Recycling is an excellent way to reduce the amount of waste in landfills and incinerators. But it isn’t just about keeping trash out of landfills – it can also be an easy way to lower your household expenditure and reduce your impact on the environment at the same time. Here are some household items you should recycle.
1. Batteries
Did you know that batteries can be recycled? Batteries are one of the most commonly recycled household items. They contain toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury, and lead, which can harm humans and the environment if they’re not disposed of properly. Your local electronics retailer should have appropriate waste skip bins where you can dump your batteries.
2. Clothing and Textiles
Clothing and textiles are other common household items that are often recycled. These materials can be reused in many ways, from making new clothing to stuffing pillows or rugs. Many clothing stores will also take back your old clothing for reuse or recycling purposes, so check with your local store before throwing away that old suit or dress shirt.
3. Aluminium Cans
Aluminium cans are yet another commonly recycled household item that you can recycle yourself with a curbside program or through a drop-off location. Aluminium can be recycled infinitely without losing its quality, so it’s a great way to reuse materials instead of throwing them away when they’re no longer needed.
4. Computers and Electronics
It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the volume of electronics that come into your home every day, but recycling them isn’t just crucial for the environment, it’s also good for your wallet! The components in electronic products contain toxic substances like lead and mercury that could be harmful to humans if they’re not disposed of properly. The best way to dispose of your computer and other electronics is through a program that handles e-waste responsibly. Some cities offer recycling and take-back programs for people who want to remove their old computers from their homes. You can also find companies online that will remove your old computer from your home for free or at a low cost (if you are willing to pay for the shipping).
5. Cleaning Bottles, Spray Bottles, and Aerosol Cans
You might not think about it often, but all those household cleaning bottles and spray bottles in your kitchen cabinet could be causing serious damage to the environment if they’re not appropriately recycled! Luckily, there are many ways to get rid of these containers for good: You can pour leftover cleaning products down the drain or flush them down the toilet.
6. Carpeting
Carpeting is one of the most common items added to landfills every year, so it’s good to know that there are plenty of places that will take it off your hands for recycling purposes. Some carpet manufacturers will even pay for old carpeting in exchange for new carpeting purchases!
7. Ink Cartridges
While it may not be a glamorous household item, your ink cartridge can be recycled. If you have a printer that uses ink cartridges, you might wonder how you can recycle them. Ink cartridges contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. The best way to dispose of them is to take them to a local recycling centre or drop-off point. If you can’t make it there yourself, many companies will send someone out for pickup at your home for a small fee.
8. Books
Many people have bookshelves full of old books. If you are one of them, you should know that you can recycle them. You can donate them to a charity or sell them to a local used bookstore. However, if your books are in good condition, it would be best to donate them as other people can use them. If your books are damaged or have missing pages, you should sell them as they can be recycled into new paper products such as magazines, newspapers, and even toilet paper!
9. CDs, DVDs, and Other Plastic Discs
Electronic devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones often come with discs that hold data. When these devices become obsolete or broken down, many people throw them away without thinking about what they can do with them later on. But did you know that these discs can be recycled? You can take them to your local tech store where they have appropriate bins for recycling discs. This will help reduce pollution levels in the environment while minimising energy consumption since new plastic materials need to be produced from scratch again (which takes up energy).
Final Thoughts
The recycling of household items is often a highly overlooked waste removal plan. Although recycling can be straightforward with some things, others may require more time and effort. Office waste, such as computer monitors, printers, and paper, can be incredibly challenging if you don’t have easy access to a drop-off centre. In addition, if you have large amounts of waste to dispose of, you can find skip bin hire services for rubbish removal in Perth. They will take care of your waste, but first you should check with them whether any extra charges apply for hard-to-recycle or hazardous items.