Here’s How to Recycle Everything – TVs, Batteries, K-Cups, Bulbs & More!
Learn how to recycle responsibly.
Your big blue bin doesn’t do it all.
What can’t go in your curbside bin? Here’s what to do and how to recycle every material you’re unsure about so you can easily help save the planet with us!
America Recycles Day is on November 15th every year, but let’s make sure to recycle every day for the largest impact! 🌎
But first, it’s important to know why we should recycle.
Recycling is a “closed-loop system”. This means we are returning unwanted products back to manufacturers to create new products. This also means unwanted trash won’t be filling landfills and ending up on beaches.
Here’s what EcoCycle.org has to say about recycling:
Why we should recycle: Recycling saves resources, prevents pollution, supports public health, and creates jobs. It saves money, avoids landfills, and best of all, it’s easy. Nearly 90% of what we throw away could potentially be recovered through reuse, recycling, or composting.
The result of not recycling: Landfills are the largest source of human-caused methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
Here’s how to properly recycle common household items instead of trashing them:
1. How to recycle batteries.
Batteries contain critical minerals such as cobalt, graphite, and lithium that were once mined. When thrown in the trash, we lose these critical resources outright so it’s important to properly dispose of them so they can be reused.
Call2Recycle.org has a locator that will provide the closest certified battery electronics recyclers in your area and each location will specify the types of batteries they recycle.
Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should NEVER go in household garbage or recycling bins according to the EPA. Disposing of items containing lithium-ion batteries or the batteries themselves is a fire hazard because they can become damaged or crushed in transport or from processing and sorting equipment.
These types of batteries are typically found in electronics, toys, wireless headphones, handheld power tools, small and large appliances, electric vehicles, and electrical energy storage systems. For more information on properly recycling batteries, head to EPA.gov.
2. How to recycle plastic bottles.
There are many different types of plastics that may or may not be accepted in your curbside bin. (More on that in the next section.) However, the good news is that most plastic bottles and jugs are made of #1 plastic (PET) or #2 plastic (HDPE), which are both almost always accepted in curbside recycling bins. Bottles made from #3-#7 plastics are less common but typically cannot be collected curbside.
Call your local recycling facility or visit their website to find out what types of plastic bottles and jugs are accepted in your curbside bin.
*Compostable plastics are not intended for recycling and can contaminate and disrupt the recycling stream.
Hip Fact: Did you know when you recycle plastic bottles they’re recycled into carpets, clothing, auto parts, new bottles, and more? More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day. That’s a total of about 22 billion in a year. 😳 You can also use a reusable bottle daily to help cut down on plastic waste.
3. How to recycle plastic bags, wraps, films, and other plastics.
Plastic bags, wraps, and films cannot be recycled in your curbside bin at home. However, nearly all plastics can be recycled at specific facilities that aren’t accepted in your curbside bin. The good news is that there are numerous retail stores that offer plastic recycling, including many major grocery stores.
Recyclable plastics vary greatly by area, so you should call your local recycling facility to understand what’s accepted in your curbside bin.
For specific non-curbside plastic items, search your zip code on Earth911 for each item to find your nearest location. On the left column click “Plastics” and find the items you’re looking for.
Below is a list of plastics that need to be recycled responsibly:
- Air pillows (often comes in packages)
- Black plastic, bags, film, and wrap (all black-colored plastics have recycling limitations so be sure they’re accepted by your local facility)
- Bread bags
- Bubble wrap
- Case wraps (often found on cases of water, sports drinks, etc.)
- Plastic cereal box liners (if it’s the kind that tears easily do not recycle)
- Dry cleaning bags
- Food storage bags (zip-top closure bags, etc.)
- Furniture & electronic wrap
- Newspaper bags
- Packing Peanuts (AKA packing popcorn)
- Plastic shipping envelopes (remove shipping labels before recycling)
- Plastic utensils (the majority are made of polystyrene, aka styrofoam. Forks and knives made of plastic can jam machinery in the MRF and are often considered a top source of contamination.)
- Produce bags (often found on bags of potatoes, etc.)
- Product overwrap (often found on paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, disposable cups, etc.)
- Shopping bags (from grocery stores, retailers, etc.)
