How to Recycle Pillows & Cushions
Pillows and cushions come filled with down and feathers, polyester fiberfill, memory foam, or buckwheat and bead fill, all wrapped in a fabric shell. What determines the disposal path is less the fill than the category: bed pillows used for sleeping are treated differently from throw pillows and decorative cushions used on sofas and chairs, because donation and textile-recycling programs draw that same line.
Quick answer
Throw pillows and decorative cushions are generally fine to donate or drop in a textile-recycling bin. Bed pillows are the outlier: Goodwill's donation guidance excludes bed pillows specifically, and Planet Aid's bedding program states directly that it doesn't accept them, even though both take blankets, comforters, and throw pillows. A worn bed pillow without a local exception usually just goes in the trash.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Typical value
- Minimal; donation value depends on condition, and bed pillows in particular have almost no resale or reuse market compared to throw pillows and cushions.
- Donate / take-back
- Available
- 1Remove pillowcases and decorative covers for separate washing
- 2Check the care label to identify the fill material
- 3Inspect for stains, odors, or visible wear
- 4Separate bed pillows from throw pillows and cushions before donating
- 5Clean the outer fabric according to its care instructions
- 6Call ahead to confirm a donation center or shelter takes bed pillows specifically
- Textile-recycling bins for throw pillows and cushions
- Planet Aid bedding drop-off (throw pillows accepted, bed pillows are not)
- Goodwill and Salvation Army for decorative pillows and cushions
- Animal shelters for old bed pillows and stuffing, call ahead first
- Household trash for worn bed pillows with no local donation option
Two independent donation channels draw the same line. Goodwill's accepted-items list includes bedspreads, blankets, and decorative pillows, but specifically excludes bed pillows, alongside mattresses, box springs, and bed rails. Planet Aid's bedding category takes sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters, and throw pillows, and its own guidance says plainly it doesn't accept bed pillows. Down pillows in good condition can sometimes be cleaned and reused, and a foam pillow can occasionally go to a mattress or foam recycler if one is nearby; without that option, a used bed pillow typically ends up in the trash.
Diverting a pillow from the landfill matters more for reducing bulky waste than for material recovery, since fill materials generally have little market value on their own. Down is the exception: cleaned and sanitized down retains most of its loft and insulation and can go into a refurbished pillow, which is why some programs specifically seek out down pillows rather than synthetic ones.
Estimated value: Minimal; donation value depends on condition, and bed pillows in particular have almost no resale or reuse market compared to throw pillows and cushions.
Manufacturer/Retail Take‑Back
- Dust mites and allergens that accumulate with use
- Chemical treatments for stain and odor resistance
- Flame retardants in some foam-filled cushions
Does Goodwill take pillows?
It depends on the type. Goodwill's guidance lists decorative pillows as accepted but excludes bed pillows, alongside mattresses, box springs, and bed rails.
Will a textile-recycling bin take my old pillow?
Check first. Planet Aid's bedding program takes throw pillows, sheets, blankets, and comforters, but states directly that it doesn't accept bed pillows.
What can I do with an old bed pillow?
Ask a local animal shelter whether they want it for bedding, or check if a nearby thrift store makes an exception. Without one, it goes in the trash; most donation and textile-recycling programs draw the line at bed pillows specifically.