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When in doubt, don't just throw it out! Have you ever thrown out any of the items in the picture above? Well, all of those items are either recyclable or residential hazardous waste. Yes, hazardous waste! Bottom line: none of them should be going in the regular garbage or into a landfill. Especially the hazardous waste which can leach out of the landfill and into the groundwater. I certainly don't want any of them in my drinking water! In my last post Recycling Part I - At Home Basics we discussed the basics of recycling aluminum and tin cans, plastics #1 and #2, glass jars and bottles, paper, and corrugated cardboard. Today we will talk about the other garbage, the oddball stuff that also includes hazardous waste. Getting Rid of Garbage Step by Step:
![]() Hazardous Waste Products Household hazardous waste (HHW) is any household product that contains corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients. These are items that should NEVER be put in the regular garbage. Town waste facilities provide a means for disposing of most hazardous waste, so you should be able to take all of these there. However there are few things that may be more difficult to recycle and for those I provide some alternatives.
*As stated earlier, local waste facilities usually manage the collection of the hazardous products mentioned above (as well as others). My facility requires proof of residency and that the products are placed in sealed plastic bags. All products must also be in the original labeled container. Whatever is necessary to properly dispose of the hazardous waste is worth it. These items should NEVER be in a landfill that could leach into the groundwater (and ALL landfills will eventually leach). Miscellaneous Recyclables These are items that usually must be recycled in a special way. I simply keep a bin - see the label I use above - in my house and just put these items into it as I go. When I know I am going to be at or near one of the locations I take the items with me to drop off! Simple! Best Buy Recycling Kiosks: The kiosks are right in the front of the store. I love this because it's a one-stop-drop! Simple!
NOTE: If it the item is in working order, wait for Recycling Part III - Selling & Donating! E-Waste Recycling through Best Buy Recycling: Just click on the link, choose your state, and then choose the item you want to recycle. Most items are free to recycle, but there are some exceptions so it is best to check before you go. It's that easy! Here is a partial list of items they will take (they literally take hundreds of items):
They DO NOT take large or small kitchen appliances. Don't Want to Bring Your E-Waste to Best Buy? Then check out the EPA's Donation/Recycle E-Waste to find other locations near you! NOTE: If any products are in working order, wait for Recycling Part III - Selling or Donating!
Are You Part of An Organization? Terracycle collects large amounts of a particular type of waste and gives proceeds to a cause of your choice – example: all Garnier Fructis Beauty Products or squeezable Juice containers. You just arrange to collect it, then mail it to them. Just go the site, select your waste, collect, and send. Simple! Sources: http://www2.epa.gov/recycle http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8817.html http://www.earth911.com http://www.wm.com/enterprise/municipalities/residential-solutions/household-hazardous-waste.jsp Coming Soon: Recycling Part III - Selling and Donating! Please like us on Facebook and sign up for our mailing list!
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Thanks for sharing this! It's great to see people discussing ways to improve recycling habits. For those looking for places to drop off recycling, check your local community centers, grocery stores, or waste management sites. Many towns also have designated drop-off locations listed on their websites.
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Hi there! I'm Kathie, the author behind Creating A Simpler Life blog. I'm excited to share our longterm projects (and planning) toward building our future retirement homestead in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. In the meantime I will be sharing all the other little things we do that are part of creating our simpler life!
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