Junkbusters is brought to you by the Guild of Students, supported by the University of Birmingham. Our aim is to encourage a more sustainable way of living by collecting your unwanted clothes, books and household items that still have life in them.
All the items you donate to us help to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and Birmingham Hospice, meaning we’re also contributing to better wellbeing in our local community and across the UK. We’re very proud to say that due to your support and previous donations, we’ve been able to raise over £181,000 since 2011.
Why not have a clear out before you leave for the upcoming break, and if you're leaving your accommodation for the final time leave anything you no longer need with us.
How It Works
Every year, we host collection stalls in and around Selly Oak. All you need to do is dig out the things you no longer need, drop them into a bin bag and pop along to one of our collection points with your items.
Drop Off Details
You can also take advantage of the Council’s Donate unwanted items scheme at your local household recycling centre in between our regular Junkbusters' collections. You'll find details of how to do this on the Birmingham City Council website.
You can also find a list of Charities Offering House Clearances & Recycling Services in Birmingham should you not be able to make it to a Junkbusters collection.
At our Junkbusters’ stalls we can accept most items with the following exceptions:
The above items will need to be recycled at your local household recycling centre. You can find details of these on the Birmingham City Council website.
Please ensure that all the items that you are donating are of a good quality, so that they can be of good use to charities.
We host regular Junkbusters’ collections throughout the year, however if you’re having a clear out and need to donate at a time when there isn’t an immediate Junkbusters’ collection scheduled, the Council accepts donations of furniture, electrical items, bikes, household goods, garden tools and bric-a-brac. Take a look at their website to find learn all about where you can donate items.
1 Donation Bag
Could be worth as much as £15 to the British heart Foundation
10 Donated Bags
Of unwanted items could fund one full day of BHF Heart Nursing Care
100 Donated Bags
Could fund a young scientist for a week to help find a cure
1000 Donated Bags
Of unwanted items could help up to 40 young heart patients regain their confidence
We recognise that not everyone can easily bring items to us, particularly if you want to donate lots of items or if circumstances prevent you from coming to one of our collection points. But don’t worry, just get in touch with the Community team via email or our social media and we’ll do our best to help.
If you’d like to get in contact with us, you can do so through any of the following:
Email Us
Instagram Page
Call 0121 415 8912
When clearing out your kitchen cupboards, do your best to reduce food waste and donate to the Guild's Community Pantry. Place long-life items only, in a separate bag and hand them to a Community Ambassadors at any of the Junkbusters collection points. Alternatively, you can donate items in the baskets situated around campus - see 'how and where can I donate'.
Outside of the Junkbusters provision, you can take donations all year round to your local charity shops, there are three British Heart Foundation shops near Selly Oak alone, visit their website to find a BHF near you, as well as two Birmingham Hospice shops.
The council also have a Reuse Shop where donated and refurbished items are available to buy. You will find opening times on their website.