Donate or recycle old textbooks
Decide whether to sell, donate or recycle, then use a current official contact instead of guessing which organisation will accept your edition.
Sources last checked 6 August 2026. Always confirm capacity before travelling with a large donation.
Sell, donate or recycle?
Use the best route for each book.
- 1
Sell useful editions
Check the ISBN. A current book with marketplace demand is most useful when the next student can find and buy that exact edition.
- 2
Donate clean books
Pass on complete, clean copies that another reader could use. Ask first if you have a large box or specialist material.
- 3
Recycle damaged copies
Use a local recycling centre for water-damaged, mouldy or incomplete books that cannot be safely reused.
Donation and recycling finders
Nationwide organisations with an official page for books.
Oxfam
Nationwide shops and free postal donation
Most Oxfam high street shops accept books, subject to local capacity. Its official page also offers a shop finder and a free DPD postal route.
Find an Oxfam optionBritish Heart Foundation
Nationwide charity shops
BHF lists quality books among the goods accepted at its charity shops. Check the official shop finder before carrying a large collection in.
Find a BHF shopRecycle Now
Local recycling and reuse locator
Books are not usually accepted with kerbside paper because binding glue can make processing difficult. Use the postcode locator for a suitable recycling centre.
Check local recycling
University programmes with published routes
These programmes publish a book reuse or donation route. Access and opening times vary, so check the linked page first.
London
University of Greenwich Reuse
The campus reuse scheme accepts textbooks and CPD materials in clean condition. Contact the team for the current book and stationery reuse points.
North West England
Lancaster University Library Book Exchange
The Library Book Exchange on A Floor accepts academic and leisure books. Lancaster also runs its end-of-term Don't Ditch It collection.
East Midlands
Nottingham Trent University Book Exchanges
NTU lists exchange points at its City, Clifton and Mansfield campuses, with access rules shown on the official page.
South West England
UWE Bristol Sustainability Hub
The Frenchay Sustainability Hub and City Campus community corner accept book and study-resource donations during their published opening hours.
West Midlands
University of Warwick Library
Warwick considers selected current textbooks in heavy demand. Contact the Library with a list before bringing any books to campus.
Scotland
Edinburgh Napier Campus Swap Shops
ENSA lists books and textbooks among accepted end-of-term donations, with swap-shop points at Sighthill, Craiglockhart and Merchiston.
Common questions
Can textbooks go in household paper recycling?
Usually not. Recycle Now says binding glue means books are not normally accepted with kerbside paper. Use its postcode locator or your council's current guidance.
Will a university library accept old textbooks?
Policies vary and many libraries only consider current, in-demand editions. Contact the library before arriving and send an ISBN list when requested.
Should I sell or donate a textbook?
Check the exact ISBN first. If the edition has demand, selling passes it directly to another student. Donate clean usable books that are not worth listing, and recycle damaged or unusable copies through an approved local point.