Update, October 2026: St. Jude’s Ranch for Children has ended its Recycled Card Program after 35 years, so please don’t mail cards there. Here’s what to do with the cards you let go instead.
As you clean up after the holidays, you might have a pile of holiday cards lying around that you received last year. Here is a challenge for you and one of the easiest ways to clear a little clutter before the new year!
So go ahead and sort through that stack of cards. As you examine your pile of cards, be honest with yourself and keep only the cards that have significant meaning. Remember this - you are not obligated to keep the cards with your friends and family photos on them! Only save them if you absolutely love them. Remember it is the thought behind the card that counts! You can look at each photo card and say 'my, how they have grown' and then let it go.
Please keep only the cards that have significant meaning to your life.
Over the course of a lifetime, if you dont use discretion and hold onto every greeting card you receive, you will end up storing and taking care of literally thousands of cards. Trust me, I witness these massive collections and get paid to get rid of thousands of cards every year!
So, go ahead, get rid of your clutter and purge the cards that you don’t need. Then use the ideas below to recycle or reuse the rest.
What to do with the cards you let go
- Recycle plain paper cards. Paper cards and envelopes can usually go in your recycling bin, stamp and all. Check your city’s rules to be sure.
- Take out anything that isn’t paper. Pull the battery out of any card that plays music and take it to a battery drop-off.
- Put glitter and photo cards in the trash. Cards covered in glitter or printed on photo paper can’t be recycled.
- Give the fronts a second life. Schools, senior centers, scout troops and creative reuse centers often use card fronts for crafts. Call first to ask.
- Reuse them yourself. Cut the fronts into gift tags or postcards for next year.
Live in San Diego County? Recycling and Donation Centers in San Diego County lists battery drop-offs and other places to recycle and donate.
Thank you for this opportunity!
I can understand why St. Jude's doesn't accept cards made by Hallmark, Disney, or American Greeting,
It is sad that these companies treasure their copyright to the point that they would prosecute an organization such as St. Jude's for repurposing their old used Greeting Cards. But guess that is what corporate greed has finally come down to.
If St. Jude's can't take them, perhaps you can cut off the front of each card and donate them to a local retirement home community..
They're always looking for fun crafts to do with their their residents and they might welcome your donation.
Also, daycare facilities might appreciate them for a craft project.
St Jude’s Ranch ended their greeting card recycling program in 2025.
Just FYI, St Jude’s has discontinued this program.
St. Jude's is no longer accepting used cards.
If St. Jude's can't take them, perhaps you can cut off the front of each card and donate them to a local retirement home community..
They're always looking for fun crafts to do with their their residents and they might welcome your donation.
Also, daycare facilities might appreciate them for a craft project.