
- Pirated or copied CDs and DVDs
- Promotional items such as CDs given away for free
- Videos or audio cassettes
- Perishable goods, food and drink
- Fake branded handbags or purses
- Ivory
- Fur
Other options for reuse and recycling
There are lots of other ways to reuse or recycle your more well-loved items:
- Your local recycling collection can take torn, stained or damaged fabrics
- Cornwall Council can collect broken bulky items for a small fee
- Local opticians often have recycling points in their stores for spectacles
- As a private seller, you ARE allowed to sell or give away upholstered items with no fire labels – you may find a home for them on your local Facebook Group or online marketplace
Find out more about recycling services offered by our local council.
