How BookDrop Keeps Books Out of Landfills
The publishing industry produces roughly 2.2 billion books each year worldwide. Many of those books will eventually need a new home — and too often, that home is a landfill.
The Scale of Book Waste
According to industry estimates, about 25-30% of all books printed are eventually pulped or landfilled without ever reaching a second reader. For used books, the numbers can be even higher as libraries, thrift stores, and households struggle to find outlets for surplus inventory.
BookDrop's Approach
At BookDrop, we've built an entire system around the idea that no book should go to waste unnecessarily. Here's how it works:
Collection at Scale
We collect books from multiple sources:
- Home pickups from individuals cleaning out bookshelves
- Donation bins at 500+ partner locations
- Library deaccessions from partner libraries
- Thrift store surplus that would otherwise be discarded
- Book sale leftovers from Friends of the Library groups
Smart Sorting
Every book we collect is scanned and evaluated using real-time market data. This lets us determine the best channel for each book — maximizing the chance that it reaches a reader who wants it.
Multiple Redistribution Channels
Books flow out through several channels:
- Online marketplaces for individual titles
- Wholesale distribution for bulk inventory
- Community programs and partnerships
- Responsible recycling as a last resort
The Impact So Far
Since our founding, BookDrop has:
- Redistributed over 2 million books
- Diverted over 500,000 pounds of material from landfills
- Partnered with 500+ locations across the region
How You Can Help
Every book you donate through BookDrop is one less book in a landfill. Whether you have a few boxes at home or you run an organization with thousands of surplus books, we have a program that fits.