<p>I think I had a minor backslide this weekend. We had a new oven delivered and I just couldn’t let the burner grates and broiler pan go to the dump or wherever they take such things. The grates don’t even fit on my new oven - but I think my MIL or my sister may have the same old oven and the grates were in great condition. Maybe I’ll even use the broiler pan - the salesperson told us that ovens don’t come with broiler pans anymore - so it made me want to keep it! I never used it in the past 12 years - why do I think I would use it now? On the positive side, if I don’t actually use these things or find other owners, they will go in a donation bag within a week or two.</p>
<p>hey psycmomma–they had better or you need a new sandbox to play in :D/ </p>
<p>^^duly noted!^^ lol.</p>
<p>My charity thrift store gets at least one brand new, unused broiler pan a week. We send them to the dump. </p>
<p>Ovens don’t come with broiler pans because the manufacturers figured out that NO ONE uses them.</p>
<p>Before you stick that broiler pan and other mongrel stove parts in your “donation bag”, please contact the place to see if they WANT them. Remember, if YOU don’t take it to the trash, these places have to PAY to dispose of your trash, thus cutting into the profits to run their agencies.</p>
<p>One thing I’ve really learned by volunteering at a non-profit charity store…if its trash, I put it in the TRASH. I do NOT saddle the non-profit with that task.</p>
<p>It’s true that new ovens don’t come with broiler pans anymore. We bought a new oven in ~March 2013 and after it was delivered and installed, I realized I had to spend another $35 or so for the broiler pan. I use mine all the time. Psychmoma, how do you broil steak or chicken without using your broiler pan??</p>
<p>I would assume scrap metal haulers like things like that. The bigger piece, the better. </p>
<p>VH…I use my grill to broil. Or I use a pan with a rack. Much easier to clean than those broiler pans.</p>
<p>ETA…I could have saved you $35. I have the broiler pan from my OLD range…unused…in my basement.</p>
<p>I was looking at our table this weekend (it is one that has six cubbies under and each one is filled with stuff!). We have lots and lots of stationary supplies - lots of notebooks (few pages torn out from each, barely used). Lots of book covers. A whole box full of old cell phones, chargers and the like. A big box of crayons, color pencils, markers (overflowing). I know I can drop off old cell phones in several places, but does anyone have good suggestions for the stationary supplies? Hate to throw it out…</p>
<p>This is a big challenge, all in all. I was looking at my pantry the other day and found a glass jar that occasionally has been used to store pasta. Without the kids, we hardly use this jar anymore and so I took it out to recycle. H was horrified and he took it downstairs, but instead of recycling it, he put it in the basement :(</p>
<p>Maybe there is a daycare that has school aged kiddos who might want the crayons, etc. to be honest, unless you are willing to check EACH marker and pen to see if they work…toss them.</p>
<p>You might drop off at a school. Teachers are constantly buying new supplies for kids that need them. I would test any markers and pens and sharpen any pencils, first. </p>
<p>Wash the book covers and donate to middle or high school textbook room or library, whoever distributes textbooks</p>
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<p>Freecycle. Those people take just about anything. And if “those people” won’t take it, you know it’s OK to throw it out!!</p>
<p>Wow, Thumper, I didn’t think about that. I will find loving homes for my stash or will throw it in the trash. My MIL uses her broiler pan all the time so maybe she’ll want it (makes 7 course meals every night with meat as a main course). I rarely make meat and usually just bake chicken and roasts in baking pans. The pan itself could be useful to me - I just hate the piece with the little slits that gets junk caked and burned onto it - it’s such a pain to clean.</p>
<p>A scout troop might be interested in the old racks. They work great placed over an open campfire as a rack for pots and pans. </p>
<p>^^^Oooh, now that’s a great idea for when we go camping!</p>
<p>I believe the extra oven racks will go to D who has recently discovered a love of hiking and camping with her boyfriend. Oohh - if I wrap them and send them soon, they could arrive in time for her birthday! Hahahaha - not sure she would appreciate this gift…rusty old oven racks.</p>
<p>Our local thrift shop sells pens and crayons and such. They rubber band a bunch together or put them in a bag. They price them cheap and someone buys them.</p>
<p>We use our broiler pan all the time. We have a grill on our gas Wolf cooktop, but still use the broiler in the oven.
I am trying, slowly but surely, to move things out. My running group papers have been sorted and the unneeded recycled or shredded. Even small nonprofits can generate a lot of excess.
When I bought new running shoes last week, I threw the old ones out. I didn’t even bring them in the house when I got home from the store. </p>
<p>Two more huge bags taken today! Plus some stuff on hangers. It’s supposed to snow tomorrow, so I’m going to attack the rest of my closet, and maybe the mudroom closet (gotta shed some boots). I’m feeling like two bags a week is needed!</p>
<p>In my neck of the woods, metal things like old pots and oven racks (clean, of course) can be put in the blue recycling bin with the rest of recyclables. It makes sence to check your municipal recycling policies before tossing these things in the garbage! </p>