Charity shops
Where to donate or recycle books
Give books you no longer want to a charity shop or a book bank. Some tips recycle books that are too damaged to pass on.
Charity shops and book banks
Charity shops take books they can sell. The British Heart Foundation also has book banks.
Tips
Tips that take books can recycle damaged ones. Check the tip lists books first.
Glue keeps books out of paper recycling
Recycle Now says books usually cannot go in kerbside paper recycling because of the glue used to bind them.
Key facts
- Binmap lists 105 places that say they take books, including 85 tips.
- Another 3,146 places may take books, but they do not say so. Check before you go.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
Written by Binmap using guidance from Recycle Now.
Advice from national bodies
What to do
- Check books are clean and have all their pages.
Kinds of place that take it
- Charity donation points
- Reuse shops
- Collection services
More local guides
Guides for similar items
Other kinds of place
Schemes and collection services
Binmap is independent and is not run by any council.