- Any other film packaging or bag that has the “How2Recycle” label
*All food must be cleaned out of plastic items before recycling. This is not a complete list of plastics. For a specific item not listed, contact your local recycling facility.
The following plastic items should not be included:
- Candy bar wrappers (not recyclable; throw them in the trash)
- Chip bags (not recyclable; throw them in the trash)
- Degradable/compostable bags or film packaging (not recyclable; home compost or throw them in the trash)
- Frozen food bags (not recyclable; throw them in the trash)
- Six-pack rings (these can be recycled in programs that accept low-density polyethylene resin)
*Some brands may vary depending on their packaging so always check your bags first before throwing them away.
4. How to recycle Nespresso pods and K-Cups.
Nespresso Pods:
They’re made from aluminum making them infinitely recyclable. You can put them in your curbside bin or check out Nespresso’s Recycling Program where they send you a free bag with a prepaid shipping label to send in used pods for recycling. They use recycled pods to make new ones!
K-Cups:
K-cups are contributing to a huge amount of plastic waste. In fact, the number of K-Cups that have been trashed in landfills could wrap around the planet 10 times! 😱 Thankfully, Keurig has a recycling initiative that makes the process a little easier.
All lids are easy-peel and made of aluminum as of November 2021 so they can be put in your curbside bin. The K-Cups themselves are made of polypropylene (#5 plastic) so not all areas will accept these in your curbside bins. Check with your local recycling facility or find the nearest recycling facility that will accept this type of plastic by searching your zip code on Earth911.com.
5. How to recycle TVs and other electronics.
Electronics cannot be recycled in your curbside recycling bin, but they can be dropped off at specific collection sites. Similar to batteries, electronic items contain many valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass so proper recycling is crucial. It’s also important to remove any batteries from your electronics as they may need to be recycled separately. Remember to delete all of your personal information as well.
Search your zip code at Earth911.com to learn how to responsibly recycle any electronic item in your area (including computers, TVs, tablets, phones, and more).
Hip Fact: Recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 U.S. homes in a year, according to EPA.org. For every million cell phones we recycle, 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. 🤯
6. How to recycle paper, books, and cardboard.
Paper is considered a household recyclable and can be placed directly into your recycling bin for proper disposal. In some areas, you may even have a separate yellow-colored paper recycling bin that stays separate from other recyclables.
Here’s a common list of paper items that can be recycled:
- Books (remove hardcovers before recycling and donate perfectly good books if you can)
- Boxes
- Cardboard
- Cardboard takeout containers (remove all food)
- Catalogs
- Cereal Boxes (some brands may not be recyclable)
- Computer paper
- Gift wrap (shiny or laminated coating cannot be recycled)
- Magazines
- Mail (even envelopes with plastic windows)
- Newspaper
- Office paper
- Phone books
- Pizza boxes (even with grease, but remove all food)
- Shredded paper
*Check with your local recycling program to see if they recycle these common items as each region could vary.
Paper items that typically cannot be recycled are coated and treated paper, paper with food waste, juice, paper cups, paper towels, and paper or magazines laminated with plastic. As a friendly reminder, try keeping cardboard outside of your bin from getting wet as this will make it easier for recycling facilities to recycle it.
Earth911 even has tips on how you can recycle your own paper at home.
Hip Fact: Did you know some grades of paper can be recycled up to seven times?! More than 5,000 products can be made from recycled paper, including masking tape, paper money, bandages, dust masks, hospital gowns, coffee filters, lampshades, car insulation, egg cartons, and more.
7. How to recycle clothes and textiles.
Clothing and other textiles cannot be recycled in your curbside bin, but whatever you do, don’t throw your clothes in the garbage either. There’s always a use for unwanted textiles and you can consign them locally for cash if they’re in good condition. You can also donate unsalvageable textiles to a local animal shelter. If clothes cannot be donated, you can consider ripping them into cleaning rags to use at home.
Thrift retailers, like Goodwill and Salvation Army, accept donations and have recycling programs that will properly recycle any textiles that cannot be resold. To learn other ways to recycle clothing and textiles Google clothing recycling programs near me.
The company For Days will give you a $20 credit to their store when you buy their Take Back Bag.
