We appreciate and thank you for helping to reduce and reuse by donating your containers!

Please check all guidelines below and to see if we are currently accepting donations. Hold on to them or properly recycle them if we are not!

In order to ensure guidelines are being met and containers are ready for use, donations must be checked in with staff before dropping off in store. We reserve the right to refuse any containers.

Le.s.s. is not responsible for contamination due to container reuse.

Guidelines

  • CLEAN

    Containers you wish to donate for store use must be cleaned of any product or residue. This includes the tops and lids. We recommend cleaning containers just like you would if you were going to continue using them at home so they are ready for the next person to use!

  • DRY

    Containers you wish to donate must be completely dry. Containers with liquids and even water from after cleaning left in them can cause mildew so be sure to let them dry out completely before bringing them in!

  • HAVE WORKING PUMP/SPRAYER/LID

    Please ensure any containers you wish to donate have lid or working pump/sprayer. We do not accept containers without them. We will accept extra pumps and sprayers without containers that we use to replace broken ones.

  • NO CHEMICALS

    We do not accept any containers that held harsh chemicals such as bleach, even if the containers have been properly cleaned. We recommend you dispose of these appropriately.

  • NO SMELLIES

    We do not accept containers that held smelly foods such as but not limited to pasta sauce, salsa, or garlic. We find these smells can linger even after thorough cleaning and while may suitable for holding some things, definitely not all. We wouldn’t want someone’s face cream smelling like garlic!

  • LABELS

    If you can easily remove the labels without leaving the sticky glue on the bottle then great! but if not, we would prefer the label be left on to avoid dirt sticking to the container.

  • Currently, we are also accepting:

  • Plastic Lids for Rainbow Strings for Lawrence Community

    Rainbow Strings for the Lawrence Community is a project started in 2020 by a Lawrence Local, Sara Gillum. Sara creates art out of plastic waste (primarily plastic lids) and uses it to raise money for community efforts.

    Sara tries to take in and use up as many plastic lids as possible, but the amount of plastic waste even a tiny portion of Lawrence generates is staggering. While it is always preferable to avoid single use plastic wherever possible, she is happy to take what you can’t avoid or reuse. She is often out of space for some colors, but can take CLEAN AND DRY plastic lids and other small plastic waste items in the following colors:

    Lime Green, Light Blue, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Orange.

    Sara loves making art with what would otherwise end up as waste, inspiring others to find beauty in unexpected places, and getting every one thinking critically about the waste we as a society are producing. If you are interested in learning more about the Rainbow Strings Project you can email her at RainbowStringsLawrence@gmail.com, visit her website, or find her on Instagram or Facebook.

  • Sneakers and Athletic Type Shoes through gotsneakers?

    As a leader in sneaker resale and recycling, they partner with a multitude of vendors to responsibly recycle end-of-life footwear. They have tested programs such as grinding sneakers to reuse certain materials like rubber, foam and textile, waste to energy programs, upcycling into new, reusable products, and more. Their team is constantly searching for end-of-life recycling solutions and we remain open to all ideas and efforts to ensure sustainability within their industry.

    MUST BE SNEAKER/ATHLETIC TYPE SHOES!

  • Plastic Bags and Films in partner with the Lawrence Lions Club

    Lions club is global organization with local chapters with a mission to improve communities. Our local Lawrence chapter, among many other projects, collects plastic bags and films for the purpose of tuning them into benches for the community that are placed in places like bus stops, parks, and memorials.

    Accepted plastic materials include:

    Produce Bags, Grocery Bags, Ice Bags, Ziplock & other resealable bags, Cereal Box Liners, Case Overwrap, Bread Bags, Newspaper Sleeves, Dry Cleaning Bags, Bubble Wrap, and Plastic e-commerce mailers.

  • Candy Wrappers

    They are excited to relaunch their seasonal recycling program with a new name and an expanded mission! Trash or Treasure™ will now help schools, community organizations, and small businesses across the country reduce waste all year long.

    Is it trash or is it treasure? Their education program, created in collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation, encourages us all to rethink what we consider trash and recognize its inherent value as part of the circular economy. Their signature TOT mail-back candy wrapper recycling box brings that vision to life, inspiring communities around the country to recycle more all year round.