Dear Recyclebank: Is there any way to upcycle stuffed animals? I’m concerned about donating them to a thrift store like I would with washed, hard toys. —Ruth W.

Dear Ruth: Most parents are likely to identify with your dilemma. What do you do with all of those stuffed animals kids seem to collect?

Believe it or not, may charity thrift stores (including Goodwill) do accept stuffed animals as donations. You can also check if you have a local donation point for Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (S.A.F.E.), which collects and cleans stuffed animals to give to children enduring traumatic situations. Local police or fire stations, family shelters, or the children’s wing of a hospital, might also accept stuffed animals for donation. When you do donate, it’s best that the stuffed animals are in “like-new” condition, without any rips, odors, or stains.

As far as upcycling your kids’ lovies, there are some fun project ideas that can keep them in the family, perhaps in a nicer way than letting them collect dust, piled on a shelf. You can use them to fill a cushion or a beanbag, or take them apart and re-stitch them for a cool keepsake. Or, turn one into a backpack or cute purse.

For those creatures that are too well-loved to go to a new home or be upcycled, many textiles recyclers will accept them. Textiles account for around 5 percent of landfill space, so it’s a good idea to recycle your stuffed animals (not to mention old clothes that can’t be donated), as they will be used to make textiles that are often used in garments for developing countries, or used for fibers for other applications.

So once your kids’ stuffed animals are no longer loved, there’s no reason they should stuff up the landfill when there are so many more helpful and creative ways to part with them!