Recycle Household Items & Reduce the Trash Pile
It's amazing what can be made into something new. To recycle household items like hangers and books, see our list below.
A Few Recycling Tips for Newcomers:
Check your county's recycling center or Earth 911 for information in your area. Many programs provide free recycling bins. Also check local rules before tossing these random items in with your curbside pick-up.
Keep a separate container for items that can be recycled, but not in curbside programs. We use a miscellaneous bin to recycle household items. This holds anything that doesn't fall in the plastic, glass, paper or aluminum category.
Recycle Household Items
Aerosol Cans
These can sometimes be recycled with other cans. They must be completely empty and the plastic spout torn off.
Books
Books can be donated to local thrift stores. Paperbacks in bad condition can usually be recycled with other paper products. Remove hardback covers before adding the pages to your paper bin.
Cleaning Spray Bottles
Many of these can be recycled with other plastic containers. You can also rinse and reuse them for homemade natural cleaners. Wash well to avoid any chemical reaction.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
These contain mercury and shouldn't be thrown in the garbage. Some hardware stores accept them. See Earth 911 for a location near you.
Crayons
Check out Crazy Crayons, a great program that will help involve your kids in the recycling process.
Deodorant Tubes
These are mostly made with a type of plastic that is hard to recycle. Check the bottom for a recycling number. If there isn't one, see if your local recycling program will accept them.
Eyeglasses
Instead of tossing them, donate eyeglasses to people in need. Check with your eye doctor or drop them off at Sears or Target Optical. They will send them to the Gift of Sight Foundation. To donate eyeglass frames by mail, see New Eyes for the Needy.
Flatware
If they are metal, you can typically toss old forks and spoons in with other scrap metal.
Glue
The glue itself can't be recycled, but many of the containers can. Some schools have recycling programs for empty containers of Elmer's glue. If yours doesn't, find out how to recycle old glue sticks and bottles at Elmer's Glue Crew.
Hangers-Plastic
Plastic hangers aren't recycled in many programs, but thrift stores usually accept them. Save time and garbage bags by donating clothes directly on the hangers.
Hangers-Wire
Wire hangers can be recycled with other household metals. Remove the cardboard first and recycle it with other paper products.
Hearing Aids
Like eyeglasses, the Lion's Club accepts hearing aids and provides them to people in need. Check donateglasses.net for a location near you.
Keys
Every time we move, our collection of mysterious keys multiplies. If you have an old coffee can full of keys that you are ready to part with, they can be recycled with other scrap metals.
Lotion Bottles
If you already recycle plastic bottles and containers, you can probably add lotion bottles to the same bin for curbside pick-up. Check the recycle number on the bottom of the bottle to be certain.
Mirrors
Mirrors in good condition can be donated to thrift stores. They can't be mixed in with glass because they contain additional chemicals.
Nail Clippers
Nail clippers can be recycled with other scrap metals.
Pens & Pencils
Pens and pencils usually aren't recycled. They can be given to thrift stores or donated to schools.
Shampoo Bottles
Like lotion bottles, most shampoo bottles can be added to a bin with other plastics for curbside pick-up. Check the recycle symbols on the bottom of containers to make sure.
Six Pack Plastic Rings
Some schools recycle plastic rings through the Ring Leader Recycling Program. If yours doesn't, this is a great way to involve your kids in recycling.
Soap Dispensers
These can usually be tossed in with other plastics. Check the recycle symbol on the bottom to be sure.
Swim Floats & Gear
If your plastic rafts and beach balls are in good shape, store them for next season or donate them to your local thrift store. If you inflatable no longer hold airs, recycle them at your local center.
Umbrellas
If you have a metal umbrella that's broken, remove the fabric and recycle the remains with other scrap metal.
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