Every year, spring cleaning marks the return of emptied closets, decluttered garages, and refreshed interiors… What should we do with all the things we no longer want? Donate them, trade them in at a store, or recycle them? The choice matters: it determines the second life of our belongings.
Ecomaison, which organizes the collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of all household items and materials, offers a reminder of the best practices to follow during spring cleaning for all the items that have accumulated and no longer have a place in our homes.
Donate or recycle: a choice that makes all the difference…
While Ecomaison’s mission is to manage the end of a product’s life cycle, this is not limited to recycling. In fact , there are many solutions that allow products to remain useful for longer, fully in line with the principles of the circular economy.
Donate: The Reuse Reflex
When a product is still in goodcondition, donating it to a charitable organization is the best option. It helps minimize environmental impact, reduce waste, and support local employment within social and solidarity economy organizations.
In practice, items can be dropped off at one of Ecomaison’s 630 partner organizations or at collection points equipped with containers designated for reuse. This dense network across the country makes it easy to take action anywhere in France.
Keep in mind that all household items should be sorted properly, whether they are:
- Furnishings: tables, chairs, sofas, cabinets, kitchen furniture, patio furniture, small furniture, and storage units…;
- Bedding and sleeping gear: comforters, mattresses, box springs, sleeping bags, cribs…;
- Decorative textiles: rugs, pillows, curtains, removable carpet tiles, decorative wall hangings;
- DIY tools: hand tools (hammers, screwdrivers, etc.), watering cans, pots, gardening equipment, wheelbarrows, etc.;
- Everyday items (considered furniture): laundry baskets, trash cans, storage accessories, non-electronic household items…;
- Games and Toys: board games, children's toys, outdoor games (slides, playhouses, etc.).
In-Store Pickup: A Simple, Free Solution… That’s Still Underutilized!
Although not always well known or widely used, in-store take-back programs are nevertheless a major driver of the circular economy. Established under the AGEC Act, they require retailers to accept the return of many products free of charge, including furniture, bedding, home improvement and gardening items, electrical equipment, and more.
A CLOSER LOOK at DIY products: DIY and gardening stores, for example, offer a convenient service that is still relatively unknown: free trade-ins for old tools. Some stores have no purchase requirement, while others require the purchase of new equipment…
👉 The right thing to do: Ask in the store about the trade-in policy.
Spotlight: The Iconic Case of the Mattress
Thanks to Ecomaison’s creation of the first bedding recycling program, more than 9 out of 10 mattresses are now recycled!
As a symbol of bulky items that people don’t always know what to do with, mattresses perfectly illustrate the challenges of waste sorting. In France, nearly 5 million mattresses are sold each year. Their average lifespan is about 10 years.
When these products reach the end of their useful life, it is essential to recycle them through the Ecomaison program—either by requesting that the old item be taken back when purchasing or receiving a new one, or by dropping them off at a recycling center. Once collected, they are disassembled: metal, foam, latex, textiles… each material is separated and then recycled.
Recycling Center: A Key Step for Items That Can't Be Repaired
When an item is too damaged, the recycling center is still the best option. Used by 72% of French people, 4,000 recycling centers across France accept used household items, which are then sorted and sent to facilities that recover and recycle the materials. Wood, metal, textiles, foam, and more are thus turned into new resources.
When Recycling Takes on an Unexpected Artistic Dimension
RECYCL’EXPO – March through June 2026 – 100 cities in France
Rusty barbecues, dented wheelbarrows, worn-out pruning shears… What if used gardening and DIY tools were turned into monumental sculptures?
That’s the bold challenge Ecomaison set for itself in 2024 with the Recycl’expo. This year, the exhibition—featuring fun, interactive activities—is touring nearly 100 cities across France to raise public awareness through this traveling initiative dedicated to recycling and reuse.