What Common Household Items Can Be Recycled?

If you want to start recycling, it may seem like a difficult process to begin. If you’ve never thought of recycling before, you may be surprised by how many common household items can be recycled.

The easiest household item to recycle is paper. This can be newspaper, office paper, phone books, catalogs, as well as all the other junk mail you receive. Not only can these paper products be recycled, there are several ways to reduce the amount of mail you get as well. If you’re computer savvy, see if your bill collectors can send you due notices via e-mail. Bookmark the places you normally get catalogs from and ask to be removed from their mailing list and shop online instead. Most online shops have a way you can place the order over the phone if you’re concerned with the privacy of the online shop. Phone books usually have to go to a special place, so check with your recycling center as to where the best place to drop these off. You also will want to check whether the center requires the separation of newsprint from regular office paper.

Many beverages come in aluminum cans, and there are lots of nonprofits that even ask for aluminum cans to be donated as a fundraiser for their organization. Be sure to rinse out the cans and make sure they are crushed before recycling or donating. There are other products made from aluminum, such as tin foil and disposable pie plates, which can also be recycled.

Cardboard is another common household item that can be recycled. The cardboard can come as the boxes that contain big items, such as TVs made of corrugated cardboard, as well as boxes that are made with paperboard, such as cereal and shoe boxes. You will want to make sure the boxes are flattened before recycling. In the case of boxes that contained food, make sure the box hasn’t been contaminated by the food, as that makes it unlikely to be recycled.

While finding glass bottles for products are becoming more difficult as more products are sold in plastic, glass bottles can not only be recycled (typically you can trade them in at the same place you bought them), but they can also be reused at home for storage. If recycling the glass bottles and you can’t turn it in at the place you bought it, you’ll most likely need to separate out by color. Also, glass bottles need to be kept separate from other types of glass such as windows or light bulbs.

There are many different types of plastic products in your household that are able to be recycled. Most containers will be marked with a number, which tells you what type of plastic it is made of. You’re in luck if the number is a 1 or 2, as those are the most recycled items. Soda and water bottles, milk jugs, and laundry detergent bottles are all typically made with the #1 or #2 type of plastic. Many of these containers can also be reused for craft projects, so check with your local church or school if you’re interested in donating, and make sure the bottle is completely clean before delivering it.

Plastic grocery bags are also recyclable and reusable. Many grocery stores have a place near the front of the store where they will accept the bags for recycling, but you can also use them as a trash bag, keeping items separate in luggage, or even to use as packaging material when mailing something.

Another item you probably use on a regular basis that can be recycled is the ink that your printer uses. There are many new companies out there that will refill toner cartridges, and many toner companies provide ways to mail in your used computer ink cartridge for easy recycling.

Other electronic devices, such as batteries or your cell phone, can also be recycled. Check with your recycling center to see if they take batteries. As for other electronic devices, you can check with the manufacturer to see if it’s recyclable. The manufacturer may also be able to tell you where to take the item to get it recycled.

Many people forget that reducing clutter is also a part of recycling. Consider donating books, movies, clothes, or other items in your household that you don’t use any more. When you buy a new appliance, check to see if there’s a way to donate the old one – either directly to a charity that can use it as part of their work, or as an item they can refurbish and resell as a way to raise funds for their organization.

It’s easy to start recycling. As you set up a recycling system, you may find that there are even more ways you can recycle. The local Environmental Protection Agency office can help you find out what options are available to you to better reduce your carbon footprint.