The company For Day is on a mission to end textile waste and will take any used items from your closet and in any condition including items that are ripped, torn, or stained in order to properly recycle them. This includes socks, underwear, sheets, pillowcases, towels, linens, shoes, handbags, and clothing! 😱
You do have to order a Take Back Bag for $20, however, you’ll get a $20 credit back to spend on future purchases. Plus, it’ll come with the option to print a mailing label or generate a USPS QR code for drop off so there’s no additional charge. If you plan on scooping up some new clothes from their site anyways, this is truly a no-brainer.
8. How to recycle styrofoam (AKA: polystyrene).
Styrofoam never degrades or breaks down over time so it’s crucial for our environment to recycle it properly. Unfortunately, only a very small number of facilities take this material so our best bet is to cut down on its usage entirely!
Of course, there are times we receive packages with tons of styrofoam or our takeout consists of it. In this case, your easiest solution is to search your zip code on Earth911 to find the nearest location.
Granted, I know this is a bigger hassle than throwing it in your curbside recycling, but if it makes you feel better, recycled styrofoam is able to be used to make insulation and office supplies.
9. How to recycle glass.
Glass is considered to be a household recyclable in most areas so you can typically place it right in your blue curbside recycling bin. Check with your local recycling company just to be sure it doesn’t need to go to a special facility. All glass items with food should be rinsed before being recycled.
For some glass items, you may even get paid to bring them back where you bought them from. My local grocery store gives you a $2 credit for each glass bottle you return so every time I go back for more raw milk or olive oil, it’s like getting $2 off each one! 👏🏻
10. How to recycle light bulbs.
Some bulbs contain harmful chemicals that are toxic for people, pets, and the environment so it’s important to know how to properly dispose of each kind.
Below is a list of bulbs that can be thrown in your household trashcan:
- Incandescent Bulbs – these can be thrown directly into your household trash because, in most cases, the amount of metal and glass is too small and complicated to recover by recycling.
- Halogen Bulbs – these can be thrown directly into your household trash as well because they have little environmental threat but are difficult to recycle.
Broken bulb? Wrap the pieces securely in heavy paper such as newsprint, so that glass shards don’t cut through the garbage bag.
*If you still insist on recycling a specific type of bulb that can be thrown away, check your local recycling center to see if they accept what you’re trying to dispose of.
Below is a list of bulbs that can NOT be thrown in your household trashcan and need to be recycled properly:
- CFL Bulbs & Fluorescent Tubes – CFLs and fluorescent tubes are considered to be hazardous waste. They both contain mercury which is toxic to humans and pets so they should never be thrown in household trash. When thrown in a landfill, the mercury can find its way into drinking water and groundwater. Many retailers like Lowe’s and The Home Depot recycle these bulbs or you can head to Earth911 and type in your zip code for the nearest recycling location. It’s VERY important to follow these EPA guidelines for any broken bulb containing mercury.
- LED Bulbs – LEDs contain tiny microchips that contain trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic so they need to be properly recycled as well. Many retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot recycle LEDs. Head to Earth911 to learn more.
11. How to recycle ink cartridges.
Ink cartridges are made of plastic so they can be recycled along with other plastic products. However, if you’re looking for a more responsible way to recycle them, you can recycle them at almost any participating office supply store such as Staples or Office Depot. You’ll even earn $2 in rewards points for every ink cartridge you recycle! 👏🏻
Even better, some locations like Walgreens will refill your old ink cartridges so you can reuse them up to 2 or 3 times before disposing of them. Just be sure to call your location first to see if this service is available and if there are any limitations.
Hip Fact: Did you know more than 500 million printer cartridges are sold each year in the United States and more than half (350 million) are sent to landfills according to Earth911? 😳
12. How to recycle tires.
Tire piles can easily become pest and rodent breeding grounds so they should always be recycled properly. Chances are if you’re wondering how to recycle old tires, it’s because you’re getting new ones. The good news is, most mechanic garages are required to recycle your old ones so it’s not typically something you have to worry about.
In other cases, you can call your local tire retailer or a local recycling facility to see if they accept old car tires. Just be sure the metal rims are taken off first.
Have bicycle tires to dispose of? Call your local bike shops to find out which ones accept them.
