Donate Gently Used School Supplies

WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – The end of the school year often includes an excess of leftover supplies. Washington County is working to keep these items out of the landfill and into the re-use stream.

The Washington County Environmental Center in Woodbury is collecting gently used school supplies from now through the end of July. The donated items will be offered to students at a school supply swap on August 6 at the center. People do not have to donate items to receive them.

The following items will be accepted during regular hours:

Pencils/pens/markers/crayons 
Notebooks 
Lined or graphing paper 
Calculators (working) 
Backpacks (working zippers, no rips/tears/stains) 
Scissors 
Rulers, protractors, 
Erasers 
Glue sticks 
Watercolor paints 
Pencil cases 
Pencil sharpener 
3-ring binder (1-inch only) 
Pocket folders

“Repairing and reusing items helps reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and minimize the environmental impact of manufacturing new products,” the county’s website states. “By extending the life of items we already own, we reduce the demand for raw materials and energy needed for production, decreasing carbon emissions and pollution.”

The swap is free and open to everyone. Items remaining after the event will be donated locally.