You’re familiar with the recycling symbol and likely have a colorful trash bin where all your plastics, cans, and paper items get tossed. But there are a range of items throughout your home that you may overlook, not realizing that there are organizations eager to receive them for their recycling programs.
There are some items you use every day like your glasses or your clothes hangers. But there are some other items you’re likely to trash without a second thought that could find life elsewhere (like broken crayons, for instance). Learn which household items you can hand over to a recycling center to extend their life and prevent them from ending up in a landfill.
To compile this list of common household things you didn’t know you could recycle, 247 Tempo reviewed several companies and organizations that focus on recycling a range of items, including TerraCycle.
Clothes Hangers
There are some specialized recycling programs specifically for your clothes hangers. Some welcome your plastic hangers and retail stores may even set out bins for you to drop off your extras. If you have wire hangers, head over to a scrap metal facility, where they’re happy to make use of what you no longer need. If you have wood hangers that are in good working order, you may offer them to your local thrift store or other charitable organization that could make use of them. If you’re more interested in repurposing them, you have tons of options—just let your creativity take over.
Crayons
You have several avenues to select from when it comes to recycling crayons. There are organizations like the National Crayon Recycle Program that are happy to take your unwanted crayons. Those crayons go on to enjoy a second life as new products like those created by Crazy Crayons. They take these 100% recycled crayons, shape them into fun designs, and resell them for even more colorful enjoyment. You could also try donating your unwanted crayons at your local Staples because they have a writing tools recycling program. But if you want to make use of them on your own, try melting them down to reshape them yourself or add to your myriad craft projects.
Sneakers
Athletic shoes get a lot of wear and tear, especially if you’re active every day. They can get stinky, too. When you’ve exhausted your favorite pair, don’t throw them out. You can take them to a dedicated recycling center instead of letting them end up in a landfill. If there is still life in the shoes and you just upgraded to a newer pair, pass off the old ones to a charity organization. There is someone out there who would be happy to give them a new life. Some other organizations that are happy to take your used sneakers include Soles4Soul, TerraCycle, GotSneakers, and Nike Reuse-a-show and Nike Grind.
Wine Corks
You stock your favorites, enjoy glasses with friends and family on your downtime, and end up with a host of corks. What to do with them? Well, there is ReCORK, a company that recognizes the value of the natural raw material of wine corks and transforms them into a range of footwear products. You can also recycle by using them in your compost, you can mail them into a company like CorkClub, you can break them down to use as mulch for your plants, or you can pop them into your craft room for use in a range of creative DIY projects.
Carpeting
Sometimes, recycling is easy. You pop the items into your recycle bin and set it out for curbside recycling. With other items like carpeting, it’s not always the simplest task. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible (and worth it for the environment). If the carpeting is still in good condition and you are just interested in letting your natural hardwood shine, donate it to an organization that can make good use of it like Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If you’re replacing it with new carpeting, the company that installs the new carpet can take care of your old one. You might also try checking with GreenWaste—they recycle both carpet and the foam padding that sits under it.
Hairdryers
This hair tool is a godsend when you need to get ready quickly and don’t want to show up looking like a wet rat. But they don’t last a lifetime. So, what do you do with your hairdryer when you’ve used up all the life it had in it? Don’t just toss it out. Consider taking it to your local recycling center—often they accept these items even if they are broken. You could also try looking for a local e-waste recycling program or check if the manufacturer has a take-back program. If those options aren’t available, take your used hairdryer to a scrap yard where it can be taken apart and all its components can be recycled.
Hair
This one you may not have even thought could be recycled. But hey, someone’s trash is another’s treasure. Take the organization, Matter of Trust, for example. They have developed a Hair Matters Program, and they make use of your hair for oil spills, soil mulch, and seagrass restoration. They operate with several goals in mind and can make use of your hair. If you don’t want to send it off to an organization, you can make use of it in composting. It helps break down and release nutrients into your soil. If you have enough hair to donate, you can offer it to an organization like Wigs for Kids. There are many uses for hair, so don’t be so quick to throw it out without a second thought.
Pet Food Bags
When deciding how to recycle pet food bags, check the packaging first. If the plastic is labeled either #2 or #4, you can recycle it with your other plastic bags. Just make sure it’s not wet and it’s clear of any dirt or debris. The pet food manufacturer may also have a free recycling program that you can take advantage of. Brands like Royal Canin, Wellness, and Purina are happy to help you recycle your pet food bags. There are also third-party websites that sell pet supplies like Pet Supplies Plus that offer a recycling program for not just pet food bags, but other items like litter bags. You might also try a paid recycling service like TerraCycle.
Old Mattresses
There are old mattresses that are torn, tattered, and stained. Those can go to a recycling center. Try Bye Bye Mattress to find one near you. You could also check with your city to inquire about their recycling programs. They may do a pick-up for you on a designated date. If you upgrade to a better mattress and the one you want to get rid of is still in good condition, you could donate it to a local charity where they give it to someone who would be happy to rest their head on it. If you’ve exhausted other options, reach out to a mattress removal service. They’ll take care of picking it up and transporting it responsibly.
