Where to return books after reading? We give you a hint as to who they might be useful to!
Ecology
22 October 2024
Old books do not have to sit on shelves for years. Throwing them away is certainly not a good idea either. If you have books in your home collection which you no longer need, but which are in good condition and will be useful to other people, give them a second life. Where can you give away unwanted books and what is the best way to do this?
Where to donate old books to give them a second life?
Books are a real treasure trove of knowledge. Literature is able to transport the reader to a separate reality, show them the world from a different perspective and teach them new skills. However, in almost every home library, one can find items that have not been consulted for years.
In this case, instead of thinking about where to throw the books, it is worth trying to give them a second life. School and university textbooks, dictionaries, collections of short stories or novels can successfully serve another person, so it is worth donating them for further use.
Such a solution will not only free up shelf space, but will also reduce unnecessary paper consumption and be an action in the spirit of zero waste. Where to donate books? You could consider donating unwanted books to libraries, charities or other readers, for example through social media announcements.
There is another noteworthy method that will allow a second life of a book to be taken care of conveniently and quickly. These are Eco-returns , an initiative of the courier company InPost created in cooperation with the Reclaim the Environment Foundation. Thanks to it, customers have the opportunity to contribute to the protection of the planet and at the same time support those in need.
What are ECO refunds and why should you use them?
The initiative was established at the end of 2021 and has since made it possible for consumers to send unused items in good condition free of charge via Paczkomat® machines. This can be done using the website szybkiezwroty.pl/en/EKOzwroty or the InPost Mobile app.
Initially, the campaign only covered electrical and electronic equipment, but over time it has been extended to include the possibility of ecological returns of toys, textiles, footwear and books. It is very important that the items sent are complete, undamaged and reusable.
Donate books that are clean, well-maintained and simply suitable for reading. They will then be passed on to others.
When the condition of the products makes it impossible to use the books again for their intended purpose, the returned literature will be put to another use. In this case, the books will be sent to one of the recycling plants, which will take care of the recovery of the paper. In accordance with the closed-loop economy system, the returned literature will thus serve as material for the manufacture of other articles.
Donate unwanted books for further use and enjoy InCoins in the loyalty programme! Visit the "Rewards" tab in the InPost Mobile app to find out more.
Eco-returns - how to prepare books for donation?
ECO Returns are fast, convenient and completely free. Once you have all the books you intend to return ready, it remains for you to pack them properly. In order for your parcel to fit into the Paczkomat® machine without any problems, it must fit into one of the three sizes:
- "A" with maximum dimensions of 80 x 380 x 640 cm and a weight of up to 25 kg;
- "B" with maximum dimensions of 190 x 380 x 640 cm and a weight of up to 25 kg;
- "C" with maximum dimensions of 410 x 380 x 640 cm and a weight of up to 25 kg;
If your Eco-return is to include a larger quantity of products (which we encourage you to do), use a sturdy cardboard box, matched to the weight and size of the parcel.
You can fill any empty spaces with old newspapers, for example. However, try to keep them as small as possible. This way, the courier will be able to take as many parcels with him as possible and thus reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
In this case, too, it is a good idea to act in the spirit of zero waste and pack the books in an old cardboard box, foil pack or, for example, a shoe box if it is in good condition. Remember then to remove any old labels from the packaging, so that the InPost courier will deliver the parcel to the designated place without any problems. Properly securing your parcel is of great importance. 
A second life for old things, or step-by-step eco-returns
You already know where to return your books and how to pack your parcel properly. The final step is to send selected items from your home library using EKO Returns. As already mentioned, you can do this via the mobile app or the website.
E-returns with InPost Mobile
To use the first option, it is necessary to download the free InPost Mobile application. It is worth doing so, as it is also useful for, among other things, convenient and fast sending, receiving and tracking of parcels.
To make an EKO Return in the application panel, select the "Return" tab and then the "Donate to the Foundation" option. The next step is to specify the size of the parcel and the category of the ECO Return. In this case, it is "Books".
All you need to do is fill in your basic personal data and your EKOzwrot will be ready to send. All you need to do is take the parcel with your books to the Paczkomat® machine of your choice, scan the QR code generated via the application and put the parcel in the box.
Eco-returns on the website
E-returns via the QuickReturns website are also very simple. Once your parcel is ready, you need to fill in a short form which takes into account the same data as for the application. These are therefore: the size of the parcel, the category of EKO Return, your name, telephone number and e-mail address.
A special code generated for your EKOzwrotype will be sent to you via message. Place it in a prominent position on the parcel, e.g. write it with a marker or pen, then take the parcel to the nearest Parcel Machine®, enter the code and return the EKO Return completely free of charge.
Remember that the ECO Returns initiative is not just an answer to the question of where to donate books. The campaign also covers textiles, electronics, footwear and toys.
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