On Sunday, July 20, 2025, the City of Iowa City hosted the Donation Drive-Thru event at the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp in Iowa City. The event supported local residents during the lease-turnover time at the end of July by providing donation or recycling options for common or problematic items when moving.

Waste reduction and diversion numbers:

In a span of four hours, over 15,000 pounds of recyclable or usable goods were saved from the landfill. Items were either recycled or provided to Donation Drive-Thru’s non-profit partner organizations. Here is an overview of some of the materials recycled or donated:

• 198.5 pounds of batteries
• 85 pounds of light bulbs
• 2,170 pounds of books
• 1,815 pounds of mattresses and box springs
• 2,865 pounds of clothing, shoes, purses, and linens
• 500 pounds of food
• 260 pounds of toiletry items
• 3,640 pounds of furniture
• 2,501 pounds of household and kitchen items
• 632 pounds of art and craft supplies
• 343 pounds of school supplies

Donations went directly to non-profit partners:

• Antelope Lending Library received donations of books, boardgames, puzzles, and child car seats.
• Crowded Closet received donations of clothing, shoes, accessories, and linens.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore received donations of furniture, lamps, tools, wall art, and household and kitchen items.
• Houses into Homes received donations of mattresses, furniture, lamps, and household and kitchen items.
• Table to Table received all food and toiletry item donations.

View the "Non-Profit Partner Organizations" tab on this web page for more information. 

Past-use batteries, light bulbs, books, mattresses, and box springs were recycled via the City of Iowa City recycling programs. Art, craft, and school supplies donations were accepted for the Art & Craft Supplies Pop-up Events happening August 7 to 10, 2025. More info: www.icgov.org/reduce 

Events of this size are not possible without the generous time and hard work of our staff, volunteer groups (Basic Needs at Iowa, Iowa City Free Lunch Program, UI Environmental Coalition, UI School of Planning and Public Affairs Student Association, Unitarian Universalist Society), and the partner organizations listed above. Thank you to all who supported this community event!

Non-Profit Partner Organizations

Donations at the 2025 Donation Drive-Thru event were provided directly to local non-profit partner organizations that put the donations to immediate good use within our community while keeping quality items out of the landfill. 

The 2025 event partner organizations include: 

• Antelope Lending Library
  • "Antelope Lending Library is an independent, non-profit bookmobile library working to overcome barriers and provide full and equal access to information and ideas in our community." (Source: Antelope Lending Library)
  • At Donation Drive-Thru, Antelope Lending Library received donations of books, boardgames, puzzles, and child car seats. 
• Crowded Closet
  • "Crowded Closet is a non-profit thrift shop in Iowa City sharing love and compassion with people in need locally and globally." (Source: Crowded Closet)
  • At Donation Drive-Thru, Crowded Closet received donations of clothing, shoes, purses, accessories, and household linens. 
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
  • ReStore directly supports Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity which "is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to provide affordable housing solutions in Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, and Washington Counties." (Source: Habitat for Humanity)
  • At Donation Drive-Thru, ReStore received donations of furniture, tools, dishware, lamps, wall art, and microwaves. 
• Houses into Homes
  • "Houses into Homes provides gently-used beds, furniture, and household items for families and individuals in Johnson County who are exiting homelessness, domestic violence, and other crisis situations." (Source: Houses into Homes)
  • At Donation Drive-Thru, Houses into Homes received donations of mattresses, furniture, lamps, and microwaves. 
• Table to Table
  • "Table to Table bridges the gap between abundance and hunger. Our mission is to increase food equity and reduce environmental harm by collecting and redistributing surplus food through partners to people who can use it." (Source: Table to Table)
  • At Donation Drive-Thru, Table to Table received all donations of food and toiletry/personal care items. 

Donation items must be clean, in good working order, and in good condition (meaning no rips, tears, stains, pet hair, food residue, damage, etc.). Recycling options will be available at this event for past use batteries, light bulbs, books, and mattresses. 

