Plastic Recycling

How To Recycle Items That Your Local Recycling Center Will Not Accept

Every green-loving, eco-friendly, carbon footprint reducing consumer should be recycling their plastic bags, glass bottles and aluminum cans. However, there are other items we never think about recycling but simply toss in the trashcan to go to a landfill. That is probably because your local recycling center does not accept these items and you probably did not think you could recycle them. Below is a list of odd items that you can recycle and information about where and how to recycle them. Go green by committing to recycle the highest percentage of your household waste this year than in any previous year. Start a recycling contest with your family, friends and neighbors to see who can recycle the most items this year.

Odd items that you can recycle

Razor handles and toothbrushes - Most recycling centers do not accept #5 plastic so these go into the landfills. Preserve is a company that recycles #5 plastics and will even send you a postage paid envelope to send your old toothbrushes and razor handles to them.

Shoes - Of course, if your shoes are in good condition you can donate them; however, some shoes (like my teenagers sneakers) are not fit for anyone to wear. Send Nike your old shoes and they will recycle the materials rather than you tossing them into a landfill.

Starbucks Iced Coffee Cups - Are you addicted to Starbucks Iced Coffee? Please do not throw the cups in the trash but find a #5 Plastic Recycling box near you. If you cannot find a recycling box, remember you can send them to Preserve with your toothbrushes.

Earth911 - If you still have items that you do not know how to recycle, try searching through the articles and information at Earth911. Find recycling centers near you by searching your zip code and find unique ways to recycle all types of odd items.

Metal clothes hangers - I have disposed of most of my metal clothes hangers because they are not as gentle on my clothes but I still end up with a few from the dry cleaner. Recycle metal clothes hangers by taking them to your dry cleaner or a local metal salvage yard.

Join Terracycle - Terracycle collects trash and recycles or upcycles odd items into new, usable items. The best part is you can make some change (I would not dare hope for more than some loose change) by sending in your trash. You can search or browse Terracycle's website for a list of items they recycle and read the fine print about how the program works.

If you know of any odd items that can be recycled, please comment and share it with us. Our planet will thank you and so will future generations.