Where to find crayons to recycle?

[Former_Member]

In the past, I've given people discounts for donating their used crayons, but that has grown too expensive, so I'm looking for alternatives.

Any ideas?

[Former_Member]

The only thing I can think of is preschools or even grade schools - especially at the end of the year. Usually, in those younger grades the crayons are all "common property" instead of each kid having their own box. I bet at the end of the year, most of them get dumped out because the new students will bring more the next year.

The art classrooms are probably the same. In our schools the art teachers have big bins of crayons for sharing. Maybe you could make a contact with someone like that. (of course that's probably not going to help right NOW when school is just starting with all the fresh supplies arriving!).

[Former_Member]

Yes, check with your local elementary teachers. As a teacher, I always had huge mixed boxes left over at the end of the year. And, since we hardly throws things away as teachers, many may still have some stashed on their shelves. Stop in the office and ask. They can send out a school wide email for you :) Particularly Prek and K classrooms. :)

Kristin

[Former_Member]

Agree with the above... and honestly, If you were closer, I'd GLADLY give you my kiddos used crayons - they'll get eaten or thrown away otherwise!

[delightworthyn]

ask your friend and their friends.Join Freecycle.post to Craigslist

[InspiredJewelryShop]

I agree with school :) Art classes especially. We always had old crayons just lying around. Reduce, reuse, and recycle we always said so we used our old crayons until they were nothing. I might have an old bag of crayons that I never use laying around. I can check. Im not going to do anything with them. I moved last year so I might have tossed them out :( But I would also put of flyers at local supermarkets because Im sure a lot of moms with kids have tons of crayons that they need to get rid of. You could check libraries too because sometimes they do little craft things at them and they could have some to donate ;) Also you could check DAYCARE CENTERS :) There are always tons of kids and art supplies in those places. Plus it probably doesnt matter that school just started. Working parents with kids and no one to babysit always take their kids to those places.

[Steamcrunk]

Come look under my TV Hutch, my 3 year old must have 100 broken ones stuffed under there.

[Former_Member]

yard sales, thrift stores, the dollar store...

[Former_Member]

Call around to your local daycares and request they save them. They may or maynot want a bit of compensation, but When I worked for one we went through crayons like crazy. We just threw them away. It seemed like such a waste.

[LaurasLastDitch]

You could ask schools if you can put a used crayon bin in the lobby or in classrooms, next to the Labels for Education bin. You decorate the donation box so it's attractive, then go in to collect the crayons on occasion. You can pay the school a modest price per pound. Schools are already collecting labels, Capri Sun packages, and possibly other items for Terra-cycle, so putting in a crayon bin is no big stretch.

You could try placing your donation bins in teacher supply or office supply stores, too. Really, anywhere people with kids or who teach go frequently and repeatedly (if it's somewhere a person goes only once and a while, they'll never remember to take along the old crayons to drop off).

If there are child-centric businesses or organizations in your area that have Facebook pages, you could post on their walls. Think children's museums, Chuck E. Cheese, etc.

[Former_Member]

thrift stores probably get more than they can handle

[Former_Member]

also try freecycle.org

[Former_Member]

If you have a Goodwill outlet store near you, check there. You pay by the pound for most items, and I pick up a lot of crayons there for my granddaughter.

[InspiredJewelryShop]

You could also put an add in your local newspaper advertising people to donate their old crayons to you :) You could always go to childrens hospitals and see if they can donate their old crayons to you and maybe you could even donate a small percentage of what you make to childrens hospitals to give back. Shops do that all the time. They could be helping you and you could be helping them :) Im sure childrens hospitals get new crayons and stuff all the time through donations and stuff :)

I dont have any kids or little kids in my family or else I would have tons of crayons to donate.

[Former_Member]

Talk to the employees at thrift stores, they may be throwing out donated crayons in the back because they can't sell them, and they might be willing to save them up for you--make a box with your name and phone on it to leave them.