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Home Donate

What We Accept

What We Accept


Guidelines for donating materials

This page details the basics of donating various details, organized by category. It is not a fully comprehensive list, simply a guide to help make you a well-informed donor

Here’s the basics


Items have to be in a suitable condition for donation so that another customer can buy them to use in their home, yard or construction project. We reserve the right to decline items. Criteria for declining materials include but are not limited to: excessively dirty, water damaged, in otherwise poor condition, incomplete, unsafe, cannot be easily resold or that are currently overstocked, etc.

Many items may have specific acceptance requirements that require speaking to our donations department.

Construction Junction is not a permitted waste transfer station. We don’t accept materials here for disposal or bulk processing for recyclables. If you are not sure if an item is accepted, please contact us before you bring it. 

What we accept - miscellaneous donated items grid (4)
What we accept - miscellaneous donated items grid (3)
What we accept - miscellaneous donated items grid (2)
What we accept - miscellaneous donated items grid (1)

Donating vs. Recycling


Important: the recycling bins located at the top of the lot is a City of Pittsburgh residential drop off location. Construction Junction does not operate this recycling collection and can’t provide information regarding what is accepted. Please visit the city site for information.


Specific hard to recycle items are accepted here at CJ for recycling through various partnerships. There are separate acceptance policies and many require a fee to be paid at the front register before receiving dock staff can accept these items, including:

ANY REFRIGERANT-CONTAINING APPLIANCES / VARIOUS LIGHT BULBS / LIGHTING BALLASTS / ALKALINE BATTERIES

For information regarding recycling or processing services that are offered for drop off here on site by Construction Junction and other vendors, please visit our Recycling Services page.

We DO NOT accept


Paint, primer, stain, polyurethane, etc.

Household chemicals, liquids, or powder products

Materials exhibiting the presence of water damage, mold, rot or unsanitary conditions

Electronics

Unframed glass

Most textiles or fabric upholstered items (drapery, linens, sofas, easy chairs, mattresses, box springs, used carpet or area rugs, etc.)

Currently NOT ACCEPTING because of overstock:

Less than 100sq. ft. of matching tile or flooring

CRT/Tube TV cabinets or entertainment units (not suitable for most flat screen TVs)

Stone (granite, quartz, marble, etc.) slabs, countertops or windowsills

Flush hollow core interior doors or bi-fold doors

These restrictions apply to dropping off donations only. If you have a large amount of materials and would like to see if your donation qualifies for our pickup service, our donation manager will discuss acceptable items on an individual basis.

Why don’t we accept certain things?


Typical reasons include (but are not limited to):

We can’t handle them safely

Some kind of regulation or certification exists for the type of product

There is not enough demand for them

There are end user safety issues for items that we can’t be sure are safe to use (gas heaters, toys, ladders, etc.)

Guidelines by Category

Appliances

We regularly accept most residential and commercial appliances in working or serviceable condition with no damaged or missing parts, etc.

  • No vented gas appliances like furnaces and hot water heaters
  • No outdated or non-working appliances that do not have scrap metal value (including but not limited to: push-button dishwashers, oil filled space heaters, microwaves, etc.)

Please contact us before bringing any non-working appliance. We may accept certain non-working appliances or types that we do not sell (including vented gas items) that have scrap metal value upon approval by staff.

There is a $10 processing fee required for acceptance of all refrigerant containing appliances, working or not (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, heat pumps, etc.)

Please see our recycling services page for more information regarding acceptance of appliances for refrigerant recovery or scrap metal for recycling

Building Materials

We regularly accept lumber, trim, sheet goods, pipe, architectural salvage, etc., in good, usable condition.

  • Must be free of nails, water or insect damage, twisting, bowing, warping, cracking, etc.
  • Linear materials must be at least 4 feet long
  • Sheet goods must be at least a half-sheet size with no holes or odd cuts

We accept a large variety of antique architectural salvage and millwork (including but not limited to):

Mantels, trim, casing, corbels, rosettes, plinths, chimney caps, tin ceiling, some antique tile, newel posts, spindles, handrails, cupolas, wainscoting, paneling, built-ins, and more.

  • No loose insulation (all insulation batting, blankets or rolls must be wrapped/bagged)
  • No used asphalt shingles, vinyl or aluminum siding (must be like new, surplus, never previously installed, with no partial pieces)
  • No items treated with harmful chemicals or potentially hazardous materials

(Please refer to the Living Building Challenge Red List as a reference. This is not intended to be all inclusive and the status of potentially hazardous materials changes frequently.)

Cabinetry / Casework

We regularly accept most cabinets and casework from kitchen, bathroom, built-ins, storage, etc.

