Reuse & Recycling Guide

How to Recycle and Reuse Jewelry

Learn how to give unwanted necklaces, bracelets, earrings, costume jewelry, precious metal jewelry, and broken pieces another life through The ReCollective.

Used jewelry collected by The ReCollective for reuse and repurposing

Give unwanted jewelry another life

Jewelry can still have value even after it is no longer worn. Old necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other pieces may still be useful for reuse, repair, or creative repurposing.

The ReCollective collects jewelry and works with community partners, including The Scrap Exchange, to help keep usable materials in circulation.

What to include

Accepted Jewelry

Jewelry may be worn or broken as long as it is still suitable for reuse, repair, or repurposing.

Accepted

  • Necklaces and pendants
  • Bracelets
  • Brooches
  • Earrings and solo earrings
  • Costume jewelry
  • Precious metal jewelry
  • Broken jewelry with reuse or repair potential

Please Leave Out

  • Loose beads
  • Loose gems
  • Loose clasps
  • Sharp items
  • Jewelry that is unsalvageable
How to set it out

Use Your Own Grocery-Sized Bag

Place approved jewelry in a separate bag, standard grocery size or smaller, and put that bag inside your black waterproof collection bag on pickup day. Do not place jewelry in your ReCo Pick bag.

Before your pickup

How to Prepare Jewelry

Check for Reuse Potential

Worn or broken jewelry is okay, but each piece should still be suitable for reuse, repair, or repurposing.

Remove Loose Pieces

Do not include loose beads, gems, clasps, or other small components that are not attached to a piece of jewelry.

Use a Separate Bag

Keep jewelry together in your own grocery-sized bag or smaller, then place that bag inside your black waterproof collection bag.

Materials being sorted at The ReCollective warehouse in Durham
After collection

What Happens to Collected Jewelry?

Collected jewelry returns to The ReCollective, where it is sorted and prepared for community partners, including The Scrap Exchange.

1

Sort: Jewelry is grouped and prepared based on its condition and reuse potential.

2

Route: Suitable pieces are prepared for community partners that can use the material.

3

Reuse: Jewelry can be reused, repaired, upcycled, or creatively repurposed into new pieces and projects.

Broken can still be useful: Jewelry does not need to be wearable as-is, but it should still have potential for reuse, repair, or repurposing.

ReCo Pick Reminders

Standard monthly members Set out jewelry only during a month when Jewelry is featured as a ReCo Pick.
Almost Anything Plan members You may set out approved jewelry during any monthly pickup using the preparation instructions on this page.
Use your own bag Place jewelry in a separate bag that is grocery bag size or smaller, not inside the ReCo Pick bag.
Return all canvas bags Return all of your canvas bags each time you set out recycling so the team can provide a complete replacement kit.
Related information

Other Reuse and Recycling Guides

Lanyard and name tag reuse guide Reuse guide Lanyards & Name Tags View guide Art and office supplies recycling guide Reuse guide Art & Office Supplies View guide Clothing and textile recycling guide Recycling guide Clothing & Textiles View guide Clothing hanger recycling and reuse guide Reuse guide Clothing Hangers View guide
Service information

Local Pickup & Mailback

City page Durham View local information City page Raleigh View local information City page Cary View local information City page Chapel Hill & Carrboro View local information Mailback Almost Anything Bag Jewelry accepted