There are also endless ways to reuse old tires so if you’re looking for a fun way to reuse them at home, hop over to Pinterest!
13. How to recycle aluminum foil.
Aluminum foil is considered to be a common household recyclable and can be put directly in your recycle bin at home. Just be sure to remove any liquid or food before disposing of it.
14. How to recycle car seats.
Recycling a bulky car seat can be a pretty tedious task due to the fact it will have to be nearly completely disassembled in order for every part recycled properly. This entails unscrewing every piece of metal, removing foam padding, discarding the fabric, and more.
We recommend taking advantage of Target’s Semi-Annual Car Seat Trade-In Event to avoid the hassle and save some money on future baby purchases.
You’ll be able to bring in your used, damaged, or expired car seat and they’ll recycle it for you during this event. You’ll score a coupon valid for 20% off one car seat, stroller, or select baby gear item in return!
We’d recommend contacting the manufacturer as they oftentimes have mail-back recycling programs that could be less time-consuming than disassembling it yourself if you’d still like to recycle your car seat on your own.
15. How to recycle mattresses.
Roughly 80% of mattresses can be recycled. However, a used mattress can be a huge hassle to recycle given the size and heaviness, and donating a used one typically isn’t an option. It could contain valuable materials like steel (depending on the mattress) so recycling is certainly important.
In California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, the Mattress Recycling Council has implemented a law where retailers collect a disposal fee on all new mattress and box spring sales, according to Earth 911. However, this law doesn’t forbid them from ending up in landfills. 😔
Standard mattresses contain steel springs, a wood frame, polyurethane foam, and fabric on the outside. Once the fabric is removed, the metal springs can be sold as scrap metal, the wood can be chipped into mulch pieces, and the foam can be recycled into carpet padding. The fabric can be recycled into industrial machinery filters like many other textiles.
Thankfully, box springs almost always follow the same recycling procedure since they’re compromised of the same recyclable materials.
Here are Earth’s 911‘s best recommendations for recycling a mattress:
- Ask if the store will haul away your old mattress for recycling if you’re buying a replacement mattress.
- Call and ask if mattresses are included and recycled if your local recycling program offers bulk waste collection.
- Call a secondhand store like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, or St. Vincent de Paul (Oregon & California residents) and ask if mattress donations are accepted/hauled away for recycling in your area.
- Find a local hauling company that will take all of your recycling items if you’re recycling a mattress to clean out a property.
Air mattresses and water beds unfortunately lack enough valuable materials to be recycled. Your most resourceful solution would be to try and repair these items if you can.
Hip Fact: Did you know 15 to 20 million mattresses make it into U.S. landfills every year? 😳
16. How to recycle pillows.
Pillows are usually made of cotton or polyester and filled with cotton, polyester, memory foam, or feathers. Every pillow needs to be disassembled so that each component can be recycled individually and this is unfortunately why pillows aren’t in demand at recycling centers. In fact, there aren’t many options for recycling pillows at drop-off centers and municipal textile recycling is still rare for most communities.
Search the American Textile Recycling Service to see if there’s a convenient drop-off location near you or you can contact your local municipality or solid waste district to see what options you have available.
Consider donating your pillow to a local homeless shelter, animal shelter, or wildlife rehabilitation center as another option. It’s recommended to wash your pillows before donating if possible and be sure to call before you plan to make a trip. Thrift stores such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army do not accept used pillows.
17. How to recycle large appliances.
In most cases, if you’re ditching an old appliance, it’s because you plan to have a new one replacing it real soon. Nearly all retailers you purchase a new appliance from will have some sort of recycling program for your old appliance and will even haul it away for a small fee. Note that in some states appliances in landfills have been banned.
So what are your options?
Consider donating first if it’s a perfectly good and working appliance. Try listing your appliance on Facebook Marketplace or in a local neighborhood group and list it for “FREE” if you want it gone fast.
Still need to recycle your old appliance?
Try calling your local utility company. Many companies will provide you with a credit to buy a new appliance and recycle the old one for you. Win, win!
As another idea, you can also search “Scrap Metal Recycler near me”. These places will more than likely pay you to drop off your old appliance ($20 or more) if you have a way to get it there. Washers and dryers are among the most valuable appliances because of their mostly metal construction and weight.
