Donate: Building Materials
What we do and don't take | Guidelines for donating | Gift with donation pick-up | Donation drop-off instructions | Deconstruction and material recovery
Donating high-quality building materials, new or used, helps people repair and improve their homes while also sparing the environment from needless waste. Because the Reuse Center at Boston Building Resources is a 501(c)(3) charity, both material and financial gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Directions to donations entrance
Dropping off a donation? Please note that we have a new, separate entrance for donation drop-offs. Do not enter the parking lot. Park on Terrace Street near the rear of the building and look for the “Donations” sign.
Donation drop-off hours are 10:00-2:00 Friday and Saturday.
If you can’t drop off your materials during these times, please contact us to make other arrangements: donations@bostonbuildingresources.com.
What we do and don't take
We accept donations of most building materials in reusable condition. Donations may be of new or used material, so long as it retains a value and quality that we can pass along to our customers. All donations are accepted at staff discretion. We reserve the right to refuse a donation for any reason.
Please call 617-665-8753 or email donations@bostonbuildingresources.com with any donation related questions.
What we accept
Doors
Windows
Kitchen Cabinets
Vanities
Appliances
Flooring (100 sq ft minimum)
Clean lumber
Lighting fixtures
Fencing
Clean masonry
Tile (50 sq ft minimum)
Tools
Gardening equipment
Art supplies
Much more!
We don’t accept
Materials that are damaged, broken, mildewed, rotten, or otherwise unsaleable
Materials with peeling or flaking paint
Loose glass panes
Used drywall
Used carpet
Masonry materials with mortar or adhesives
Flooring with nails or adhesives
Lumber shorter than 6 feet and/or full of fasteners
Liquids or chemicals of any kind
Loose window sashes
Paint
Smoke/CO detectors
Gas fired heating systems
Gas fired water heaters
Propane tanks of any size
Loose fasteners
Guidelines for donating
Although nearly all our inventory is donated, operating a building material reuse center is labor intensive and complicated work. It costs us $200.00 per hour to run our pickup service. Because of this, we’re introducing a donation pickup fee of $150.00 if we believe the sales value of the materials on offer won’t significantly offset the expense of the trip. While we remain grateful for every donation, we have an obligation to our staff, community of shoppers, and financial supporters to be economically responsible.
Materials being picked up by our truck must be at street level and in close proximity to the street or driveway unless specific arrangements have been made. If you’re interested in our removal service, please indicate so on the donation offer form.
In most cases, our pickup crew can handle the collection of your materials. If your donation is particularly heavy or large, we will let you know ahead of time so we can make appropriate arrangements.
We encourage taking photos of the materials before they are donated. Keep the photos with the Boston Building Resources receipt to document your donation.
Because Boston Building Resources cannot test or warranty appliances, we accept only appliances that are in like-new condition and not more than a few years old. As with all donations, our staff member has the last word on appliances.
Contribution with pick-up
Our organization is a 501C3 nonprofit focused on affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. Every year, we need to fundraise around 30% of our operating budget. Staffing, insurance, marketing, and vehicle and technology costs are just a few examples of what it takes to operate and grow our mission. These costs mean that our income is less than our operating expenses, given our commitment to make quality materials affordable for everyone, especially our low-income Plus Members. We’d be so grateful if you could make a financial contribution with your donation of material!
If you prefer, you may give a check to the driver. Checks should be made out to “BBR - Reuse Center.”
You may drop off donated materials Friday and Saturday 10:00-2:00.
Donation drop-off instructions
If you plan to drop off your donation, we strongly encourage contacting us first to make sure that we will be able to accept the materials. We are open for drop-off donations from 10:00 to 2:00 Friday and Saturday.
Feel free to park curbside at 88 Terrace Street, Boston, MA 02120. If there is no space on the street, you may park in front of our garage doors. Look for an orange "Donations" banner on the side of the building. Ring the bell when you arrive.
All donation drop-offs will be done via this side entrance. We are unable to take in donations at the customer entrance.
If you'd like to shop once you've completed your drop-off, please park in the Reuse Center parking lot at 100 Terrace Street to avoid blocking the garage doors.
If you need help when you arrive, call 617-665-8753 to speak with a member of the donations staff.
Please contact Reuse Center donations staff with any questions, or to give feedback and/or suggestions. They can be reached at 617-665-8753 or donations@bostonbuildingresources.com.
Deconstruction and material recovery
Boston Building Resources works with contractors to remove reusable materials from a property being renovated or torn down. Our trained crew disassembles and safely removes material deemed suitable for our program, which may include (but is not limited to) cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, appliances, lighting, millwork, and lumber. We take the items off site, saving time and money that would have been spent on disposal fees.
Here’s how it works:
Our Material Harvesting and Deconstruction Coordinator walks your project and identifies items for reuse.
We provide you with a proposal that includes a materials recovery plan, scope, and cost.
Schedule the work. We’re on time, on budget, and low-impact.