18 Things You Should Never, Ever Throw In the Trash
Aerosol cans
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Spray cans contain propellants and chemicals that make them
unsafe to throw away (especially if there are little bits left in the
can). Since it’s hard to be sure whether they’re empty or not, take them
to your local HHW facility to be safe.
Old appliances
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Used and broken appliances (like refrigerators, air
conditioners, and freezers) contain refrigerants, insulating foams and
other substances that are harmful if released into the atmosphere.
Donate them to charity or take them to a facility that recycles
appliances.
Batteries
Batteries – even used up ones – are FULL of nasty chemicals that can
infiltrate the water supply system and cause serious health and
environmental risks if they end up in the landfill.Take any and all
rechargeable batteries to your nearest RadioShack or BatteriesPlus for
safe, free recycling. What if the batteries aren’t rechargeable, aka
alkaline? Drop them off at the nearest Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
facility.
Cleaning supplies
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Unless you make your own, or only buy organic, your cleaning
supplies are chock full of hazardous chemicals. Flushing cleaning
supplies down the toilet runs the risk of corroding your pipes and is
guaranteed to poison the fishes and wildlife on the receiving end. If
you’re not going to use them up, take them to a household hazardous
waste facility for safe disposal.
Cosmetics
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Conventional cosmetics contain chemical substances that are not
removed by water treatment, so flushing them is detrimental to the
water supply. Even when empty, cosmetic containers can’t be recycled due
to the blend of materials that they’re made of. Fortunately, there are
cosmetic recycling programs. Take containers from used cosmetics —
regardless of brand — to any Origins store (or Origins counter in a
department store), or Aveda, M.A.C, and Kiehl’s, and they’ll be recycled
responsibly.
Unused or expired prescription drugs
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Unused meds? You might be tempted to flush them down the
toilet, dump them down the drain, or empty the bottle in the trash.
DON’T. Doing so allows these powerful drugs to leach into the soil and
water supply, where they can wreak havoc with the environment. Instead,
search takebackyourmeds.org for a drug take-back event in your area.takebackyourmeds.org
Computers and electronics
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Digital cameras, computers, televisions, printers, iPods, MP3
players, mobile phones and chargers, DVDs, CDs, video and audio tapes,
pagers, ink cartridges, and other electronics–all of this e-waste
contains dangerous substances like mercury, lead, cadmium, beryllium,
and brominated flame retardants. Not to mention valuable rare earths
like gold, silver, and platinum.Find responsible e-waste recyclers at
e-Stewards.org, or use a buy-back program offered through the
manufacturer.e-stewards.org
Unexploded fireworks
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The reason not to throw dud or otherwise unexploded fireworks
in the trash should be obvious. Small quantities of household fireworks
that are damaged or unexploded should be soaked in water overnight.
Then, immediately take the duds out of the water and place them in a
plastic garbage bag. In some cases, local police and fire departments
will also dispose of them for you.
Lawn and garden chemicals
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Using chemical-based pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers is
terrible for the environment and I strongly urge you to consider
non-toxic alternatives. But if you DO use these chemicals, never put
them in the garbage or pour them down the drain. The best way to deal
with leftovers is to give them to someone who will use it. Otherwise,
take it to the nearest Household Hazardous Waste facility.
Glue and adhesives
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Because they contain solvents and other toxic chemicals, glues
and adhesives can’t be disposed of in their original form. Either let
them dry completely (just like paint and stain) or spread thin layers on
cardboard or newspapers and allow to dry before tossing. As always, you
can also take to a HHW facility.
Light bulbs
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Incandescent and halogen light bulbs can’t be recycled, but are
considered non-toxic, so those you can toss.Fluorescent bulbs
(including those curly CFLs) contain toxic chemicals, and should never
go in the trash can. Some large retailers — like Home Depot and IKEA —
offer CFL recycling services for bulbs purchased through them. Or you
can search RecycleABulb.com for local disposal options. Most LEDs are
safe and can be recycled–check the packaging for details.recycleabulb.com
Paints and stains
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Leftover paint, paint thinners, stains, and paint strippers
(and the brushes or rollers that touched them!) are flammable and
poisonous, and should be taken to a local household hazardous waste
collection center. An alternative is to let the paint can dry out by
leaving the lid off. When the can is empty (and completely dry), it can
be recycled at a scrap metal facility.
Hair (human and pet)
Hair is full of nitrogen. Add it to your compost pile to help
create cheap fertilizer for your non-edible plants. I’ve also heard you
can sprinkle it around garden plants to keep deer away. If you’re
cutting off 10 or more inches of hair at once (and it’s not bleached)
consider donating it to Locks of Love.Locks of Love
Lighters
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Plastic lighters with even a little fluid leftover are
flammable hazards, so make sure they’re completely drained before
trashing. You can, however, save yourself some money by refilling Bic
lighters (how-to linked below). Partially full or Butane lighters are
hazardous, and should only be disposed of at a HHW facility.ehow.com
Bacon fat or cooking oils
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If you pour these into the trash while they’re still hot, it
will wreck the bag and create a nasty mess. Even solidified, it can
still cause gross problems at the waste processing facility. Pouring
them down the drain is an even worse idea.Bacon fat can be strained into
a jar and saved in the fridge as a substitute cooking oil. Small
amounts of other oil can be placed in tightly sealed, unbreakable
containers in your everyday trash, or taken to a collection center in
your area (it’s often recycled into auto fuel!).
Plastic bags (including Ziploc storage bags)
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plasticfilmrecycling.org
Even if you’re using paper or fabric bags at the grocery store,
plastic bags can still creep into your life. While many (including
Ziploc bags) CAN be recycled, most municipal recycling programs aren’t
set up to handle them.To properly dispose of these, and all other
packaging made of plastic film, search www.plasticfilmrecycling.org to
find a convenient drop-off location.
Glass thermometers
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Those old fashioned mercury thermometers contain 500 milligrams
of mercury, which can become a health hazard if the thermometer is
accidentally broken (as often happens with things thrown in the trash).
If you’re upgrading to a digital model, take the old one to the nearest
household hazardous waste facility. If it breaks in your house, follow
the link below for EPA directions on how to clean up.
Tires