*You will need to contact a professional who can remove Freon if your large appliance contains it. Keep in mind Freon is illegal to remove yourself. Freon is a tasteless, mostly odorless gas that can cut off vital oxygen to your cells and lungs if deeply inhaled. Therefore, proper disposal is mandatory before recycling.
To learn more about recycling large appliances, head to Earth911.
Hip Fact: Did you know that steel is the most recycled material in the U.S.? The average appliance is made up of 75% steel and home appliances account for 10% of the total steel recycled in the U.S. each year.
18. How to recycle sponges.
Depending on the sponge you have, you may or may not be able to recycle it. Sponges made entirely of cellulose (i.e. vegetable fibers) or natural sea sponges are biodegradable and can be composted right at home! However, man-made sponges that have synthetic materials cannot be composted.
The sad news is that most typical kitchen sponges you buy from the grocery store are made from polyurethane which is a petroleum-based material that cannot be recycled or composted. Another thing to consider is the adhesive used to create the two separate sides of a sponge as many use plastic-based adhesives which cannot be recycled. 🙁 That said, it’s important to know all of the ingredients.
Take Grove Collaborative’s sponge as a great example. At first glance, you would think this is a 100% natural sponge since it’s made from 100% plant-based cellulose. However, the scrubber side is made from durable walnut shells and recycled PET fibers. Plus, as I was informed via Grove, the adhesive used is made of recycled plastic fibers. This means their sponges cannot be recycled or composted. Bummer!
Are you a Scrub Daddy user?
We were thrilled when we learned about the Scrub Daddy Recycling Rewards Program! Customers can earn potential rewards for up to a maximum of five products per Recycling Return form at a rate of $2.00 in credit/coupon(s) per item! Click to watch a video on how they turn their foam into fuel!
Scrub Daddy Products eligible for submission are limited to the following: The Original Scrub Daddy, Scrub Daddy Colors, Dye-Free Scrub Daddy, Scrub Daddy Style Collection, Scrub Daddy Special Edition Shapes, Lemon Fresh Scrub Daddy, Big Daddy, Scrub Mommy, Dye-Free Scrub Mommy, Scrub Mommy Special Edition Shapes, Eco Daddy.
Head to the Scrub Daddy Recycling Rewards page to learn more and/or submit a Recycling Rewards form!
Thanks so much for posting this! I’ve started composting recently and love it!
You’re very welcome, Kirsten! I’m so glad you enjoyed this post and I love that you recently started composting! That’s wonderful!
Great post! Where do you recycle carseats?
I think it’s twice a year, Target does a carseat trade-in and you can bring in old car seats for a 20% off (select baby items) coupon.
Thank you so much, Tracey, I’m thrilled you enjoyed reading this post!
As for recycling car seats (expired, damaged, etc.), the biggest bang for your buck would be Target’s Semi-Annual Trade-In Event and they will properly recycle them for you. In return, you’ll score a coupon valid for 20% off one car seat, stroller, or select baby gear item.
If you want to recycle it on your own, I would first start by contacting the manufacturer as they oftentimes have mail-back recycling programs. 🙂
Very comprehensive article. As an environmental protection professional, I can say this was pretty well written and researched. Kudos.
Maybe consider sharing again on November 15, America Recycles Day. For the pizza boxes, most places prefer that there is no grease on them. Also, keeping cardboard from getting wet makes it easier on recycling facilities to recycle it. And, important for people to know cereal boxes and other like items are considered paperboard, not cardboard and can have differing recycling requirements.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Sarah, and for taking the time to share some of your valuable tips as well! We will be sure to share this post again on America Recycles Day and during other Earth-friendly “holidays”.
Just an FYI regarding Office Max and the recycling of ink cartridges, you will get the $2 per ink cartridge (I think up to 10 a month), BUT you do need to buy at least $10 at that same time you turn in your cartridges (the $2 per cartridge reward cannot be utilized immediately). You can always take them to OfficeMax and NOT purchase $10, but know you will not get the $2 reward. Please recycle though regardless.
Yes, it’s always good to check for limitations such as these before heading to the store. Thank you for the reminder, Liz!
These are extremely dependent on your local recycling center. Juice boxes are generally recycled but aluminum foil is almost never accepted because of contamination. We can take glass and styrofoam to the recycling center but not the curbside pickup.
