What is the Red Nose Clothing Collection & Recycling Program?
The Red Nose Clothing & Household Goods collection program is a Red Nose social enterprise, generating funds for our mission whilst providing a sustainable second life for pre-loved items, keeping them in circulation and out of landfill.
We collect donations of pre-loved clothes and household goods in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and resell or recycle them through our retail shops in partnership with Savers.
Every dollar we make is invested back into our programs to support families and save little lives.
How to Donate Your Pre-loved Clothes and Goods
Drop It off
Find your closest donation point
Free Collection
Book a pick-up and we’ll come to you. Available in SA, NSW and VIC
Big Red Bags
Leave your bagged items out on the day that is listed on the bag
Book a Bin
Host a collection bin at your work, community hub, sporting club or other location where people can drop off their pre-loved goods.
Call Us
Call us on 1300 473 366 to arrange a pick-up
Your Questions Answered
Have more questions? You can call us: 1300 473 366 (Mon–Fri, 8 am–4 pm), you can send us an e-mail or message us on Facebook – Reach out via Messenger anytime
How do I make a Booking for a Collection?
The easiest way to make a booking is to hop onto our online booking form.
To find out if your suburb is covered, you can scroll to the bottom of the form, select your State, and look through the drop-down list of all of the suburbs. If yours isn’t covered, but you can see we come nearby, we can often fit you in whilst we are nearby. In this instance, contact rncc@rednose.org.au or call 1300 473 366 – you can use both of these contact methods for ANY help needed to make a booking.
How do I pack my items?
Anything can be used to place your donations in; we aren’t fussy at all! Any old bag, box, tub, suitcase, anything you have to hand! If possible, anything soft (textiles) please use a bag (i.e.garbage bag) & anything hard (i.e. crockery & breakables) please use a box. Our divers carry spares if you need.
Do I need to Home for the Collection?
You do not need to be home when we come – just let us know where to find your donations.
What items can I donate?
Clothing and fashion accessories: shirts, dresses, shorts, coats, jackets, jumpers, pants, socks, sunglasses, shoes, scarves, ties and bowties, belts, bags, suitcases – literally any clothing items including women’s, men’s and children’s.
Linen and manchester: linen, towels, cushions, rugs, curtains, blankets, quilts and absolutely anything made from fabric.
Homewares and bric-a-brac: vases, picture frames and paintings, lamps, ornaments, mirrors, books, DVDs, toys, games, jigsaws puzzles and board games.
Kitchen equipment: pots, pans, crockery, utensils, cutlery, baking items, lunch boxes, plastic containers, and small appliances (like blenders, kettles, microwaves, toasters).
Electronics: TVs, CD and DVD players, vacuum cleaners, stereo equipment and video game consoles.
Games and equipment: bikes, golf clubs, exercise equipment
If in doubt, please give us a call on 1300 473 366. We always appreciate your generosity, but unfortunately due to government regulations and other local restrictions, there are some items that we can’t accept.
These include large furniture such as beds, mattresses, large white goods such as fridges and washing machines, food, paint and chemicals, or your rubbish!
How do I know when my bag was delivered?
I’m worried my donation will be stolen. What can I do to prevent this?
Unfortunately, this does happen, diverting valuable resources away from our important work. If you’re worried, you can leave your donation in a safe place on your property – just call us to let us know where you have left it at least 48 hours prior to collection day.
Our drivers cannot enter your property, garden, or driveway unless you have instructed them by calling us beforehand or booking a pick-up.
Should I still put my bag out for collection if it’s going to rain?
Yes, please do!
Our drivers will collect your donation come rain or shine. However, because we don’t have the facilities for drying out donations that get wet, please double-bag your donation and tie it up very tightly or plastic-wrap your cardboard box to avoid water getting inside.
Alternatively, call us on 1300 473 366 and tell us where you will leave your donation out of the weather.
What time will you collect my donation?
We collect between 8am-6pm. Unfortunately, we can’t give you a more specific time.
I have too much stuff to fit in just one red bag. What should I do?
No problem! You can use any bag or box for your donation as long as you clearly label it, so our driver knows it is intended for Red Nose. Please ensure that all breakable items are well wrapped and packed carefully, so they don’t get broken in transit.
Can I drop off my donations at a collection point?
There are five easy ways to donate your pre-loved and unwanted items:
- Arrange a pick-up at your address – book online now or call us on 1300 473 366 and we’ll come to you.
- Drop your items into any permanently located Red Nose charity bins or to our warehouses in Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney.
- Book a Big Red Bin for your work place, school, community hub or anywhere local to make it easy for your family and friends to drop off their pre-loved items for us to collect at a nominated time.
- Put your items in the Big Red Bag and leave it next to your letterbox on the day written on your bag. If you live in one of the lucky areas, our team would have left a Big Red Bag in your letterbox with instructions. You can also fill up other bags or boxes and leave them for collection next to your Big Red Bag.
- Take your items directly to any Savers store.
What happens to my donations?
Your donations are sent to our retail partner, Savers, who sort through the items and then place them for sale in their retail stores in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Most items go on sale within a few days of being donated to us.
If an item isn’t suitable for re-sale, it is recycled and turned into other useful stuff.
Less than 5% of all donations are sent to landfill. All items, including those that don’t make it to the shop floor, generate money to fund our vital work for Aussie families.
Why do you work with Savers instead of having your own charity shops?
Savers is for-purpose company who operate discount stores in South Australia and Victoria selling pre-loved clothes and household items to thrifty and environmentally conscious customers.
Savers pays Red Nose for the items that you generously donate to us, which helps to generate vital income for Red Nose. By working in partnership with Savers, Red Nose also makes a huge saving on the costs of running our own retail stores. This allows us to do what we do best – support Aussie families – without the financial risk of owning/leasing and managing our own stores and retail staff.
Red Nose and Savers have a unique and mutually beneficial collaboration that not only benefits Red Nose, but also impacts the lives of hundreds of Australians who are employed by, or directly impacted by, the work that Savers stores do.
Find out more (https://www.savers.com.au/about-us) about the important community work Savers do.
Can you collect donations from my school or workplace?
Yes, we can! …. and sports clubs, businesses, kindergartens, student accommodation, aged care homes, and anyone else who would like to support Red Nose. Learn More about becoming a Clothing Collections Champion, here.
You can book a pick-up using our Clothing Collection Booking Form or give us a call on 1300 473 366.
I’ve missed my suburb’s collection date. Will you still pick up my donation?
Plastic isn’t good for the environment – why do you still use plastic bags?
Our red bags are fully recyclable – you can take them to any soft plastic recycling drop off point.
I’m interested in hosting a big Red Donation bin at my school, business or club.
Great, if you want to become a Clothing Collections Champion, we’d love to hear from you! Call our team on 1300 473 366 or email rncc@rednose.org.au
I’m moving house and have a lot of stuff to donate, will you come to me?
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