Do you have old keys lying around that have no use? Instead of letting those old pieces of metal gather dust in your drawer, why not put them to use; they could be the “key” to helping others in need.

Keys for Hope, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit, collects keys, and melts them down to sell as scrap metal. They then take the profits and donate them to schools, shelters and various food pantries of your choice!

Another alternative is to taking your old keys to a local scrap metal merchant to sell.

If all else fails, keys can be recycled as mixed metals in a local Philadelphia recycling facility.

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Julia Knable was an Editorial Intern in 2014. She studied Marketing and Management Information Systems at the Fox School at Temple University. After a summer internship at Terracycle inspired her to learn about what she could do to help and protect our ever-changing planet, she ended up with a stint at Green Philly. Along with her passion for sustainability, Julia enjoys exploring Philadelphia and trying all the vegetarian hotspots she can get her hands on. View all posts by Julia Knable