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How To Dispose Of Old Books And Magazines (Without Just Throwing Them Out)

The best way to dispose of old books and magazines is to keep them in use first (donate, swap, sell), then recycle them as paper, and only use a skip if you’re doing a full clear-out with a lot of mixed household waste. Do not just dump good books, and don’t leave boxes outside a charity shop when they’re closed.

By Rachel.J

Rachel writes practical guides on skip hire, waste removal, and responsible disposal in the UK. She explains what you can legally put in a skip, how to handle restricted waste, and what it really costs. Her goal is to give clear, up-to-date advice so households and trades stay compliant and avoid fines.

Reviewed by: Skip Hire Team Waste Compliance Manager | Upper Tier Waste Broker Licence CBDU596771

Last verified:January 7, 2026

At a Glance: What goes where?

Condition of Books/Magazines	Best Disposal Method	Action Required
Excellent / Recent Titles	Donate or Sell	Check with shops or list on Vinted/Marketplace.
Paperbacks (Clean)	Household Recycling	Remove any plastic inserts or CDs.
Hardbacks (Clean)	Mixed Recycling*	Must remove the stiff covers/spines first.
Moldy, Wet, or Foxed	General Waste / Skip	Cannot be recycled; will contaminate paper batches.
Bulk (10+ Boxes/Loft Clearout)	Skip Hire	Best for mixed waste (books, furniture, junk).

Got shelves full of books and magazines you don’t read anymore? Maybe you’re downsizing, clearing a loft, or emptying a house. You’ve basically got three routes:

Keep them in circulation (donate, swap, sell)
Recycle them as paper
Bulk disposal if you’re clearing a whole property

Below is how each option works, when to use it, and when a skip actually makes sense.

1. Donate them if they’re still in good shape

If the books are clean, complete and not moldy, donation is the best choice. Someone else gets to read them, and you keep them out of the landfill.

Where they usually still get accepted:

Charity shops: Focus on popular fiction, children’s books, and recent titles.
Community book banks: Those “take a book, leave a book” shelves in stations or cafes.
The “Closed Door” Rule: Never leave boxes outside a closed shop. This is legally considered fly-tipping, and most shops end up having to pay to dispose of items ruined by rain or scavengers.

Good to know:

Hardbacks with broken spines, damp-smelling books, or magazines with pages missing are often refused
Donation is not “drop a bin bag outside the door when they’re closed”, that’s fly-tipping and most shops hate it

This is always step one. If it can still be read, try to keep it in circulation.

2. Offer them to a library or community project

Libraries are picky but often need specific items:

Children’s books in excellent condition.
GCSE / A-level revision guides (must be the current curriculum).
Large print books for care homes or community centres.
Note: Call ahead. Most libraries cannot accept outdated encyclopedias or old IT manuals.

How to do it properly:

Call or email first to confirm. Libraries can’t take everything, especially outdated encyclopedias or very old textbooks.
Ask what they actually need. Each place has its own rules regarding age, topic, and conditions.

If they say yes, this is a fast way to re-home a lot of books without throwing them away.

3. Sell or swap them

If you want a bit of money back or want to ensure they go to a collector:

Magazine Bundles: Old car, fashion (e.g., Vogue), or hobby magazines sell better as “full years” or “themed sets” on eBay than individual copies.
Bulk Selling: Apps like Ziffit or MusicMagpie allow you to scan barcodes for quick (though small) payouts.
Book Swaps: Use local Facebook “Buy Nothing” groups to trade your old reads for something new.

4. Recycle them as paper

When books are too worn to be read, recycling is the next step. However, not all books are created equal in the eyes of a recycling plant.

Paperbacks: Generally 100% recyclable in your household blue/paper bin.
Hardbacks: Warning. The glue used in the spines and the cloth/plastic on the covers often cannot be processed. To recycle a hardback, you should rip the pages out of the binding. Put the pages in recycling and the cover in general waste.
Magazines: Most are recyclable, but you must remove the plastic “poly-wrap” they arrive in and any free samples (perfume strips or plastic toys).
Contamination: If books are damp or have mold, do not recycle them. A single moldy book can ruin a whole batch of paper pulp.

5. When a skip actually makes sense

You don’t need a skip for two shelves of books. You do need one when you’re clearing volume:

Full house clearances: Following a bereavement or a move.
Loft/Garage clear-outs: Where books are mixed with old carpets, broken furniture, and general junk.
Weight & Volume: Paper is heavy. If you have 20+ boxes of magazines, a small 4-yard skip is often easier and safer for your car’s suspension than multiple trips to the tip.

Pro Tip: If you’re in Kent or Medway, booking a local skip is usually cheaper than using a national broker. Local providers have lower “road miles,” which means better prices and faster collection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you put books in the recycling bin?

Yes, paperbacks can go in standard paper recycling. For hardback books, you should remove the stiff cover and spine glue first, as these are often non-recyclable.

Are old magazines recyclable?

Yes, most magazines are recyclable. Ensure you remove any plastic wrapping, sticky tape, or free gifts (like CDs or plastic toys) before placing them in the bin.

What do you do with books that are moldy or water-damaged?

Moldy or water-damaged books cannot be recycled. They should be placed in your general waste bin or a skip, as they can contaminate the recycling stream.

Do charity shops take old encyclopedias?

Generally, no. Because information in encyclopedias dates quickly and the sets are very heavy, most charity shops cannot sell them. It is best to check with a local school’s art department (for collage material) or recycle the inner pages.am.

Final takeaway

The “Waste Hierarchy” for books should be:

Reuse: Donate, Sell, or Swap.
Repurpose: Art projects or “Blackout Poetry.”
Recycle: Pages in the paper bin (covers in the bin).
Bulk Disposal: Use a skip if clearing a whole property’s worth of mixed waste.

Need to clear a large space? If you’re clearing more than just books, like old wardrobes, boxes, and garden waste, tell us roughly what you’ve got. We’ll help you find the right skip size to avoid overpaying.