What Happens to Lost Items That Can't Be Reunited With Their Owners?

What happens to lost baggage? What do hotels do with left-behind items?

Every day, thousands of items are lost in airports, hotels, restaurants, and public transit. The companies and agencies who find them do their best to reunite them with their owners, but many items remain unclaimed. 

The question for these organizations then becomes: what’s the best way to handle a growing pile of unclaimed belongings? Throwing everything away isn’t the answer — many items still have value and shouldn’t end up in the landfill. But storing them indefinitely isn’t feasible either, as that requires significant storage space and costs.

When it comes to managing unclaimed items, most businesses aim to balance operational efficiency, community benefit, and environmental responsibility. 

So, how long should you keep lost items, what can you do with unclaimed items, and what policies can streamline the process?

When Does “Lost” Become “Unclaimed”?

An item typically becomes “unclaimed” after a set holding period during which staff try to identify and contact the owner. Common holding periods range from 30 days (the standard for TSA lost and found) to 90 days (used by many airlines and hotels). 

The right timeframe for your business to hold onto items will depend on multiple factors, including typical claim rates and timelines, available storage space, staff capacity for managing lost and found items, and industry standards. If you're unsure about your typical turnaround time, consider using lost and found software to identify trends in your lost item process.

Regardless of what timeframe is right for your business, create a clear lost and found policy to ensure both staff and customers know what to expect. Key points to include:

• How long items will be held
• Notification and reunion attempts
• How unclaimed items are disposed of or repurposed
• Customer instructions for claiming items
• Storage or return fees, if any

Communicate your lost and found policy clearly across your website, signage, and guest materials. For example, a hotel lost and found policy might be included on the hotel's FAQ page, displayed at the front desk, and outlined in check-out reminder emails.

What Happens to Unclaimed Items?

Once the holding window closes and owners can’t be reached, next steps may include:

Donation

Items like clothes, books, reusable water bottles, headphones, and glasses can often be donated to local charities, shelters, or community centers. This supports community causes and keeps usable goods out of landfills.

Some donation programs focus on gently used electronics, but it's essential to completely clear all personal information and data before donating.

Resale

Items without personal information (or those that can be properly wiped) can be resold through platforms like the Unclaimed Baggage store or eBay. To ensure they’re ready for resale, these items must be cleaned, sanitized, and refurbished as needed. 

Some reselling programs even offer payments based on the item’s age and condition. For example, Reunitus offers flat-rate payouts for unclaimed electronics, depending on their quality, damage, and age.

Recycling

Electronics that are too damaged or outdated to be donated or sold should be recycled responsibly with a trusted eCycling program. When done correctly, eCycling prevents harmful chemicals from entering landfills and ensures that workers processing the items are properly equipped to handle hazardous materials safely.

Safe Disposal

As a last resort, items that can’t be donated, resold, or recycled (like damaged goods, certain personal items, or objects with hygiene risks) are disposed of in compliance with local regulations. 

How Lost and Found Services Help with Unclaimed Item Management

Managing unclaimed property can strain staff and storage. Many organizations turn to professional lost and found service providers, like Reunitus, to streamline the process, improve transparency, and support sustainability goals.

These providers sort, clean, refurbish, and channel items into donation, resale, or recycling — while maximizing value recovery and ensuring compliance with data and environmental requirements. 

For example, Reunitus’ services include:

• Omni-channel selling — We offer thousands of items daily to millions of customers through our retail store, online marketplace, and wholesale channels.
• Secure electronics refurbishing and recycling — Our team refurbishes electronics to their best-selling condition, adhering to the highest security standards with DOD and R2 certifications, and we responsibly recycle devices that can’t be refurbished.
• Expert authentication — We authenticate high-value and designer items and responsibly dispose of counterfeits.
• Appraisal — Our experts appraise and price high-value items to maximize their resale potential.
• Apparel laundering — We operate laundry facilities that handle cleaning, steaming, and pressing apparel to ensure it’s in top condition for resale.

Make the Most of Unclaimed Items

Unclaimed items don’t need to be a headache for your business. When managed properly, they can benefit your organization, your community, and the environment — without burdening your staff.

Reunitus handles everything from sorting and refurbishing to resale, donation, or recycling, all while maximizing value recovery, ensuring compliance, and supporting sustainability goals. 

Ready to maximize the value of your unclaimed items? Get in touch.