To prevent your unwanted goods from harming people or the environment, you have to make sure that they’re getting disposed of the right way. While some worn-out or extraneous household items really do belong in a dumpster, others—like unused medications or pieces of technology—are more complicated to get rid of.
So, in this post, we’re going to show a list of all the things you should never, ever throw in the trash, along with tips on what to do with them instead.
1. Rechargeable Batteries
It’s pivotal to check what kind of batteries you’re tossing before throwing them in your bin. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, rechargeable batteries containing nickel-cadmium and lead-acid need to be brought to special facilities. (You can find a list of suitable recycling facilities here.) Otherwise, “regular alkaline, manganese, and carbon-zinc batteries are not considered hazardous waste and can be disposed of with ordinary trash,” according to the USDA.
2. Fluorescent Bulbs
Do not ever throw your fluorescent lightbulbs in the garbage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fluorescent lightbulbs contain mercury that, when released into the environment, can do some serious damage.
Instead, check out Earth911 to find a service that can help you recycle your old fluorescent bulbs. When they’re recycled properly, the materials that these bulbs are made of out—like glass and metal—can successfully be repurposed (and won’t do any damage in the atmosphere).
3. Mercury Thermometers
Similarly, if your thermometer is filled with mercury, you can’t just toss it in the trash. The EPA warns that you should either “wait for a hazardous waste collection day” or bring it “to a household hazardous collection center in a cardboard box,” depending on what services your city offers.
4. Paint
How to properly dispose of paint depends on what the paint is made out of. Latex-based paint needs to be disposed of at special waste drop-off sites, which you can locate by using Earth911. As for oil-based paints, small amounts—emphasis on small—can be thrown away along with your household trash so long as they are mixed with an absorbent material that will soak them up. If you’re dealing with a large quantity of oil-based paint, then you’ll need to contact a private contractor to pick up your stash and get rid of it properly.
5. Lighter Fluid
Because lighter fluid is a fuel, it’s considered hazardous waste. As such, any unwanted kerosene must be disposed of at a household hazardous waste facility where it won’t harm other humans or the environment.
6. Motor Oil
Like lighter fluid, motor oil is flammable and therefore a hazardous waste. In addition to bringing this fluid to a hazardous waste facility, you can also bring it to a local automobile repair shop where it will be put to proper use.
7. Old Laptops
Hopefully you know by now that laptops should never go in the garbage, seeing as they can toxic chemicals like mercury, lead, and chromium.
However, did you know that Staples makes it easy to do away with old computers, whether they’re working or not? If your computer is still functional, you can take advantage of the company’s tech trade-in program to both get rid of your computer and make money in the process.
8. Smartphones and Tablets
Just like laptops, your other handheld electronics can contain toxic substances. The good news? Staples’ electronics program isn’t limited to computers. If you have a cell phone or tablet that you’re no longer using, then you can bring it to Staples and either recycle it or trade it in for cash, depending on its condition.
9. Unused Medications
When medications aren’t disposed of properly, they can end up in the water supply or even in the wrong hands. Thankfully, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds National Prescription Drug Take-Back events nationwide where you can safely dispose of unused and unwanted prescriptions. And if you miss this event when it happens in your area, don’t fret; most municipalities also have controlled substance public disposal locations that are available to the public all year round.
That said, there are some ways to get rid of your medications at home. As long as they don’t have specific disposal instructions listed, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) notes that you can combine the medications with something inedible, like cat litter or dirt. Then place the mixture in a plastic bag, and throw it away.
10. Knives
Though your knife may no longer be good to you, for safety reasons, you shouldn’t simply put it in your garbage can. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives.
One option is to donate your unwanted knives to a local soup kitchen or thrift store (so long as they accept them as donations). But if you’re certain your knife is no longer good to anyone, find a scrap metal recycler in your area (most metro areas have one). If that still isn’t an option, you can also carefully throw away your knife. Taste of Home suggests you wrap it in newspaper, cover it in cardboard or bubblewrap, secure it with heavy-duty tape, and then place it in a box and seal it with more tape.
11. Loose Broken Glass
When it comes to disposal, glass and knives follow the same rules. Any object like these that could physically cut someone needs to be stored in something cushiony before it’s put in the trash. “To dispose of broken glass, seal it in a box or wrap it in several sheets of newspaper and place it in your garbage,” advises the Recycling Council of British Columbia.
12. Needles
Just like knives and glass, a sharp needle should never be thrown loosely into the trash or recycling. Ideally, you should get a hazardous materials bin from your doctor’s office where you can place used needles, and then return the bin to the doctor.
13. Mail
Of course, you should be recycling all of your mail because it’s, well, recyclable. However, that’s not the only reason why this particular item doesn’t belong in the garbage. Because of all the valuable information contained within letters from credit card companies, doctors, and the like, security company LifeLock notes that “your mail can be a valuable target for identity thieves.” Shred and recycle your mail—even if it’s spam.
14. Laundry Detergent
Of course, the best thing to do with extra laundry detergent is to use it. However, if you’ve become allergic to your detergent or can’t stand its smell, then you should pour the remaining liquid down the drain as the water is running. This is safer for the environment than pouring it into the trash, where it runs the risk of seeping into the soil and polluting it with toxic chemicals.
15. Hot Oil
Hot oil should never simply be poured in your trash can because it can get stuck in there and cause a major mess. And if you throw it down the drain immediately after cooking, it could potentially cause sewer backups and damage your pipes. Instead, make sure to wait until the oil cools, and then pour it in a container to be thrown out with the rest of your garbage.
16. Matches
Once you’ve used a match to light your kid’s birthday candles, don’t simply toss it in the garbage. Matches can spark in the trash should they happen to strike against a rough surface. Instead, make sure to soak any unwanted matches in cold water before you throw them away.
17. Hair Styling Tools
According to Toxic-Free Future, electric items contain harmful chemicals like lead, chromium, and cadmium that, when thrown away, “can escape the products and contaminate air.”
Thankfully, “curling irons, hairdryers, and other similar hair appliances can be recycled for their scrap metal rather than thrown away,” notes Earth911. “Although these appliances can’t be put in curbside recycling bins, they are accepted anywhere scrap metal is collected.”
18. Old Clothes
Do you want to know what happens to clothes that you throw away? According to the EPA, a staggering 10.5 million tons of textiles ended up in landfills in the U.S. in 2015—and since these piles of clothes are not biodegradable, they end up contributing to the pollution of the environment. Thankfully, there’s a little thing called textile recycling that avoids this altogether. Companies like Greenmarket Clothing Collection, Green Tree Textiles, and Planet Aid all have collection boxes where you can drop off clothes to be recycled the eco-friendly way.
19. Space Heaters
According to the Chittenden Solid Waste District in Vermont, whether or not your space heater can be thrown in the trash depends on what type it is.
If your space heater is made primarily of plastic and doesn’t contain any hazardous materials, then it can be disposed of alongside your household trash. If the heater is made primarily of metal without any hazardous fluids, then you can bring it to a scrap metal center to be recycled. And if the heater does contain hazardous material, then you’ll need to bring it to a hazardous waste facility to be taken care of safely.
20. Old Appliances
Though you technically can schlep your fridge or dryer downstairs for curbside pickup, who wants to lug such a large appliance to the street on the one day a month bulk items are collected when there’s a much easier way to dispose of it? When you’re at the store buying the replacement model for your old appliance, ask a salesperson whether they offer removal services. Most companies will take unwanted items off your hands—sometimes even for free!
