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Writer's pictureAmes Climate Action Team

A local guide to Reuse and Recycling

Updated: Mar 28


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.

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