Ah yes, springtime ... when a family's fancy turns to thoughts of cleaning out the clutter and clearing away the junk.

Whether you're culling a crowded basement, a garage that's become more an outdoor storage space than a vehicle refuge or just an overstuffed closet, there are places, groups and organizations that will accept your stuff.

One person's trash is just another person's treasure -- at least until it goes unused for several years in the back of the new owner's closet and becomes trash again.

• The Vietnam Veterans of America's Household Goods Donation Program collects just about anything, including clothing for all family members, shoes, clothing accessories, house and glassware, kitchenware, books, toys, bikes, radios, stereos, portable televisions, bedding, baby items, draperies, curtains, usable small furniture and rugs, small appliances, tools, jewelry and cosmetics. And they're in special need of clothing. The sale of collected items raises funds for the organization.

"The driver will look for your donation from the street," the organization says on its Web site. "Please put it out, mark it for Vietnam Veterans of America or VVA, where it is clearly visible."

For more information visit www.clothingdonations.org/aboutprogram.htm or to schedule a pickup call 1-800-775-VETS (8387).

• The Salvation Army accepts clothing, furniture, appliances and toys that are clean and in good working condition at its drop-off locations. The organization also picks up donations in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Lawrence and Westmoreland counties.

For more information, visit www.salvationarmyarc.org or call 1-800-SATRUCK to schedule a pick-up.

• Goodwill accepts men's, women's and children's clothing, household items, such as kitchenware, knick-knacks, baskets, pictures, linens, books (especially large print), small appliances, furniture, automobiles, trucks, boats, trailers and bicycles. All donated items must be in good working condition.

Goodwill asks that people drop off their donations at one of their drop-off centers or one of their blue donation boxes.

For more information visit www.goodwillpitt.org or call 412-481-9005.

Goodwill also accepts some computer donations. For details about computer recycling, call 412-696-0908.

• The Society of St. Vincent de Paul accepts clean clothing, unbroken household items and used furniture in good condition.

Clothing and household items can be dropped off at one of the society's thrift stores in Monroeville, Sharpsburg, Penn Hills, Coraopolis and Butler or in one of the society's large blue drop boxes. For a list of drop boxes, visit www.svdppitt.org/donation_box_locations.html.

Furniture can be dropped off at one of the stores during regular business hours or you can call 412-321-1071, ext. 501 to schedule a donation pickup.

For more information visit, www.svdppitt.org.

• The Washington City Mission accepts gently used furniture, clothing and household goods that are in good/working condition.

The organization serves the South Hills area including Mt. Lebanon, South Park, Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, Canonsburg, Washington, McMurray and Venetia.

You can drop off your donations at one of the mission's drop-off locations or arrange for a pickup by calling 724-222-8530. For more information, visit www.citymission.org/donations.htm.

• FreeCycle.org is a national online clearinghouse of items people are giving away for free. People can join a local chapter and see what others in their area are giving away and post things they want to give away. For more information, visit FreeCycle.org.

• 1-800-GOT-JUNK, which bills itself as "the world's largest junk removal service," will remove from your home just about anything -- furniture, appliances, electronics, yard waste and renovation debris -- for a fee, determined by the volume of items you're discarding. Removal of a single item will cost $125 up to $578 for a full truckload of items.

"We do take anything and provide all the labor, sorting and disposal," said Matthew Earnest, general manager of 1-800-GOT-JUNK in the Pittsburgh area. "We'll take care of everything. We'll pick it up wherever it sits. They don't have to drag it to the curb."

They even clean up afterward, leaving the area broom swept.

Also, on April 19, 1-800-GOT-JUNK will host a Free E-Waste Day when you can dispose of electronics in a safe, responsible and green way. They'll accept any electronic device except televisions. The local drop-off site for Free E-Waste Day will be the Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd., Squirrel Hill, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.1800gotjunk.com.

• Looking for more places that will take old electronics? MyGreenElectronics.org and EcyclingCentral.com have searchable databases of local recycling centers nationwide.

• Construction Junction in North Point Breeze accepts recyclable building materials including cabinets, doors, plumbing fixtures, commodes, counter tops, sinks, tiles, concrete or glass block, light fixtures, shingles, siding, carpet, latex paint for re-blending in quantities of at least a half gallon and oil-based paints in full, unopened cans.

For more information or to schedule a pickup, call 412-243-5025 or visit www.construction-junction.org.

• In honor of Earth Day, West Penn AAA will sponsor the Great Battery Round-Up for old car batteries. The collection will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 23 at Jeff Critchlow Auto Body, 1798 Babcock Blvd., Shaler. It is open to the general public; you don't have to be an AAA member. Participants will receive an $8 bounty for each battery recycled or an $8 donation will be made to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The bounty only applies to the first three batteries recycled. AAA also will test your batteries at the recycling site to help drivers prevent replacing a battery that still has useful life in it.

• The Southwestern Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Task Force accepts chemical products including aerosol cans, automotive fluids, compact fluorescent bulbs, household cleaners, paint products, pesticides, photography chemicals, pool chemicals and even chemistry sets. However, they don't take items in leaky containers.

The group also sponsors household hazardous waste collection events. The next one will be held in Allegheny County from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, April 26, at the Settlers Cabin Park Wave Pool in Robinson. The disposal fee is $2 per gallon.

If you have a question about the products they accept, other collection events or simply want more information, call the HHW hotline at 412- 488-7452 or visit www.swpahhw.org