33 Things You Can Recycle

If you’re like most, you drop your cans and bottles in the recycling can, grudgingly tie up your newspapers and drop everything at the curb every other Monday for the recycling crew to pick up. While this is certainly a help, it’s a mere drop in the bucket. There are other items going to waste or making up landfill because most of us don’t quite know what to do with them. You’d be surprised at some of the things you can recycle. I included links to more information when I could find them.

1. Eyeglassses -Old eyeglasses can be donated to a variety of organizations, most geared towards helping the elderly and underprivileged. Organizations include the Lions Club, The Gift of Sight and Sight First Recycling Center. Do an Internet search for the organization most convenient to you.
2. Hearing Aids – Like eyeglasse, there are so many people in need of hearing aids who can’t afford them . Donate your old hearing aids to the Lions Club, the Knights of Columbus, or Sertoma.
3. Washers, dryers, stoves and refrigerators - If the appliances still work, donate them to a local thrift shop or organization geared towards helping the underprivileged such as the Salvation Army. If the appliances are no longer in working order, place on your curb on bulk trash pickup day or drive to your local recycling center. Some charity organizations also accept donations of large appliances which they will either refurbish or sell for parts.
4. Bathtubs, toilets and sinks – Many architectural salvaging stores will purchase old bathroom fixtures. Contact your local recycling organization to learn how to drop off used fixtures.
5. Phone Books - If your local recycling center accepts phone books, drop them off there. Otherwise contact the closest Project ReDirectory center. Find your local center with an Internet search or by contacting the company issuing the directories.
6. Computers- There are a couple of ways to get rid of your old computer. If it still works, you can donate it to someone less fortunate. If it’s a dud, contact your local recycling center or computer retailer to see if they have computer recycling program. There are also several programs online to help you with this, start with ebay’s Rethink Initiative, Earth 911, the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition or the International Association of Electronics Recyclers.
7. Cell phones – Cell phones can be recycled so parts can be re-used or the whole phone refurbished. They are also organizations that give them to the underprivileged or those who will need them in case of emergency. For more information about recycling cell phones try Charitable Recycling which recycles items for charity groups, Cell Phones for Soldiers which enables or heroes to call home, or Cell for Cash which offers cash for cell phones, but I didn’t read up on it enough to see how it works.
8. Smoke detectors – Some smoke detectors can be returned to the manufacturer. Check with your manufacturer to see if the recycle your particular model. Some smoke detectors are considered hazardous waste because they contain small traces of Americium 241. If this is the case the manufacturer will recommend they’re disposed of as hazardoous waste.
9. Ink Cartridges – Most places that sell ink and toner cartridges will request you recycle your empty cartridges. Many of them also provide return box and postage.
10. Batteries – If you’re not already using rechargeable batteries, please consider doing so. Most recycling centers will accept batteries, depending on the type. For more about recycling the different types of batteries including cell phone and car batteries, visit Earth 911.
11. Telephones – There are places willing to buy back or accept donations of old telephones. These places refurbish old phones or use the parts and casings for other things. To find out how to dispose of your old telephones, do an Internet search.
12. Magazines – Take these to the recycling center or see if a hospital, senior citizen home or library can use them.
13. Packing foam and peanuts – Many recycling centers accept packing foam and peanuts and even used bubble wrap. Many shipping centers also accept these materials. Call your local shipping center for details.
14. Fluorescent Bulbs – Fluorescent light bulbs contain Mercury which is considered hazardous waste. The mercury in bulbs can be used to make new bulbs. Don’t throw your bulbs in the trash, contact your local recycling center to ask for their hazardous waste recommendations. Also, many hardware and home improvement stores will accept flourescent bulbs for recycling. Some places do charge if you won’t be exchanging it for a new bulb. LampRecycle.org lists businesses and organizations that will recycle these bulbs.
15. Paint - Paint is also considered hazardous waste, never ever dump paint down a drain or sewer. Earth 911 lists many of the ways one can recycle paint or drop off at your local hazardous waste center.
16. PDAs - Personal Digital Assistants can recycled for parts or refurbished. You can contact the manufacturer and ask if they take back old PDAs for recycling. You can also visit Earth 911, Recycle Free and Evironment, Health and Safety Online for more details.
17. Motor Oil - Most auto centes have a receptacle for motor oil dumpage. Please don’t dump motor oil into the sewer, ground or drain or throw in the garbage as it’s harmful to the environment. Besides, it can be cleaned and reused, saving our resources.
18. Cars - Lots of charities will pick up donated cars, even if they don’t run. There are dozens of organizations listed online and your favorite charity is sure to be included. You can also recycle specific parts and metals by dropping your old cars at a scrap yard.
19. Books – If you no longer want your books, first try donating them to hospitals, libraries, senior citizen homes, schools and used book stores. If no one will take the books, they can generally be placed in your weekly recycle pile.
20. Carpets, Rugs, Padding - There are places that will try to recycle used carpets and rugs rather than toss them into landfill. To recycle yours (depending on your area) try checking with the Carpet America Recovery Effort, UGA Carpet Recycling Resource, the California Intergrated Waste Management Board or any other number of organizations geared towards recycling.
21. Clothes - Don’t throw old clothes away. You have so many choices! There’s consignment shops, thrift shops, freecycle, and the good old fashioned supermarket parking lot clothing bin. You can also cut your old clothes into rags rather than use paper towels, or make clothes, pillows, bags or other items from your old discards.
22. Plastic Bags – Every supermarket has a bin located at the front for dropping off your plastic bags, even those that are torn. You can also make things from old supermarket plastic bags.
23. Albums and CDs - Bring your old albums and CDs to rare or second hand record shops. You can also reuse your CDs as other things, for instance coasters.
24. Clothing Hangars – First contact your local dry cleaner. Many of them would love to have your old hangers! If not, drop them at your recycle center where the metal can be reused for something else.
25. Christmas Trees - If you have an axe and chipper shredder, you can mulch your tree branches and use the wood for firewood. Even if you have no use for these, you can let someone else have it. Many towns also have Christmas tree recycling programs where they make mulch.
26. Leaves - Use your leaves for compost and mulch.
27. Barbecue propane tanks - There are plenty of places locally that will take your propane tanks. Do an Internet search or contact your propane dealer or recycling center for details.
28. Sewing machines – If sewing machines still work donate them to senior citizen centers, hospitals, thrift shops or organizations catering to the needy. If the machines don’t work, the parts can be recycled anywhere they accept scrap metal.
29. Mattresses - Mattresses can be recycled. They’re cleaned, sanitized, restuffed and resold or donated to charitable organizations and homeless shelters. For a mattress recycler near you do an Internet search, they’re all over.
30. Televisions – Used televisions can be donated to various charitable organizations. Also, hospitals, homeless shelters, senior citizen homes, assisted living centers and more. Many places delivering new televisions will take away the old to donate or use for parts. You can also check with your local recycling center and scrap metal yards. I read of one person who gave away the “guts” of his television and used the rest for an aquarium.
31. Fencing – Contact your local recycling center or bulk waste center to learn how to dispose of your old fencing material.
32. Fire extinguishers – Contact your hazardous waste center to learn how to recycle your fire extinguisher.
33. Grass clippings - Use your old grass clippings for mulch and compost. Dried grass can also be used to line certain small animal cages.

Can you think of other things we can recycle?