Our current linear economy “is based on a ‘take-make-waste’ model: we TAKE natural resources to MAKE products and when we’re done using them, often just once, we dispose of them as WASTE.” According to the UN Environment Programme, extraction of the Earth’s natural resources tripled in the past five decades and is expected to increase greatly unless changes are made.
In a circular economy, products are designed to be kept in use as long as possible through processes like maintenance, repair, longer use, refurbishment, recycling, and composting. In this way, precious resources are conserved and nature is able to regenerate.
You can contribute to the Circular Economy. It’s easy, fun, can save you money, and it keeps perfectly usable stuff out of the waste stream!
Donate/Buy Usable Items
- Check it out! Green Needham’s Recyclopedia gives information on how to donate/recycle specific items. See resources for clothing donations, household items, backpacks, etc.
- Some examples of where you can donate and buy used items.
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- The Needham Community Council has a thrift shop with adult/teen clothing, jewelry, shoes, and various household items. See their Detailed donation guidelines.
- The Needham RTS’ Reuse-It Swap Shop is a volunteer-run area at the RTS that allows residents to drop off and/or pick up a wide variety of usable items. Most popular are children’s toys, bicycles/scooters, sporting goods, games, and books, small household appliances/items, tools, hardware, and gardening items.
- Savers 1230 VFW Pkwy. West Roxbury accepts and sells good quality clothing, small appliances, sports equipment, children’s toys, games, hardback and paperback books, CDs, Videos, DVDs, vinyl records, computer software, furniture, sheets/towels and much more. Click here for guidelines. They are a for-profit store but also a Community Donation Center benefiting the Epilepsy Foundation. Savers has another nearby store in Norwood, 560 Boston Providence Hwy. N
- Play It Again Sports, 606 Washington St. Dedham, buys and sells quality used and new sports and fitness gear.
- Check out Needham’s second hand clothing stores: 2nd Hand Rose and Closet Exchange.
- Online resources for used clothing:
Borrow or Give/get Things for Free
- Needham Library’s Library of Things has many items to borrow – like a Craftsman 57-piece Craftsman Toolkit, a pair of binoculars, a microscope, a go-pro camera, and a sewing machine.
- Needham RTS’ Reuse-It Swap Shop reduces the amount of reusable materials entering the waste stream by providing Needham residents with a place to conveniently give away usable items they no longer want or need, and find things they can use. The Swap Shop is open from April 1st through Nov. 30th, (and may open on a reduced schedule from Jan. through March), limited with some exceptions such as Paint Saturdays and times of extreme weather. Items are free.
- With Needham Freecycle, you can offer goods for free, or request goods for free.
- Upcycle Needham Facebook Group – Give, receive, lend, share, and show gratitude in hyper-local gift economies.
Repair 
- Watch for a Needham Fix-It Clinic, where a volunteer Repair Coach will work with you through diagnosing and repairing your items such as textiles, clocks, lamps, small household appliances, and houseplants. Sponsored by the RTS and the Sustainability Dept. , the first was April 11, 2026 at the Needham Free Library.
Local Repair Shops:
Shoe Repair: Needham Shoe – Repair 91 Chapel St. Needham
Tailor: Hois Tailor Shop – 399 Chestnut St. Needham - Phone and Computer Repair uBreakiFix – 320 Washington St. Dedham