All cabinets and casework items must be structurally sound with all drawers and doors intact, no significant damage, rot, bowing, or warping, etc.

  • All items constructed primarily from engineered wood (particle board, fiberboard, etc.) must be in excellent condition to be accepted (including but not limited to: no bowing, warping, damaged laminate, missing doors or drawers, etc.)
  • Many solid wood items in need of repair can be accepted, as long as it is determined by staff that they can be reasonably refurbished
  • Metal cabinets should be free of structural rust or exposed sharp edges
  • Many custom or specific use kitchen cabinetry may only be accepted as part of a full kitchen cabinet set (including but not limited to: appliance cabinets, pantry cabinets, lazy susan cabinets, open racking, trim, fill and finish panels)

Commercial Furnishings

We regularly accept most desks, office chairs, cabinetry/casework, as well as many commercial/retail display fixtures and storage items, restaurant equipment and furniture, etc.

  • All furniture must be assembled (unless previously unused and in complete, as-new condition) and have all parts, including doors and drawers.
  • Filing cabinets must be unlocked or include keys, in excellent shape with minimal dents and rust

Please contact us before bringing any fabric or upholstered/partially-upholstered commercial items (including but not limited to: dining chairs, side chairs, occasional chairs, office chairs, patio furniture, wood or metal framed items with removable cushions, antique or vintage seating, settees, chaises, etc.) or any marginal styles (including but not limited to: large or oversized desks or credenzas, multi-part, modular systems or reception desks, any particle board office furniture, etc.)

  • No office cubicle partitions, dividers, or modular wall systems

Countertops

We regularly accept most laminate, butcher block, stainless, etc.

Countertops must be:

  • Between 4-10 linear feet
  • In excellent condition with no cracks, splits, cuts, excessive wear, peeling laminate, discoloration or burn marks, etc.

Please contact us before bringing any stone (marble, granite, quartz, solid surface, etc.) or any countertop over 10 linear feet, particularly large corner pieces.

  • No laminate countertop that has a sink cutout accepted without the sink
  • We may accept tiled countertops upon approval of staff, and only in excellent condition with no damage, cracks, broken or missing pieces, etc.

Doors

Interior doors (particularly hollow-core, pressed panel or other engineered wood product doors) are one of our highest volume donated items. Because we regularly receive more than we sell, we maintain higher standards for acceptance and also may frequently decline them based on overstock.

We accept most structurally sound interior and exterior doors in good, usable condition.

Doors should be free of major alterations like pet doors or unorthodox cuts for knobs or hinge gains that make it unable to be easily repurposed.

  • Most door hardware can be left attached but removing prior to donation is preferred
  • All engineered composite, masonite, or wood by-product door must be in excellent condition and free of damage, excess paint, stickers, or any cuts or holes from nails, hooks, or alterations

Please contact us first before bringing any door that is missing glass, commercial or oversized doors, any bi-fold or accordion style, or garage doors.

  • No doors with cracks, deep gouges, water or insect damage, bowing, warping, cracking, etc.
  • No doors with fogging or moisture present in double pane glass (In some cases, doors with removed glass panes may still be accepted upon staff approval, but we will not handle items still containing any broken glass.)
  • No incomplete or unframed patio doors (swinging or sliding)

Flooring

We do not accept any used tile, vinyl, laminate flooring, or carpet. Must be like new, surplus, never previously installed material.

We regularly accepted most reclaimed solid wood, wood strip or engineered hardwood flooring in good, usable condition.

  • All flooring materials must be free of nails, adhesives, water or insect damage, twisting, bowing, warping, cracking, etc.
  • Tongue and grooves must be intact and within acceptable tolerances to maintain assembled integrity
  • All unused carpet remnants must be in a usable size with no holes, irregular cuts, damage or staining

Please contact us before bringing any mix-matched flooring material or any amount of matching flooring that covers less than 100 square feet.

  • No 9 inch x 9 inch vintage tile because of the likelihood of containing asbestos

Glass / Mirrors

We do not accept any unframed glass or mirrors, storm window panes or incomplete/disassembled modern sashes from windows or doors.

We regularly accept most framed glass decor, tempered glass furniture, windows, doors, glass block, tile, etc. in good, usable, safe condition.

  • No holes, cracks, chips, breaks or broken corners

Hardware / Tools

We regularly accept hardware items and tools that are safe and in good, usable condition.

  • All tools must be in working or serviceable condition with no damaged or missing parts or safety features, etc.
  • Gasoline powered tools (including but not limited to: lawnmowers, trimmers, snow blowers, pressure washers, etc.) must be empty of all fuel

Please contact us before bringing any power tools.

  • No battery powered tools (Find out how to properly recycle rechargeable batteries here)
  • No out of code electrical components

Interior Furnishings

We regularly accept most interior furnishing items in good, usable condition, structurally sound with no significant damage.

