Swap Shed

The Arlington Reuse & Recycling Center’s Swap Shed is a free resource for our residents to share household items. As a volunteer-run sustainability initiative, we hope to encourage sharing and reuse, reduce consumption and waste, and connect neighbors across our community.

When the Swap Shed has periods of high demand, visitors may encounter a wait to enter. The purpose of limiting visitors is to protect the safety of those currently inside the space, and especially those visitors who may have mobility limitations and use assistive devises.

Please help our volunteers by observing the following guidelines.

Shopping Guidelines

All donated items are for personal use only, not for reselling.
Please take no more than 8 Items per day.

Donation Guidelines

• All donated items must be fully functional and clean because we have no cleaning facility/service onsite. We will need to decline certain items when there is an overflow of similar items in stock.
• In-season items are accepted 1 month before the season. For example, we will start taking Christmas décor, skis, skates, sleds in November, and we will stop taking them once the season is over. We have no long-term storage space.

Accepted Items

• Kitchenware (dishes, utensils, pot & pans, bakeware, glassware, small appliances, cooking & baking gadgets, mixers, food processors)
• Home Décor (artwork, lamps, small furniture)
• Organization and Storage items
• Games & Puzzles (complete, no missing pieces). Durable children's outdoor toys.
• Pet Supplies (cages, leashes, water bowls, carriers)
• Books/CDs/Blu-rays/Video games/Vinyl (NO reference/text books, cassettes, or VCR tapes)
  
  Thank you for your donation!

Hours

October hours are 4-6 PM.
Generally open Thursdays from 4:30-6:30 PM from April through September. Also open one weekend day a month (not in February), please see Swap Shed calendar for that date.

Weather (heavy rain, extreme heat or cold) could cancel, so please check the Swap Shed calendar or their Facebook page to confirm.

Reuse & Recycling Center at 33 Ryder Street.

Dog Policy

 For visitor safety and comfort, dogs are not allowed at the Swap Shed or within the gates of the Reuse & Recycling Center at any time.

Residents Elena Davis (L) and Karen Li showing off their Swap Shed finds!

Acceptable Items

In-season items 
Small household appliances in excellent condition
Kitchenware
Home Décor
Books, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, video games (no textbooks, magazines, encyclopedias, reference books)
Organization and Storage stuff
Office Supplies (in like-new condition only)
Arts and Crafts Supplies
Tools
Durable Seasonal Outdoor Children's Toys only (consider donating toys and games to the local Fox & Robbins Shop)

All items must be fully functional, clean and in good, like new or new condition.

• Items not listed above
• Items in poor condition
• Electronic Items- you can recycle these at the Reuse & Recycling Center
• Dirty items
• Broken items
• Toys we often don't take, we're picky
• Clothing- try the The Friends of the Fox Thrift for vintage clothing, or donated great, wearable clothes to Second Chances, with a 24/7 drop off bin at Whole Food Arlington.
• Furniture- donate to Household Goods
• Building materials- donate to Boston Building Resources
• Bikes- donate to The Bike Connector or Bikes Not Bombs

Parking

If your mobility allows, please leave your car by the Ed Burns Arena & Ice Skating Rink at 422 Summer St and walk across the bike path to the shed located right off of the path on the other side. If you have a lot of stuff to donate, you can park inside the gate at 33 Ryder Street, but there are not a lot of spots. Please do not park on Ryder Street or Beck Street.

-- Swap Shed Team

Have questions? Email the team a-townrecyclesandshares@outlook.com

Updates available on Facebook A-Town Recycles

Swap Shed originator Julia Wallace