Books are easy to keep because each one takes up very little space. The problem usually appears when a shelf, spare room or moving box contains books you are unlikely to read again.
The best next step depends on their condition and whether somebody else might still use them. Sort them before you make a trip: books in good condition can often be passed on, while damaged books may need a recycling route.
Start by sorting your books
Make three simple piles:
- Good condition and wanted by someone: suitable for donation, sale, exchange or a free giveaway.
- Readable but unlikely to sell: suitable for a charity shop, community group, book swap or free listing.
- Damp, mouldy, heavily stained or falling apart: check your local recycling guidance rather than passing them on.
Keep anything with a personal inscription, family notes or sentimental value to one side. Decluttering does not have to mean getting rid of something before you have decided whether it matters to you.
Donate books that somebody can use
Charity shops may accept books in good, clean condition, but every charity has its own space, demand and acceptance policy. Ask first if you have a large quantity, specialist titles or books that are out of date.
Other possible routes include:
- a local library, school, community centre or reading project
- a book swap with friends, neighbours or a community group
- a local free-giveaway group
- a second-hand bookshop or online marketplace
Pack books so that they are easy to carry and keep them dry. It is usually more useful to offer a small, sorted box than an unsorted collection containing damaged or obsolete titles.
When selling books is worth the effort
Some books are more likely to find a buyer than others. Recent textbooks, specialist subjects, popular series, collectible editions and books in particularly good condition may be worth listing.
For ordinary mass-market books, the time spent photographing, describing, storing and posting them may be greater than the return. You can set a time limit: try selling a selected group for a week or two, then move anything unsold to a reuse or recycling route.
Be accurate about highlighting, writing, missing dust jackets, inscriptions and other wear. A clear description helps a buyer decide whether the book is right for them.
Can books go in the recycling bin?
There is no single UK-wide answer for household recycling. Recycle Now says books cannot usually go in kerbside recycling because the glue used in their binding can cause problems, although some out-of-home recycling points accept them. Your council may have different instructions for paperbacks, hardbacks and damaged books.
Check your council’s current A-to-Z recycling guide before putting books in a bin. If the local guidance does not accept them at kerbside, look for a household recycling centre or book bank that does. Do not assume that because a book is made mostly of paper it belongs in your paper-and-card collection.
Remove obvious non-paper additions where your local instructions ask you to, such as plastic covers or discs. Do not put damp, mouldy or food-contaminated books into a recycling stream unless your council specifically says to; they may need a different route.
What about old textbooks, diaries and reference books?
Older editions can still be useful, but information in textbooks, manuals and reference books may be out of date. Mention the edition and publication date when offering them, and consider whether a school, student group or specialist organisation is the right recipient.
Diaries, notebooks and workbooks are different from ordinary books if they contain your writing or personal information. Remove pages or destroy them securely if needed before recycling, and check any binding or cover restrictions in your local guidance.
A simple way to prevent another book backlog
Before buying or accepting another book, decide where it will live and what will leave when the space is full. A one-in, one-out rule can work for physical books, while a small monthly review keeps the decision manageable.
If you have a growing box of books alongside clothes, toys, games, homeware or other small unwanted items, keeping the items together can make the eventual sorting easier. The OutBasket is designed for suitable everyday items that fit within its basket-sized service, with possible outcomes including resale, donation, storage, recycling or return. It is not a route for furniture, large appliances, bulky waste, house clearance or building waste.
For books that need a dedicated recycling route, follow your council’s current instructions. For reusable books and other suitable small items that have been waiting to leave, check whether The OutBasket is available in your area.