  • All drawers and doors must be intact
  • All items constructed primarily from engineered wood (particle board, fiberboard, etc.) must be in excellent condition to be accepted (including but not limited to: no bowing, warping, damaged laminate, missing doors or drawers)
  • Many solid wood items in need of repair can be accepted, as long as it is determined by staff that they can be reasonably refurbished.

Please contact us before bringing any fabric or upholstered item. Select partially-upholstered items can be accepted upon staff approval (including but not limited to: dining chairs, side chairs, occasional chairs, office chairs, patio furniture, wood or metal framed items with removable cushions, antique or vintage seating, settees, chaises, etc.)

  • No fully upholstered, cushioned or stuffed articles (including but not limited to: sofas, arm chairs, recliners, mattresses, etc.)
  • No used blinds or shades (Must still be in original packaging to be accepted)

Lighting

We regularly accept most 110V residential or commercial lighting fixtures or ceiling fans suitable for CFL, incandescent or LED bulbs.

  • Must be complete with no damage, pitting, broken or missing parts (only globes/shades will be accepted separately)
  • All bulbs must be removed prior to donating or may be subject to recycling fees

Please contact us before bringing any fluorescent, metal halide, halogen, sodium or mercury vapor fixtures.

Please see our recycling services page for information regarding acceptance of bulbs and ballasts for recycling.

Masonry

All masonry donations must be pre-approved by CJ staff.

You must contact us first before bringing any block, stone, brick, pavers, and hardscaping materials.

We accept clean, whole bricks, block, face brick, veneer, landscaping stone, Belgium block, flagstone, stone slabs, pavers, edging, and other usable concrete, clay, ceramic, stone, etc. upon staff approval.

  • Do not leave any materials in our outdoor yard without speaking to CJ staff.
  • Materials for donation to Construction Junction can only be dropped off during regular hours. Leaving unapproved materials anywhere on the premise outside of designated areas and times is considered dumping.
  • No bags of cement mix, concrete, grout or powder products, ‘clean fill’, broken, crushed, damaged, dirt-caked or moss covered materials, any items with excessive attached mortar, grout, mastic or other adhesives, or real railroad ties treated with creosote

Plumbing / Bath

For the health and safety of our staff and customers, we are unable to accept unsanitary plumbing items (including but not limited to: soiled toilets and plumbing fixtures or other items that are excessively dirty).

All plumbing items must be complete ( for toilets that means tank, bowl and lid), empty of all water, with no cracks (even hairline) or chips.

Sinks are one of our highest volume donate items. Because we regularly receive more than we sell, we maintain higher standards for acceptance and also may frequently decline them based on overstock.

  • Please contact us before bringing any marginal styles (including but not limited to: jetted tubs, skirt tubs, one piece tub/shower surrounds, clawfoot tubs missing feet, concrete utility sinks, medicine cabinets, non-vanity bathroom cabinetry, particle board furniture, etc.).
  • You may drop off most steel or cast iron tubs (non-clawfoot, i.e. skirt tubs, soaking tubs, drop-in tubs, etc.), but we do not typically pick them up.
  • We do not accept used shower doors (must be complete, in as-new condition), cracked or damaged fiberglass items, water-damaged particle board items.

Windows

We regularly accept most complete windows in good, usable condition, with no broken glass, missing or damaged parts.

  • Only antique wooden sashes are accepted separately (must be in excellent condition)
  • Must be free of rot or structural damage
  • Double pane window seals must be intact with no fogging and no cracks in glass
  • All modern (composite, aluminum, vinyl, wood, etc.) windows must be complete and in excellent condition

Please contact us before bringing any marginal styles (including but not limited to: any non-opening fixed or picture windows, single pane steel frame windows, storm windows, screens, shutters, etc.).

  • No modern window sashes separate from a complete window
  • No replacement window frames with sashes removed
  • No storm windows, storm door inserts (unless donated in the storm door)
  • No fabric/upholstered window treatments (curtains, drapes, valences, etc.)

Still have questions?


If you have further questions regarding whether a specific item(s) could be considered for donation, please contact our donations department:

ONLINE DONATION FORM
EMAIL
CALL

With the possible exception of some vintage or collectible items, we do not accept most musical instruments, entertainment media (music, literature, film), sporting goods, dishware, flatware, cooking utensils, cloth luggage, window treatments and many other items.

We inspect all donations and reserve the right to deny items that cannot be resold or that are currently overstocked. We do not provide a disposal service and cannot afford to throw your material away. For items we cannot accept, please consider donating to another nonprofit or listing your items on Pittsburgh Freecycle. Reuse is the greenest choice you can make.

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