What about Matresses?
Hey there! Thank you for your question, bremoeller. I’m going to plan to update this post in a couple of weeks with all our reader questions for additional items and how to recycle them so I’ll be sure to add mattresses when I do. 🙂
Check with the store where you buy your new mattress-many times they will take the old and properly dispose of them.
Hey, bremoeller! Happy America Recycles Day! I wanted to let you know our post has been updated and I did include information on properly recycling mattresses. I hope this helps answer your question. 🙂
For Days will take back many things to worn out to be donated. They except all textiles, including socks, underwear, sheets, pillow cases, towels, linens, shoes and handbags in any condition. It does cost $20 but they give you a $20 credit to spend on there site. https://fordays.com/products/take-back-bag
One thing I should also mention. Free shipping both ways. You can print out a shipping label or get a qr code for USPS drop off.
Thanks so much for the tip, Casey!
Bombas does this also. For $10 they’ll send you a bag to fill with clothing donations and once shipped they’ll give you a $10 credit to their website.
Wonderful to know! Thanks for the tip!
Anyone have any personal experience with the Walgreens ink refill? That one is new to me and curious what it cost… probably ink cartridge dependent, but would love to hear someone’s experience.
I bought led light bulbs to try to be responsible. They are supposed to last 10 years some say 15 years. They are awful! Had the first set 1 year they started to flicker, next set different brand after 1 year they are so dim. My ceiling lights in my livingroom are half new led and some are original halogen from when the house was built 6 years ago. I have replaced the led 2 times. I want the old incandescent back. How is replacing the bulb once a year helping the planet?
smoresto, I don’t have a box in front of me from LED bulbs, but isn’t there like a warranty? What you are experiencing does not seem right. Just an FYI as well, we bought a new home. While the builder had a 1-year warranty on things, we actually had to look up the manufacturer’s items (like lights) themselves after experiencing issues (the lights, unbeknownst to us, had a 5-year warranty). So ensure you look at a manufacturer’s warranty (even if you have to look online). Our fiberglass front door, had issues and, and after contacting the company, the manufacturer had a 20-year warranty. So sometimes it helps to dig a little deeper. Good luck in your bulb search.
Liz, thanks for your tips. We also did a major kitchen remodel last year and got a new NXR range hood. Lately, though the LED lights on them have been flickering. For a barely one year old appliance, this is kind of frustrating. Do you think contacting home depot or the company directly would help to get it fixed or replaced?
emma, I’d certainly start with the manufacturer and see what they say. I’d certainly have a receipt ready. Also, though, if you happened to charge on a CC, look at the additional warranty that came with simply charging it (in addition to what came normally), if your CC offers it.
Same. I buy a pack of LED bulbs at least once a year. I’ve bought from Walmart, Home Depot and lowes. All die within a year, whether they become dim, they flicker, or they outright die, I have to replace annually.
I was thinking I’d need a receipt. I don’t have the boxes anymore. I figured they do what they were supposed to do. Thanks for the idea though.
I had no idea about K-Cups, both the lid and cup are recyclable locally so I appreciate the post- thank you!
You’re welcome, Elizabeth T! So happy to hear that this post was helpful for you! 🥰
What about large appliances? Like refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer? I use appliances until they wear out and try to buy used, but I hate the idea of landfills them.
Also recycling accepted items vary by municipality- our only accept glass bottles if they held beverages (beer, wine, juice) that is pretty limited for something that recycles so easily, but it is what it is.
Thank you for your feedback, Mima! I will be sure to add appliances to this post in a couple of weeks when I update the post again. 🙂
Hey, Mima! Happy America Recycles Day! I wanted to let you know our post has been updated and I did include information on properly recycling large appliances. I hope this helps answer your question. 🙂
Mima, for large appliances (refrigerators/freezers), check with your local energy provider. We’ve moved several times and each energy municipality we moved to had it on their site that as long as the refrigerator/freezer worked (doesn’t need to get cold… but they never did test ours to see if it worked), they will come to your home and pick it up AND give you a credit on your energy bill. (Ours was like $50). They do this so that they encourage people to get rid of those ancient and inefficient energy hog of old refrigerators/freezers… amongst disposing of things properly.
