Creating a More Sustainable Future
At Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin (SCWI), sustainability is at the heart of what we do. By extending the life of clothing, furniture, electronics, and household goods, we keep millions of pounds out of local landfills while creating opportunities for people in our community.
In 2025, we diverted
18 million
pounds from the landfill.
In 2025, over
257,000
pounds of electronics were recycled.
Life Cycle of a Donation
Whether you’re cleaning out your closet, upgrading household items, or making space for something new, your donations can make a lasting impact. Goodwill accepts gently used clothing, household goods, furniture, electronics, books, and more. But what happens after you donate? Discover how your items are given a second life, support sustainability, and help fund programs that strengthen our community.
Donations
Every donation starts a new journey. When you donate gently used clothing, furniture, household items, electronics, and more, we give those items multiple opportunities to be sold, reused, or recycled before determining their next best use.
Retail Stores
Donations that meet our retail quality standards are sorted, priced, and placed in our local Goodwill stores. Items that do not sell are removed from the sales floor and sent to our Goodwill Outlet Store for another opportunity to find a new home.
E-Commerce
Some donations have greater value when sold online. Unique, collectible, and specialty items are set aside and sold through Goodwill’s e-commerce platforms, helping maximize the value of each donation and generate additional support for our mission.
Outlet Store
Items that do not meet retail standards or remain unsold in our stores are sent to the Goodwill Outlet, where they are placed in bins and sold by the pound. This gives shoppers another opportunity to discover affordable finds.
Recycling & Reuse
After all resale opportunities have been explored, remaining donations are sorted for recycling, reuse, and disposal. Materials are recycled or redirected through responsible partners whenever possible, helping reduce waste.
Mission Support
Revenue generated from the sale of donated goods helps fund Goodwill’s mission programs, including supported employment, stable housing, and supportive services. Every donation and purchase contributes to creating stronger communities.
Community Success
The impact of your donations goes beyond the items themselves. Along with supporting more than 600 employees, your generosity helps individuals throughout South Central Wisconsin gain skills, stability, and independence to live, work, and thrive.
Saleable vs Non-Saleable
Goodwill’s goal is to give every donated item the best chance to be sold, reused, or recycled to maximize its value, support the environment, and fund Goodwill’s mission programs. Goodwill organizations across the country have developed and refined a highly detailed process to give donated items every opportunity for a second life, which in turn helps create opportunities for people in the communities we serve.
When donations arrive at Goodwill, they’re carefully sorted based on their condition and potential for reuse to determine the best path forward. Each year, Goodwill SCWI processes nearly 23.6 million pounds of donated materials through one of two pathways:
- Saleable Items: Clothing, household goods, books, shoes, and other gently-used donations are sold in our retail stores and online stores. If an item doesn’t sell, it’s given another opportunity at our Goodwill Outlet before other reuse options are explored.
- Non-Saleable Items: Donations that don’t meet our quality standards, along with materials like cardboard and scrap metal, are responsibly recycled, sold through aftermarket vendors, or redirected to other appropriate outlets whenever possible.
Recycling Partners
Electronics Recycling
Through Goodwill’s partnership with Dell Reconnect, we offer free electronics recycling year-round for a wide range of electronics in both working and non-working condition. In 2025, more than 257,000 pounds of electronics were recycled through Goodwill SCWI!
Plastic Bag Recycling
Goodwill partners with NexTrex to offer free plastic bag and film recycling at all Goodwill SCWI stores and donation centers. Simply bring them with you on your next visit and drop them off in our collection bins. By recycling these materials, you’re helping keep plastic out of our local landfills.
Glass Recycling
Goodwill partners with iSMASH and Canitize Waste Management to give broken or chipped glass a second life and new purpose. Canitize collects and recycles these materials, turning broken glass, dishes and ceramics into sand that can be used to make new concrete.
Textile Recycling
Goodwill partners with more than 10 vendors to reuse or recycle textiles that are non-saleable or have gone through our retail stores and Outlet. These partnerships help find new uses for clothing, linens, shoes, purses, and more, keeping these materials in circulation and reducing waste.
Metal Recycling
Through Goodwill’s partnership with All Metals Recycling, a metal recycling center and salvage yard in Madison, a wide range of metals can be recovered and repurposed. From aluminum and copper to brass, steel, and more, these materials are processed for reuse.
Cardboard Recycling
Cardboard collected at Goodwill locations is recycled through our partnership with Pellitteri Waste Systems, a Madison-based, family-owned recycling and waste management company. The cardboard is collected, processed, and prepared to become new paper and cardboard products.
Home Pickup
Donating your gently used goods has never been easier. Whether you’re downsizing, moving, or simply clearing space, our partnership with ReSupply makes donating effortless. Enjoy affordable and even free pickup options, convenient doorstep service from a trusted driver, and the satisfaction of knowing your donated items will benefit your local community.
Vehicle Donations
Through our partnership with Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS), donating your vehicle is simple, fast, and completely free, with free towing and no out-of-pocket costs. We accept a wide variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats, RVs, motorcycles, campers, farm equipment, and more, whether they’re running or not. Proceeds from the sale of your donated vehicle help fund Goodwill’s mission programs, and your donation may be tax deductible.
We Are a Proud Member of Sustain Dane
Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin is proud to be a member of Sustain Dane, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability throughout our region. As part of this network of businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders, we collaborate with others who are committed to reducing environmental impact, strengthening local communities, and building a more sustainable future.
Our partnership with Sustain Dane reflects our ongoing commitment to keeping usable items out of landfills, promoting the circular economy through reuse, and finding innovative ways to reduce waste while creating opportunities for the people we serve.
