There's at least one place here (in Australia, alas, for you US folks) that takes a whole lot of odd stuff, which they then sell to artists and school teachers. They're called That's Not Garbage, and while they did once have a website, they've recently changed hands. But ours in this state was copied from another in another state, so there may be some in the US as well.

They take clean industrial waste (like the foil offcuts they used to stamp milk bottle tops out of), bits and pieces of just about anything non-toxic, ribbons, sequins, bits of interesting paper, containers, store dummies, anything. Artists and wee schoolkiddies get inspiration and cheap materials, and we get a lovely warm feeling that we've disposed of Stuff in ways that won't use up landfill. Plus if you're a bit of a geek, it's really interesting to wander through the warehouse to see what they've got this week.

If you don't have any in the US, maybe some of you might be inclined to start one? Just a thought.

Oh, and animal shelters will always need clean bedding: blankets, fluffy things, general warm-n-softness, but not pillows because the dogs chew 'em.

Other than that, Freecycle rules. And Goodwill and its confreres.