We come to you
Book pickups
Send us your location and book details. We confirm availability, arrange a pickup, and bring your books to our warehouse.
Pickup availability depends on your location and our routes.
Ask about a pickupSustainable Books / How it works
Your books. Their next chapter.
A little space on your bookshelf. A new possibility for your books.
Follow their journey through Sustainable Books.
01 / From the community
It starts with your books.
Finished favorites. Outgrown stories. Shelves ready for a fresh start.
People and organizations pass along books they no longer need. Their next stop is our warehouse.
- Homes
- Libraries
- Thrift stores & organizations
Two ways to get your books to us
02 / Getting here
Collected with care. Or brought by you.
Both routes lead to our warehouse team.
You come to us
Warehouse drop-offs
Bring your books to our warehouse in Concord, Ontario. Our team can help you unload.
Find a warehousePickups and drop-offs meet here
03 / Inside the warehouse
Every book gets a closer look.
We record each arrival, identify the books, and check their condition before deciding what comes next.
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1. Receive & record
We unload the books and record where they came from.
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2. Identify
We scan or read the ISBN: the number that identifies a book’s edition.
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3. Check condition
We check the pages, cover, and binding to assess the book’s condition.
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4. Set aside for recycling
We separate books that are unsuitable for reuse and set them aside for our dedicated paper recycler.
The next step depends on the book
04 / Different next chapters
There is more than one way forward.
Books follow three routes: donations that support reading and learning, sales that help fund our work, and proper paper recycling.
More access to books
Donated for reading & learning
We donate books to literacy programs, children in need, and people in underprivileged communities with limited access to books.
Our current donation focus is local. Your books help people explore new ideas and enjoy stories of their own.
Ask about books for your organization
Less than 5% are sold
Sold to fund our efforts
Book sales help fund our collection, donation, and recycling efforts, so more books can have a useful next chapter.
We sort and shelve the small share selected for online sale, then pick and pack each order for its next reader.
Shop to support our work
The right recycling route
Sent for paper recycling
Books unsuitable for reuse are set aside and sent to a dedicated paper recycler.
The next chapter starts with you
Have books ready to move on?
Make room on your shelves. Help a book’s story continue.