The kids moved on, but the bricks didn't move out. Here are the five real options — what each one takes, and what you get back.
The short answer:
Don't throw LEGO® bricks away — they can't be recycled curbside, and they're worth money. If you want cash, sell them by the pound (no sorting needed). Donation options like LEGO Replay, a local charity, or a school exist too, but selling is the only one that puts money back in your pocket.
If your goal is to clear out the bins and get something back, selling is the obvious move. You don't need to know which sets you have, hunt down instructions, or photograph anything for a marketplace listing.
With Sell Bricks Online, you box up your loose bricks exactly as they are, print the free prepaid shipping label we email you, and drop the box at any UPS location. We weigh and inspect your bricks and pay you by the pound within 5 business days.
LEGO Replay is the LEGO Group's own donation program, where used bricks are cleaned, sorted, and passed on to children's nonprofits. It exists and it's legitimate — worth knowing about — though it's donation-only, so you won't be paid for what you send.
Note: Replay is donation-only. LEGO's paid trade-in pilot (Brick Take Back) has ended, so there's currently no way to get paid by LEGO directly for old bricks in the U.S.
Local charities and thrift shops sometimes accept clean toys, so a bin of LEGO can find a use this way. Call ahead — many locations have limits on loose toy donations, and you won't receive anything in return.
Teachers love LEGO for STEM activities and indoor recess, and most school budgets don't stretch to new sets. A quick email to a local school or daycare can find your bricks a busy second life. Again — ask first so they're expecting the delivery.
The classic move. LEGO bricks made decades ago still connect with bricks made today, so a hand-me-down bin is a real gift, not a consolation prize. If there's a niece, nephew, or neighbor kid in the picture, this one costs nothing and means a lot.
You want cash with zero effort
Sell them to us — free shipping, paid by the pound.
You want them to reach kids in need
Donate through LEGO Replay or a local children's charity.
You want to support your community
Offer them to a nearby school, daycare, or library.
There's a kid in the family
Hand them down — bricks from any era still fit together.
Wondering why you can't just recycle them? Read our LEGO recycling guide.
See what your bricks are worth and get a free prepaid shipping label in minutes.