These Items Don’t Belong in the Trash
Wondering what to do with that old mattress that clearly can’t go in the trash? You’re not alone. Many people have trouble disposing of unwanted items, but that means sometimes stuff ends up polluting the environment. Here’s a quick and handy guide to how to throw sway the most difficult stuff.
Mattresses
Old mattresses are bulky and annoying, but donating is the way to go if they’re still usable. Organizations like The Salvation Army will often pick it up for free. If it’s stained or ripped, you could take it apart and recycle the materials yourself, or hire a haul-away service.
Batteries
Single-use alkaline batteries can go in regular trash, but rechargeable, car, and lithium batteries need recycling. Drop off car batteries at auto parts stores, and bring rechargeables or lithiums to electronic stores or hazardous-waste sites
Light Bulbs
Most household bulbs -like incandescent, halogen, and LEDs -can be safely thrown out. But fluorescent bulbs, including CFLs and tubes, contain small amounts of mercury. They need to be recycled properly. Luckily, big-box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s often offer drop-off bins.
Tires
When you get new tires, ask your shop if they’ll recycle the old ones - many do automatically. If not, tire recycling is usually available but can cost quite a bit, since dumping them in landfills is banned in lots of places. If you have spare tires to get rid of, look for local recycling programs.
Appliances
Old appliances are heavy, no doubt, but easy to dispose of. Sell them - often buyers will pick them up - or recycle them. When buying new, retailers sometimes haul away and recycle the old ones at no cost. If all else fails, take them to a recycling center.
Motor Oil
If you’re changing your oil at home, store the used oil in a tightly sealed container and drop it off at an auto parts store for free. Oh, and don’t forget the oil filter - poke a hole in the top and drain it into the pan before recycling it too.
Toner Cartridges
Toner and ink cartridges aren’t hazardous to the environment, but recycling them is smart - and it could even net your some cash. Many office supply stores, like Staples, will give you store credit if you bring them in. Or, you can even sell them on eBay in bulk.
Cooking Oil
Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain - it clogs things up. Instead, pour it into a glass container and let it solidify. Once it’s hardened, toss the jar into the trash. You could even reuse the glass container afterward. Save yourself an expensive plumber’s bill by doing this!
Sensitive Documents
Don’t just toss documents with private info! If you have a shredder, fantastic. If not, soak them in a big bucket of water until the paper falls apart . Then drain it and toss the slushy mess. But be very, very careful not to destroy anything you may need in the future.
Old Gas
Old gas can degrade and mess with your engine. If it smells sour or has been sitting a while, don’t risk it - take it to a hazardous-waste center. If that’s not available, reach out to your local authorities for advice.
Glass
Glass is definitely recyclable, but you often need to separate it from other trash. Many towns offer glass recycling bins or drop-off spots - sometimes even with curbside pickup. It’s really easy: separate your bottles and jars, rinse ‘em, and drop them off.
Electronics
Old electronics are hazardous, so you need to dispose of them carefully. Best Buy and other big retailers will often recycle them, including TVs, printers, phones, and more. You can also sell used gadgets on eBay if you want to. Just be sure to back up and wipe personal data (factory reset if needed) before you do anything with them.
Yard Waste
After trimming branches or raking leaves, you’ve got yard waste to deal with. Rules vary about this stuff - some cities pick it up, others let you drop it at the dump. If you’ve got a truck, bring it to the local site. If not, see if your waste management offers curbside yard pickup.
Furniture
Furniture disposal is pretty similar to mattresses. You can donate it if it’s in good shape, so try putting it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. But also, many furniture stores will haul away your old stuff when delivering new items.
Paint
Paint is hazardous only when it’s wet. If you want to toss it, start by drying it out - mix it in kitty litter or let it sit uncovered until it solidifies. Then dry paint cans can go into the trash. But also bear in mind you can donate unused paint that’s just sitting there. Some schools, for example, would be glad to have it.
