Where to Donate Books in Australia – All Options Covered

This post was last updated in 2024

Hello there my eco-conscious warriors 😊

Do you have a stack of books gathering dust on your shelves? And you have done some decluttering and wondering what to do with the books you no longer want? 

Needless to say, throwing them into landfill is not an option!

In this blog post, I cover all the different ways you can get rid of old books – responsibly – ensuring they can be enjoyed by others and not add to landfill. 

Specifically in this blog post, I cover: 

And so all your hard work decluttering does not go to waste I will also cover some tips to keep the clutter away and some sustainable living principles to adopt going forward. 

In a FAQ section, I also address the following questions: 

So click on the topic that most interests you or keep on reading to get across all your options for donating books. 

Places to donate books in Australia

In addition to charities, several places accept book donations in Australia. The options vary from local schools and libraries to retirement homes and women’s shelters, as well as simply giving away items to friends, family or those in your neighbourhood. 

All potential options for donating books are covered in the table below: 

Donating books to charity

All major charities in Australia will accept book donations. This includes the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Vinnies, Lifeline, Save the Children and Sacred Heart Mission. And there are other, smaller charities in Australia, that rely on book donations to help those they serve. 

A full list of Australian charities that rely on book donations can be found in the table below. 

But a note on general charities such as the Salvation Army, Red Cross etc – they are great options if you are looking for book donation places near you. These charities run second-hand stores in most areas around Australia and they typically accept book donations. 

However before you turn up to one of these stores with your donations, it is best to give them a call. Sometimes they have so much stock they can no longer accept donations. So call before you turn up to avoid being disappointed. 

That aside, consider some of the charities listed below – they are specifically after book donations, so I think these are the best charities to support with your donations: 

The above options are for Australian residents. If you looking to donate books in Sydney or donate books in Melbourne, you should find an option to suit you in the table above. 

Places to sell your books in Australia 

The two best places to sell books in Australia are online on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree. eBay is also a good option, especially if you have rare or bulk lot of books to sell. Another option is to sell them to a second-hand bookstore – if you are lucky enough to have one near you. 

If you plan to post on Marketplace, make sure you post your listing to your local buy and sell groups. Also, there are dedicated buy, swap and sell groups for books (search “sell books” on Facebook) and groups dedicated to trading in second-hand books (search “second-hand books” on Facebook). 

Join these groups, check their rules and if the rules allow it, post your item to these groups to increase your chances of selling.

Gumtree is a little tricker. I find it no longer has the audience it once used to. But give it a shot – you may be surprised. 

As mentioned, eBay is great if you have a rare or popular book/set of books. If you have a bulk lot of books to sell, eBay is good for this as well. 

Remember to check out similar listings to work out the price you should set for your items, to ensure you won’t be beaten on price. 

Finally, if you have second-hand bookstores near you, it is worth taking the item to them to see if they would be interested in purchasing what you have. They typically don’t offer much are are usually interested if you have a bulk lot of books to sell. But every store is different, so it is worth exploring this option if this is an option available to you. 

A Google search of “second-hand book stores near me” will reveal if there are stores near you. 

If you are in Sydney and want to sell books, check out these stores: 

• https://www.gertrudeandalice.com.au/ Bondi Beach
• https://www.sapphobooks.com.au/ Glebe

Options for old unwanted or damaged books

Selling and donating are options for books in good condition – but if your books are ripped or falling apart, these options won’t be suitable. Instead, when it comes to damaged books your best bet is to consider some DIY craft options.

The best list of ideas I came across can be found here: https://homebnc.com/best-diy-old-book-craft-ideas/

Check this out if this interests you. 

Source: https://homebnc.com/best-diy-old-book-craft-ideas/

I have to admit, DIY isn’t exactly my thing. In my opinion, when you have decluttered a section of your home, the last thing you need is to hang onto something for a project you may get to one day.

So if the books are in poor condition, I suggest you compost or recycle your damaged books. 

If you have hardcover books you are trying to get rid of, you may need to rip off the cover and throw it into landfill. They are usually covered in glossy paper which is too large of a contaminant for the recycling process. However, that should be the only thing that ends up in landfill. 

As I mentioned earlier, if you have gone through the process of decluttering your bookshelf, it would be a real shame for that clutter to return a couple of years down the line. So I suggest following these tips to keep book clutter away for good: 

• Ensure books have a designated home
• Adopt the one-in, one-out principle

Simple as that. 

And some sustainable living principles to adopt going forward:

• Considering purchasing ebooks/ using a Kindle/ audiobooks
• Borrow from your library
• Borrow from friends and family
• Purchase second hand

Hope this helps you if you are a little lost on what to do with books you no longer need or love. 

It helps to have different options up your sleeve because the different genres of books require different solutions  You should be able to find a suitable solution here, to cover most scenarios. 

If you have any more tips or favourite donation spots, drop them in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

And I’m so glad you are exploring options to avoid throwing items into landfill. These are small actions but it is through these conscious choices we can collectively work towards a more sustainable future 🌎

xxx Tahsin

FAQ

How Do I Dispose of Books in Australia?

The best way to dispose of books is to not dispose of them at all – donate them to those in need. Several charities in Australia rely on book donations as a core part of their charitable services. And if your books are not suitable for donation, recycling or composting is the best disposal option. 

There is more on recycling below. 

How Do I Get Rid of a Large Amount of Books?

If you have a bulk lot of books and they are popular or targeted towards a particular genre, selling them on eBay is a good option. Otherwise, place the items on Facebook Marketplace. If there are no takers after some time, check out charities that rely on book donations or give your local second-hand store a call. 

For a full list of charities that accept book donations, see the table above. 

Here is an idea that some suggest (although I never in my life have heard of anyone doing this) – you could host a book swap party. It’s where you invite your friends, neighbours, and colleagues over to swap books. 

Sounds like fun actually – a great way to socialize and find new homes for your beloved books. 

While it is a good way to get rid of items you no longer want, swapping is not such a great if you are trying to declutter! Still, maybe this is an option that appeals to you. 

Do Local Librars Take Book Donations?

Yes, local libraries generally take book donations but not always. Some libraries have specific guidelines on what they’ll accept and when often depending on their current needs and storage space. Give your local library a quick call or visit their website for more information.

Can You Put Books in the Recycle Bin in Australia?

Yes, you can put books into the recycling bin in Australia but it is not the best option. Always try to find another home for your books instead of throwing them away. 

If you do decide to throw them into recycling, you don’t need to be concerned about the non-paper elements in the book – staples, string, glue etc. However if the book is a hardcover and is covered with glossy paper, try to remove the hardcover and throw that into your landfill bin. The rest of the book can then go into the recycling bin. 

A Heads Up: This post contains may affiliate links that may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Also as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products and services that will help you take steps towards a more sustainable life and will not recommend anything that does not align, in some way, with these values.

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