It’s true: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen, there is a way to recycle your old cabinets and replace them with cabinets from another person trying to get rid of theirs. Most of the time, when people replace their cabinets, the old ones get torn apart and dumped in the trash. This is not only wasteful, but it is also not being mindful that there could be someone who could actually use your old cabinets. Here are some ideas if you’re looking to replace your current cabinets or if you want to give yours away.

Give them away

The first thing to do is to hop onto Craigslist and post an ad for free cabinets. Not only will you be helping someone else out, but you also won’t have to worry about disposing of them. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. Remember to post in your ad that the cabinets are free and will need to be installed by the individual. You may want to post an ad once a day to ensure you get a good response. If you don’t have any luck with your Craigslist ad, you can contact local charities or churches in your area. Most of the time, charities or religious organizations have a need for used cabinets. You can also contact Habitat for Humanity to see if they have any local projects that could use cabinets. Most charities will gladly uninstall and remove the cabinets for you and you can claim your donation on your taxes. Many times, the contractor installing your new cabinets will be willing to take your old ones and resell them himself. Although you won’t receive any compensation for the cabinets, at least you know they’re going to be reused.

Repurpose them

Kitchen cabinets are perfect for organization in any area of your home. For example, you can place your old cabinets in your garage to hold tools, in your basement to organize toys or in your shed for seasonal items. You can take the cabinets apart and use one unit as an end table or cubbies for your children. You can also install the cabinets in your closet for added organization and storage space. Think about your organizational needs and how you could use your old cabinets to meet those needs. Being innovative is essential to reusing items that would otherwise end up in the trash.

Get creative

Another idea is to contact a few high schools in the area and see if they need old cabinets for a shop or art classes. You may also want to talk with local homeless shelter about the needs they have for added storage. If you are at the end of your journey and you have exhausted all your reuse possibilities, contact your local recycling center and inquire about any suggestions they may have. This may be your best option, especially if your cabinets are not in good condition. The wood can be reused to make new wood-based products. The last thing anyone should do is to throw away old cabinets. For most contractors and consumers, the thought never crosses their mind to recycle. Obviously, cabinets are not a product that is commonly thought of when thinking recycling. The next time you are getting ready to remodel your kitchen, think about every item you’re going to get rid of and attempt to find creative ways to recycle them instead of throwing them away.