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Indiana Living Green shares these suggestions with our readers as part of America Recycles Day, Nov. 15. They come from RecycleBank in the United Kingdom and 25 states, which offers five things you should always recycle.
Five things you should always recycle
Chances are you're already recycling the cans, bottles and paper, but what about all that other stuff that's lurking in your drawers or closets, such as outdated gadgets and dead batteries, which you are not sure how to recycle?
The following household items are especially important to donate or recycle because they contain materials that can contaminate the environment if they wind up in landfills. Or the items can be reclaimed easily for use in new products. Here are some convenient ways to keep them out of the trash:
Electronics — Many office supply stores and electronics stores will accept larger electronics, such as desktop computers for recycling for a small fee (usually $10) and smaller ones like cell phones and PDAs for free. Many cell phones can be donated to women’s shelters. Other places include Goodwill Industries.
Rechargeable batteries — Cordless phones and power tools, digital cameras and dozens of other gizmos can be recycled for free at 30,000 drop-off points nationwide, including retailers such as Home Depot, Lowe's, RadioShack, Sears, and Target. Enter your zip code at Call2Recycle to find a place near you.
The Indianapolis Marion County Public Library accepts single use, or or alkaline batteries. Other sources may be found at Call2Recycle or Earth911.
Like many electronics, batteries contain heavy metals and other chemicals best kept out of the waste stream. Plus, recyclers reclaim metals from them that are used to make, for example, new batteries and steel.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs — Although they use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, they contain a small amount of mercury and shouldn't be thrown in the trash. Take them to any Home Depot or Ikea store for recycling. Or check with Lamp Recycle to find more drop off locations. CFLs in landfills can break and release mercury, a neurotoxin, into the environment.
Plastic bags — Even if you've switched to reusable bags for your shopping, you probably have a bunch of these stored in your home. Luckily, lots of retailers like Wal-Mart and Kroger have bins where you can recycle plastic grocery bags, usually in the stores. In many of their parkings lots and in parking losts of many other locations. To find a drop off location near you, go to Plastic Bag Recycling or Earth 911.
Plastic bags are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, and when thrown away, they take a very long time to decompose. Recyclers will turn them into new products like plastic lumber.
Anything you don't need that could be of great value to others — For instance, you can donate your used prescription glasses to the nonprofit OneSight at any LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sunglass Hut, Target Optical, or Sears Optical location. Check out One Sight for more locations. The glasses and medications will be distributed to people in need in developing countries.
You can also donate unused, unexpired medications including antibiotics, pain relievers and others by mailing them to the the Health Equity Project. Also keep an eye and ear open because some local retailers, such as Marsh stores, will accept medications during special promotions.
Keep in mind that you should always recycle hazardous substances like paint, pesticides, propane gas tanks and motor oil at your town's household hazardous waste collection events or permanent collection center. Go to Earth 911, or call (800) CLEANUP to find collection sites and events.
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