The following items will be accepted at the 2025 Donation Drive-Thru event: 

• Food (nonperishable and unopened items only)
  • Food items could include canned goods, boxed meals, pasta, packaged snacks such as granola bars, etc. 
• Toiletry/personal care items (unopened items only)
  • Toiletry/personal care item examples include toilet paper, laundry detergent, feminine pads, soap, etc.
• Books (hardcover and softcover)
• Boardgames and puzzles (in good condition)
• Child car seats (in good condition)
• Microwaves (must be working and in good, clean condition)
• Lamps (must be working and in good condition)
• Twin, double, and queen mattresses and box springs (king beds are not accepted)
  • Donate: Gently-used mattresses may be eligible for donation at this event to our partner organization, Houses into Homes, for reuse.
  • Recycle: Past use mattresses may be recycled at this event through the City of Iowa City program for $10 per mattress or box spring (cash only).
• Bed frames
• Bookshelves
• Small desks (L-shaped desks are not accepted)
• Couches or loveseats
• Stools
• Tables (end tables, coffee tables, night stands, etc.)
• Chairs (dining, office, upholstered, etc.)
• TV stands
• Outdoor furniture
• Dressers
• Dishware (dinner plates, glasses, silverware, etc.)
• Wall art (empty frames are not accepted)
• Tools (hand tools or working power tools)
• Clothing and shoes
• Purses and accessories
• Household linens (bed sheets or tablecloths)
• Art and craft supplies (gently-used and in good condition)
• School supplies (gently-used and in good condition) 
• Used batteries (recycled via City of Iowa City program)
• Used light bulbs (recycled via City of Iowa City program)

If donors have items that are not included on the accepted items list, they will not be accepted at this event. Misc. household items and electronics are examples of items that are not accepted at this event. Additionally, if donors have items that are damaged or not in good condition for donation, event staff and volunteers reserve the right to refuse items. 

This event is meant to support reuse of quality, gently-used items and the accepted items list has been developed based on identified material categories needed by our non-profit partners.

Past Years

In the last few years of hosting Donation Drive-Thru, this event has successfully reduced waste and diverted usable items out of the landfill. 

2024

In a span of four hours, over 10,000 pounds of recyclable or usable goods were saved from the landfill. Items were either recycled or provided to Donation Drive-Thru’s non-profit partner organizations. Here is an overview of some of the materials recycled or donated:

• 268 pounds of batteries
• 16 pounds of light bulbs
• 245 pounds of food and toiletry items
• 1,475 pounds of books
• 1,480 pounds of mattresses and box springs
• 2,145 pounds of clothing and shoes
• 520 pounds of household items
• 550 pounds of appliances
• 3,470 pounds of furniture

Where did donations go?

• Antelope Lending Library, the non-profit bookmobile library, received all book donations.
• Crowded Closet, Iowa City’s non-profit thrift store, received all clothing, shoes, and accessories donations.
• Houses into Homes, the non-profit organization providing essential household goods and furniture to families in need, received mattresses, furniture, and household and kitchen items.
• Table to Table, the food rescue non-profit organization, received all food and toiletry item donations.

Past-use batteries, light bulbs, books, mattresses, and box springs were recycled via the City of Iowa City recycling programs.

Events of this size are not possible without the generous time and hard work of our staff, volunteer groups (Iowa City Free Lunch Program, UI School of Planning and Public Affairs, Unitarian Universalist Society), and the partner organizations listed above. Thank you to all who supported this community event! 

2023

In a span of four hours, almost 16,000 pounds of recyclable or usable goods were saved from the landfill. Items were either recycled or provided to Donation Drive-Thru’s non-profit and community partner organizations. Here is an overview of some of the materials recycled or donated:

• 104 pounds of batteries
• 290 pounds of food and toiletry items
• 690 pounds of clothing and shoes
• 954 pounds of electronics and appliances
• 1,240 pounds of household and kitchen items
• 1,750 pounds of books
• 4,910 pounds of mattresses/box springs
• 5,700 pounds of furniture

2022 (Donation Drive-Thru's first year)

Approximately 8,246 pounds of materials were saved from the landfill and diverted through recycling and donation programs. In 2023, Donation Drive-Thru doubled the tonnage of materials saved from the landfill!