Where I live, glass can NOT go in your bin, must be brought to recycling center. Based on the comments, I suggest you update the glass section of your post since a few people are mentioning they can not put glass in their bin for curbside pickup
Hey there! Thank you for letting me know your area doesn’t allow glass bottles. I have updated that section to say it can vary by location since we are encouraged to recycle them in our bins where we live. 🙂
Our municipality can recycle glass, our son’s municipality does not. He saves his glass for us to pick up and recycle properly. Problem solved.
The key is to reduce our consumption esp. of plastics. They just don’t get recycled as promised.
I couldn’t agree more, siena95! As much as I enjoyed putting this post together, it was a huge wake-up call that our country does not have a good recycling system at all. 🙁
Where can you take old pillows?
Hey, Amy! Happy America Recycles Day! I wanted to let you know our post has been updated and I did include information on properly recycling pillows. I hope this helps answer your question. 🙂
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get in the habit of bringing your own canvas/reusable bags to the grocery store. It is sad and horrible how many plastic bags are used in our world. Please do your part and get in the habit of bringing your own reusable bags. You can make a difference in this world with that new habit!
Thank you for the wonderful reminder, Angie! I have about 5 reusable bags in my car always! In fact, many of the places I shop locally don’t even offer bags which I love! 😍
Recycling is such a scam! Just buying less disposable stuff will save the planet a million times more than spending billions of dollars on trucks, truck parts (tires, wiper blades, oil change), gas for trucks, recycle bins that cause pollution making them and they are plastic, water resources to wash out things at your house so you don’t contaminate, etc. If people really think about all the waste from Covid and amazon the last two years you would be shocked to know the actual figures of how much recycling helps compared to what reality is!!
I don’t disagree with you, Sara, regarding the horrible consumerism I see on a daily basis throughout my own neighborhood. I mean, I walk particularly on trash/recycle/compost pickup day, and I am in utter horror at the amount of not just trash, but trash that could/should have been recycled. I mean, we are fortunate enough to have curbside pickup. What is so troubling as well is that these families are young families with small children. I don’t think there is a day that goes by when I say, what are those children learning. I/we do try to consume less but that which I can repurpose (give to someone or donate) I do try to do. It takes a village.
THANKS for this post! My husband worked in the scrap metal industry for 25 years. Now that we have retired, we really enjoy trying to avoid people sending things to the landfill. We upcycle and find it rewarding at 60 years old.
Mars shipped me a free bag to send in candy wrappers to recycle for Halloween. Filling it up now! Think this site told me about it. I hope they will actually recycle and do it again next year.
Yes! We did post about that bag, Chris! Thanks for the update! Glad you can fill yours up!
I love this! I wish more people recycled. ❤️🌎 Thank you for educating people!
You’re very welcome, Laura! I’m so glad you enjoyed this post!
Terracycle.com is another very informative site with alot of free recycling options for product we use everyday. It lists local drop off points, some manufacturers offer free labels to return recycle items, etc.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for this post. I didn’t not know you can recycle Scrub Daddy sponges and you can get rewards too! ❤️hip2save
You’re so welcome! We’re so thrilled to hear you enjoyed this post and found value in the Scrub Daddy Recycling Rewards Program!
Our community just started recycling glass. Thank you for all the hard work researching this issue. I really appreciate it.
People need to reuse and repair items if at all possible. I am blessed. My brothers will google how to fix things around the house. I am still using my 1980 washer and dryer as they have fixed it over and over. I am so lucky to have them.
Our father was military so we were overseas a lot. It is amazing how much they recycle. They have 3 trash cans and then you take most of your glass and plastic bottles back to the store to get a refund back(goes in a machine and you get a small piece of paper with your refund and you give it to the cashier as you check out and they give you that as a credit on your bill). There is usually a few plastic bubbles downtown where you can put glass that is not accepted at the stores. The color of the bubbles donates the glass inside them. The city does a spot check and you get a warning and eventually a fine if you do not sort your garbage correctly. The city has a composting facility (one of the trash cans is for compost) and they will pick up your yard cuttings if you have a lot or you can drop it off at the facility and you can get mulch for your garden too. Just so amazing.