RECYCLING PART II - ODDBALL ITEMS

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:

1. Decide if it falls into the 'basic' category.  If it does, great.  Simply recycle it as discussed in Recycling Part I - At Home Basics.
2. If the answer is no, then we come to todays discussion: is it hazardous waste or is it recyclable a special way?

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.

• Automotive Products (antifreeze, fluids, motor oil, oil filters, gasoline, polish and wax) -  Find out where to recycle motor oil and filters through The American Petroleum Institute.  Find out where to recycle all other automotive fluids at Earth911 Auto Fluids Recycling.
  
• Vehicle Batteries (auto, marine, ATV, ride on mower).  Find a location to recycle them near you through Johnson Controls.
• Tires - Find out where to recycle them through the EPA.
• Fluorescent Light Bulbs and CFL's - Find out where to recycle at Recycle A Bulb.
• Household Cleaners (ammonia, drain cleaner, rust remover, tile/shower cleaner and more) - *Contact your local waste facility for disposal.
• Mercury Containing Items: thermometers, thermostats - *Contact your local waste facility for disposal.
• Paint Products (oil-based paint, spray paint, caulk, wood preservative, wood stain) - note that latex paint is water based and can be disposed of with regular garbage after cleaning. *Contact your local waste facility for disposal.
• Garden Chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, insecticides) - *Contact your local waste facility for disposal.
• Swimming Pool Chemicals - *Contact your local waste facility for disposal.
• Sharps (needles and lancets) and Pharmaceuticals - *Contact your local police department or waste facility for disposal.

*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).  

---

This is the label on my bin.

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!

• Plastic Shopping Bags and Zip -Lock Type Plastic Baggies (Plastic #4)
• Ink & Toner Cartridges (I take mine to Staples for $2 in Staples rewards each)
• Wires, Cords, Cables
• Remote Controls and Game Controllers
• Rechargeable Batteries
• CD's, DVD's, and Cases
• Old Gift Cards

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):

• Televisions, DVD, VHS, and Blu-ray Players, Set-top Boxes and more
• I-Pod's & MP3 Players, Chargers, and MP3 Speakers, CD Players, Turntables, Speakers, and more
• Boomboxes, Alarm Clocks, Personal Recorders, Satellite Radio, and more

• CB radios, Scanners, Radar Detectors, Dashboard and Overhead DVD Players, GPS Units and more
• Digital Cameras, Lenses, Camcorders, Digital Photo Frames, Binoculars, Memory Cards and more
  
• Cell Phones, Chargers, Headsets, Two-way Radios, Calculators, Shredders, E-readers and more
• Game Consoles, Hand Held Games, Games, Accessories and more
• Computers (desktops, laptops, tablets, netbooks, LCD and CRT monitors, motors, routers, hubs, hard drives and much more!)
• Hair Dryers, Curling Irons, and Flat Irons, Vacuums, Fans, Pedometers, Heart Monitors and more

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!

Other Recyclable Items:

• NON-Rechargable Household Batteries (AA, AAA, D, C, and 9V) - Check out The Big Green Box.  You can find a partial list of stores that participate on their website, but currently you must call  your local Whole Foods, IKEA, Walgreens, or other potential participants to see if they are actively accepting batteries to be recycled.  You can also find out about getting your own Big Green Box for your business or school.

• Plastics #5 (yogurt cups, fast food containers, etc) - Check out Preserve Products for a location where to recycle them near you.  They make them into toothbrushes (That you can also purchase!). Most Whole Foods have a box to recycle the #5 plastics.  

Have Something Not on the List?  
Check out Earth911's Recycling Center Search Guide.  You can find where to recycling numerous items in the following categories (And many things not mentioned too!):

• Automotive (tires)
• Construction (carpet, shingles)
• Electronics (large and small appliances and many, many other items)
• Glass (Not bottles and jars)
• Metals (aluminum foil, metals, steel)
• Paper (waxed cardboard and other odd items)
• Plastics (packing peanuts, caps, lids, wraps, and more)
• Odd Household Items (cooking oil, mattresses and more)

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!