Zipper-Style Sandwich Bags
Where you buy these zipper-style sandwich bags is often where you can recycle them, too: at grocery stores. Check your local grocery store’s recycling drop-off to determine if they accept these plastic bags. You can also check with 1-800-Recycling to determine where your closest plastic film recycler is located. You can also repurpose these at home and turn them into cold packs, use them for packaging, for making crafts, or whatever else your creativity drums up.
Brita Water Filters
With Brita filters, you can always go right back to Brita for recycling. They send you a pre-paid shipping label and you can ship it off to them with ease. You can also use TerraCycle—they’re happy to collect Brita water filters too. Although there are some paid options with TerraCycle, for Brita filters, shipping is free. All you have to do is download a shipping label and package your Brita products. They take care of recycling them for you.
Toothbrushes
You can recycle your toothbrushes, toothpaste cartons, and toothpaste tubes (along with the caps) with TerraCycle. This is a free recycling program and you get a shipping label to gather all those goods and send them out to be recycled. Some grocery stores and recycling centers are happy to take these also. Just be sure to call ahead and confirm. Aside from TerraCycle, certain companies have recycling programs you can take advantage of (Colgate and Tom’s of Maine are two popular ones). There’s one last place you can try: your dentist’s office. Sometimes, they develop programs for recycling oral hygiene products, including old toothbrushes.
CDs and DVDs
In today’s streaming era, CDs and DVDs feel like they’re from the dinosaur age. But you may have a collection stored somewhere in your home collecting dust. If you’re ready to part ways with these shiny discs, you have a couple of options. You can check with your local recycling center and confirm their requirements (you might need to remove CDs and DVDs from their cases, for instance). You could also donate your old favorites to thrift stores or repurpose them for DIY art projects. You may even be able to sell your CDs and DVDs to someone eager to give them a new life (and you can make some cash in the process).
Used Bras
Where in the world do you send used bras? Well, there is an organization called The Bra Recyclers, for one. All you have to do is wash them, fill out their recycling form, label your package, and mail it out. So long as the bras are wearable, you can also offer them up to charitable organizations like Bosom Buddies. If you’re looking for a recycling center, make sure you find one for clothing and textiles. And remember, you can always upcycle old bras and get creative with your sewing machine.
Cosmetics
When deciding how to recycle your cosmetics, first take a look at the packaging. Scan to find the recycling symbol and look for any recycling instructions. Some brands like M.A.C. Cosmetics run programs for recycling empty cosmetic containers. You may be able to drop off at a local store or mail in your items. If you have unopened products you wish to donate, call your local charity shops to determine if they’ll accept your items. If the items are used, you might offer them to a friend or someone in your community who is willing to accept used items. Many of the containers for cosmetics can be reused creatively at home, so you can always repurpose them as well.
Diapers
A poopy diaper can’t possibly be recycled, can it? You’d be surprised! Sometimes, it’s as easy as popping dirty diapers (so long as they’re biodegradable) into your waste bin with other compostable materials and setting them out on the curb for pick up. You might also check with the manufacturer, as they may offer a recycling service (for a fee). If you use cloth diapers, you can recycle them with the company Cotton Babies. For other types of diapers, there is the “knowaste recycling process,” during which diapers are broken apart, sent to a pulper, sanitized, and processed.
Shower Curtains
Yet again, TerraCycle has an option to help you recycle not just your shower curtains but also your other bathroom items. Just request a Bathroom Accessories Zero Waste Box from this company and load it up with the items you would like out of your home (and out of landfills). If you want to repurpose your shower curtains, you can use them in kid’s playrooms to provide a safe space for crafting (that keeps your floors clean). They work well for keeping weeds from mulched beds and can help in various settings to protect items from moisture.
Razors
If you have a Gillette razor or razor blade, you’re in luck. They’ve set up a free recycling program through TerraCycle. All you have to do is download the tracking label, package your items, and ship them off so they can take care of recycling them for you. Metal dealers may be interested in your razor blades. Recycling centers accept razors and some drugstores may offer recycling as well. Just be sure to call ahead and confirm before heading out.
iPhones
With a new model released almost every year, you can imagine how many old cell phones are floating around in shoe boxes under beds, stacked on shelves in closets, and left to be forgotten in storage rooms. Apple offers free recycling for iPhones so you don’t have to put too much effort into finding a location that accepts your old phones. You may even be eligible for a discount on a new phone with your trade-in. Amazon also has a trading program where they take your phone and give you a gift card in return. Just be sure you perform a hard reset before handing over the phone so your data is fully deleted.
Prescription Bottles
Some organizations accept empty prescription pill bottles like ASPCA, Matthew 25: Ministries, and select CVS and Walgreens locations. Check the type of plastic to confirm they’re #1 or #2 plastic and hand them over to your local recycling center. Sometimes, they accept other types of plastics (just be sure to confirm). No matter which route you take for recycling, make sure your prescription bottles are empty, clean, dry, and stripped of any personal information.
Glasses
Your state may have a recycling program designed specifically for eyeglasses. For example, in North Carolina, there is the North Carolina Lions Foundation that cleans, tests, and classifies plastic frame glasses so they can be sent abroad to aid with medical missions. Recycline is a website you can check out to find a local optician who accepts old glasses. Some manufacturers are happy to take back your old glasses as well. Plus, you can always donate to a local charitable organization (like Goodwill) that distributes them to those in need.
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