Everyone knows the basics of recycling. Plastic bottles go in the bin, paper gets sorted, and glass jars can find a new use, but what about other items that people can recycle? You can give many items a new life or purpose, which people might often overlook. Follow this guide to learn about five items that you didn’t know could be recycled.
1. Old Electronics and Cell Phones
Your old smartphone that broke contains precious metals like gold, silver, and other rare earth elements. So, instead of letting it collect dust in a random drawer, you can recycle it to help make new devices without the added waste.
Most major retailers now accept old electronics for recycling. Best Buy accepts computers, tablets, and phones, regardless of where you purchased them. Apple offers trade-in programs for its devices, and carriers like Verizon and AT&T accept phones from any brand.
2. Light Bulbs
Light bulbs are a commonly overlooked item when it comes to recycling. You can’t recycle traditional incandescent light bulbs, but other lighting options, such as fluorescent light bulbs, can be. In this situation, it is important to know how to dispose of and recycle fluorescent light bulbs.
Always check with your local waste management services to understand the recycling options available in your area for all types of light bulbs. This way, you know what you can and can’t bring in for recycling, and make one big trip instead of bringing individual items in a bunch of times.
3. Clothing
Americans discard a significant amount of clothing each year, but it can be recycled or repurposed instead of filling landfills. For clothing in poor condition, textile recycling bins are becoming more common in parking lots and community centers.
Different stores offer recycling programs for clothing. H&M accepts clothing from any brand for recycling at their store locations, offering discount coupons in return. Nike provides a specialized program for shoes, utilizing the material in innovative products such as playground surfaces and running tracks.
4. Office Supplies
Printer cartridges contain plastic and metal components that professionals can reuse multiple times, yet a lot end up in landfills each year. Many office supply stores accept empty ink and toner cartridges, allowing them to be properly recycled.
HP and Canon also operate their take-back programs, providing prepaid shipping labels for returning cartridges directly to the manufacturers. Your school or office can set up collection boxes for these hard-to-recycle items, making it convenient for everyone to participate and reduce waste in the office.
Make Recycling a Habit
Expanding your recycling efforts doesn’t require dramatic lifestyle changes. Starting with simple things that you didn’t know you could recycle, and focusing on disposing of them properly now, can help you make a difference. These small actions contribute to a more sustainable future while often being more convenient than you might expect.