The tiki torch gas cans, the old paint canisters, that unused TV, and the ancient computer… they are all sitting in my garage needing to be disposed. So why are they still sitting there?
Like many other people, I am not quite sure how to dispose them. But I finally got tired of them taking up space in my garage. So, I took it upon myself to find the proper ways to dispose of these items and lending a hand to keeping them out of the landfills.
Like that old TV, I found a place that takes them, fixes them up, and resells ’em. The old computer… the drop location was at my local thrift store. So, I was able to bring those bags of clothing, too.
Learn how you can reduce, reuse, and recycle with these best recycling websites:
Earth’s 911
Earth911.com is your one-stop shop for all you need to know about reducing your impact, reusing what you’ve got and recycling your trash. With their recycling database, they can help you find over 100,000 recycling locations across the country. With information provided by local governments, industry insiders, organizations and everyday consumers, you can recycle hundreds of products from packing peanuts to computers. Earth 911 knows where you need to go to get things done.
EPA Wastes
Each year, Americans generate millions of tons of waste in our homes and communities. EPA is challenging all citizens to conserve our natural resources by committing to reduce, reuse, and recycle at home, in your community, and at the office. Learn what you can do to make a difference.
1-800-Recycling.com is a dynamic recycling and green living-focused website that makes recycling, conserving, reusing and living wisely easy. The site features comprehensive recycling location database that gives the user the ability to easily assemble a recycling to-do list. The database is location based, and aims to make your recycling needs as easy as possible, whether you’re clearing out the house during spring cleaning or simply looking to recycle a few shopping bags.
Money Funk’s Pick: The 1-800-Recycling website makes it very easy to find out how to recycle items; it really is a dynamic recycling website!
One Man’s trash is another Man’s Treasure:
Try reusing and exchanging
FreeCycle
The Freecycle Network is made up of 4,793 groups with 7,208,000 members across the globe. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of the people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
Thred UP
You don’t wear 25% of the clothes in your closet. Join thredUP and start exchanging them for some that you will! And now there is ThredUP for kids clothes – the way America’s busies families conveniently exchange kids clothing online.
Recycle Unwanted Electronics
For Money
Gazelle
Gazelle wants to change the world – one cell phone, one laptop, one iPod at a time. It is their purpose – and their promise – to provide a practical, rewarding way for people to finally rid themselves of all those old cell phones, digital cameras, and gaming systems that they no longer use, but can’t seem to find a way to let go of.
For items that they can’t offer any money for or don’t currently accept online, check out their Recycle Network Directory. It’s a a network of local recyclers to help you recycle those items.
Costco.com Trade-In Program
*Costco Member Exclusive
Trade-in your electronics and receive Costco Cash Cards! Costco has teamed up with Gazelle, the industry leader in electronics trade-in, to offer this program. Costco’s Trade-In Program now puts more money in your wallet. Trade-in electronic gadgets in more than 15 categories (such as laptops, cell phones, LCD monitors, digital cameras, MP3 players, gaming systems & more) for Costco Cash good for anything in Costco warehouses or at Costco.com.
Non-Monetary
You could also recycle electronics at Best Buy, Office Depot, and Staples.
Do you know of a great way to recycle or reuse an item? Or know of another great recycling website to add to this list? Please share in the comment section below.
Example: Beer/Soda tabs make great picture hangers for frames (yes, if you look at the many frames hanging on my walls, you will see I use tabs specifically for this use. Please, don’t drop the frame when you come over to check it out. ;))
Thanks for these links. I especially like the Thred-Up option. I have so many unused clothes hanging in my closet going to waste and I don’t want to just donate them to the Good Will. I’ll have to check this site out!
There are those few clothing items I don’t want to just send to goodwill either. I really like the fact they got up a kid’s site. God knows my daughter has tons of good clothes she grew of too fast.
When ever I find myself with extra anything I always Google “Crafts involving …” and always get some new ideas! Very helpful. I also have a friend with young kids so I keep a bag of nick-knacks for their “treasure chest”.
I have a big box of tangled wires, old cell phones,(some look like walkie-talkies, and are older than you) that I need to get rid of.
Thanks for the info.
Now if I will just do it…..
Yup, the last part was my problem too. But most of my family was out this last weekend. So, I thought to myself, “this is a good time to purge of my junk”. And that I did. 🙂
Block off some time on a weekend and stick to it. You’ll feel so much better for it.
Great post Christine Recycling is probably one of the most important factors in our wise use of resources. Did you see this post? I think you’ll get a kick out of it. I had fun remembering and hope others have some more ideas.
http://inthetrenches2009.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-trenches-recycling.html
Hi Carol,
You know, you can recycle old (all) occasion cards at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. That is a great list. Now how do a sock and lightbulb go together??? I can see removing a hot lightbulb with a sock. 😉
Very interesting and entertaining discussion going on :). You put the lightbulb into the sock so you can darn it. Can you imagine? Not me. I used to keep all my mending in a pile and when Grandma came to visit she would take care of it all while we visited. Don’t be surprised if you catch me with a missing button occasionally even though I know better. Or more often I just don’t wear the item anymore. Another self-improvement area to add to my list.
Wow! What a great list of recycling sites. But – knowledge requires responsibility – so does this mean that I am going to have to tackle the unknown monsters lurking in my basement?
Thanks. LOL. Oh a basement… I hate when i run into the spiders. Especially the black widows.
That reminds me of a story… my mom gave me a fake tree, packed away in its box, that was sitting in the garage gather dust. I took it home and put it in the corner of my living room to deal with later. Took a nap on the couch, snoozing good… began to away only to see a sillouette of a huge black widow crawling inches from me across my pillow. Talk about freaked out! It came from the big ole’ box sitting in my living room. *eeks*
Spiritually, you’ll feel much lighter and your basement will be clean. 🙂 It’s good to purge of clutter 1-2x a year.
Great list of recycling sources! I want to add one more option which is http://www.rentalic.com. The website enables people to rent out or borrow things from their neighborhoods. The model helps owners of goods earn money, borrowers save money, and as a neighborhood, we reduce our overall carbon footprint by sharing resources.
I like the link, so I am going to keep it in the comments.
Where I think a person would benefit from this… is a person with a business who is feeling the crush of our economic times. This is a way to still make money from their goods while helping someone out. It’s a win-win situation.
I know there are many of times I could have used this site to borrow or rent items for a party. Because, to buy the product was not optimal for the time and money I would have put into it. Say like… a fog machine (have only used it once!)
living in LA their are lots of people who are very into going green and doing what they can to make a difference.
i have a few friends who i already forwarded this post to because they will take this information and totally run with it.
Hey Christine, very informative post, it’s things like this that really make me love the internet, so much info at our fingertips!
Most garbage dumps have a room for putting things that can be picked up too, like the old computer or the paint if it’s not quite finished.
Thank you for all the recycling sites. We have been recycling for years and feel like it is insurance for the planet AND our budget! I never would have thought of the soda tabs to hang pictures but your post may just lead me to try it!
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Craigslist has a ton of users and the amount of “trash” people will take off your hands is pretty staggering.
I’ve never heard of a lot of the suggested sites so I’ll have to keep this post in mind the next time I have an oversized couch that I want to get rid of.
Austin @ Foreigner’s Finances
I would add http://www.rentthings.ca Peer-to-peer online rental marketplace based in Toronto, Canada.