Ames re-use recycle (Facebook page)
Exchange or give a wide variety of items to other Ames residents using the Facebook group.
Goodwill - 3718 Lincoln Way - Ames
515-292-8454
Cell Phones, Bicycles, CDs, Clothing, Computer Peripherals - External CRT Computer Monitors
Salvation Army - 620 Lincoln Way, Suite B - Ames
515-233-3533
Clothes, furniture, LCD TVs, appliances
Overflow Thrift Store - 202 S. Duff Ave. - Ames
515-290-0732
125 Kitty Hawk Dr., (behind Lowe’s)
515-815-2204
Each location designates what it accepts: Clothes, furniture, toys & games, LCD TVs, appliances, household items plus more.
Habitat for Humanity - 3504 Grand Ave. - Ames
515-232-2335
Furniture, office furniture, electronics in good working order, antiques, appliances, light fixtures, small hand tools, nuts, bolts, ladders, etc.
Affordables - 630 Pennsylvania Ave. - Story City
515-733-5304
Furniture, books, clothing, jewelry, toys, holiday items, plus more.
Bethesda Lutheran Church - 1517 Northwestern - Ames
515-232-6256
The Bethesda Clothing Closet accepts donations of clothing, coats, shoes, boots (all ages), sheets, blankets, and bath towels. Phone the church office for drop-off information.
Collegiate United Methodist Church - 130 S. Sheldon Ave. - Ames
515-292-6936
Clothing for adult-sized people and shoes for Clothing That Works
Phone the church office for drop-off information
Free Thiftstore - 4625 Reliable St. #33713, Ames, IA 50014
Located in a small shed near Lockwood Cafe.
Accepts clothing, shoes, and other items.
Website: EARTH911.com Where to Recycle: Enter your Zip Code
Some stores accept additional items so check the website.
City of Ames Resource Recovery Center
(515) 239-5400
110 Center Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
For residents of Iowa Story County only.
Target Store
(515) 663-9500,
320 S Duff Ave, Ames, IA 50010
Materials accepted: Cell Phones, #2 Plastic Bags, #4 Plastic Bags, Inkjet Cartridges, MP3 Players
Best Buy
(515) 232-4415
1220 S Duff Ave, Ames, IA 50010
Materials accepted: Cell Phones, Audio Equipment, Blu-Ray Players, Boomboxes, Cables, Calculators, Cassette Players
Staples
(515) 663-0597
1333 Buckeye Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
Materials accepted: Cell Phones, Cell Phone Accessories, Computer Peripherals - External CRT, Computer Monitors, Desktop Computers, Digital Cameras, GPS Systems
Lowe's
(515) 233-0404
120 Airport Rd, Ames, IA 50010
Materials accepted: Cell Phones, #2 Plastic Bags, #4 Plastic Bags, CFLs, Lead-acid Batteries, Non-automotive Lithium-ion Batteries, Nickel-cadmium Batteries
Ames Bottle and Can Recycling Center - 5820 Lincoln Hwy #106 - Ames (515) 207-0297 A new can and bottle redemption center serving the Ames area. Check the website for hours and options for redemption. https://www.abccans.com/home
Ames Repair Cafe - pop-up locations
This organization holds periodic pop-up repair cafes to repair household items. See there Facebook page for more information.
Rummage Rampage - Ames Intermodal Facility, 129 Hayward Ave.
"The City of Ames, in partnership with the ISU Office of Sustainability, annually hosts “Rummage RAMPage,” a community sale designed to keep reusable items out of the waste stream. The event grew from the desire to repurpose items often left on the curb during the annual move-out and lease changeovers, and to keep these items out of the landfill."
Held yearly in late July to early August, accepts furniture, small electronics, televisions (flat screen only), housewares, kitchenware, rechargeable batteries (for proper disposal), linens (blankets, towels, sheets), clothing and shoes, books, school supplies, toiletries, Non-perishable food.
Gale N Ryan Gehling initiative
Collects used books and distributes them to where they are needed in the community
Octagon Center for the Arts - 413 and 427 Douglas Ave, Ames IA 50010,
515 232 5331
Accepts art supplies for children (call ahead to ask what they accept/need)
Clothing that Works -130 South Sheldon, Suite 301, Ames, 50014, clothingthatworks@gmail.com
Accepts clothing that people could wear to work or to job interviews.
Fill the Bins textile recycling - west Lincoln Way, in the parking lot (NW corner) of 5820 W. Lincoln Way
Clothing, shoes, and other textiles.
City of Ames Glass Recycling
Various locations around the community. Look for the yellow dumpsters.
Ames Fareway, 619 Burnett, northwest corner of parking lot
Ames Fareway, 3619 Stange Road, southwest corner of parking lot
Ames Aldi's, 108 S 5th Street, west side of the building
Ames HyVee Gas Station, 636 Lincoln Way, west of the building in the parking lot
Ames HyVee Gas Station, 4018 Lincoln Way, west side of the building
Nevada Fareway, 1505 S B Avenue, northwest parking area
Wheatsfield Cooperative, 413 Northwestern Avenue, south of the store
Slater, Highway 210 & Tama Street, at the Heart of Iowa trailhead north of the school
City of Ames Cardboard Recycling (new pilot initiative)
Ames Public Library behind the building, 515 Douglas Ave
East Main St., near the power plant off Duff Avenue
Resource Recovery Plant, 10 Center Ave
Ames Food Waste Diversion Program - 110 Center Avenue (disposal at 420 E 2nd Street, on the northeast corner of the building)
Accepts compostable food scraps (see website for the whole list).
Mustard Seed Community Farm - 366 W Ave, Ames, IA 50014
Accepts bagged leaves from yards. Leaves are used for mulching on the farm (drop-off only, arrange ahead of time).
If you know of additional resources or have corrections for this list, please email lucas.bleyle@gmail.com.