15 Common Household Items Most People Don’t Know Can be Recycled
We think throwing plastic bottles and giving away newspapers is all there is to recycling, but a lot is lying in our house that can give back to Mother Nature. You’d be surprised how many mundane and random household things can be repurposed. While many household items can’t be recycled, you can separate the components and consult the nearest recycling facility. Here are the 15 most common household items most people don’t know can be recycled:
Books
Although giving away their books is the biggest heartbreak for bookworms, it’s also a great way to give back to the environment. You can donate all books to a local library or even put a shelf in your yard, asking neighbors and passers-by to look. This way, you’ll also inspire other bookworms to do the same and give back to the community. It will also encourage reading in youngsters.
Crayons
Who knew the crayon bits your kids throw all over the sofa could be turned into something else to draw with? If you’ve got multiple teeny tiny crayon bits and no idea how to recycle, peel off the paper and melt the crayons into a single container. You can even use chapstick tubes to store it; you’ll get a new crayon with double the recycling efforts.
Makeup
Most of us tend to let our makeup go to waste and eventually chuck it into the bin when we’re done using it, but empty containers can be recycled. Brands like MAC, Kiehl’s, Aveda, and Lush take back their empty containers, so you’ll directly contribute to efficient recycling. Some brands even offer recyclable makeup containers so you can quickly sort them out once they’ve been used up.
Game Consoles
If you’re tired of upgrading your kid to the next gaming console because their old ones collect dust in a corner, pick them up and visit your nearest Best Buy, which accepts used consoles for repurposing. You can also recycle controllers, CDs, and old DVDs at Blu-Ray. If you cannot recycle, you can visit the nearest children’s hospital or orphanage or connect with charities to donate these items.
Holiday Lights
You can reuse the copper wire from holiday lights or recycle it separately. Many recycling facilities process the plastic parts of holiday lights into smaller pellets, which are later repurposed. The burned-out light bulbs can be exchanged with newer bulbs or sent to the nearest recycling facility.
Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foil and other aluminum products can be recycled as long as they’re not contaminated with food particles. Clean any food residue from the aluminum foil before recycling it. If you’re dealing with aluminum cans, avoid crushing them because it can make recycling difficult.
Mattresses
Don’t get rid of your wonky mattress; it can be repurposed in various ways. The foam and fibers in mattresses can be recycled into new fabric (depending on the material; be sure to check in with your recycling facility), while metal springs and other components can be processed into metal products.
Wine Corks
Although most wine corks (whether metal or cork) cannot be recycled, one company in Texas is doing its best to do so. Cork Club collects all sorts of wine corks from environment-conscious folks and redirects them to artists and builders who can use them in special projects.
Electronics
We’ve all got an old iPad or phone sitting somewhere in our cupboard, collecting dust. And while electronics aren’t 100% recyclable, you can redirect them to companies dedicated to preserving the environment. The EPA has suggested a list of manufacturers that will gladly take your old electronics off your hands.
Tires
If you have a couple of old tires camping out in the garage, it’s time to repurpose them. Keeping old tires can be dangerous because rodents and other pests can make their homes inside these rubber rings. Instead, either fashion a tire swing or send the tires to the original manufacturer; they’ll repurpose them for use elsewhere. The melted tires can also be used in construction.
Old Shoes
You’ll be glad to know many shoe brands are willing to take old pairs to recycle. The canvas can be repurposed into textiles, while the rubber soles can be melted and used in construction and similar projects. Many companies like Nike even started their own initiative to counter environmental degradation; all you need to do is visit the nearest branch and mention old shoes.
Wine Bottles
Regular glass isn’t the only one that can be recycled; wine bottle glass can also be melted to be repurposed. But that’s not all; if you’re dealing with shattered or broken glass, don’t toss it in the bin since it can cut waste workers. Instead, visit a local glassblower or the nearest Kroger’s; both are eager to utilize broken glass.
Paint
Most paint contains hazardous chemicals, so you can’t just hand it over to a recycling facility and call it a day. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t repurpose paint altogether; you can connect with local shelters, charities, schools, or churches to see if they’re taking paint donations. If they’re not, you can always turn to a local recycling facility to ask about the proper measures.
Carpets
Carpet waste alone contributes to 1% of municipal solid waste by weight, so getting rid of your carpet by tossing it in the garbage or throwing it out the streets isn’t helping anyone. You can send it over to a recycling facility so it can be repurposed into smaller carpets and other textile scraps. Sometimes, a carpet can even be repurposed into non-textile parts.
Motor oil
The EPA recommends storing your used motor oil until you find a recycling facility willing to repurpose it. If you can’t locate a facility, you can look up the nearest one on Earth911. Used motor oil can be refined into lubricant and sent to willing petrochemical companies. Additionally, motor oil even contains metallic components that can be filtered out and used as scrap feed by steel industries.
Source: Source 1 and Source 2.
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Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.