Proper Waste Disposal (PHOTOS): How To Recycle Those Trickier Items

While recycling statistics show the U.S. making little strides every year, there are certain items that still fall in the "what the hell am I supposed to do with this?" category. Throwing them in the trash is never the best option, as many of these items, such as light bulbs and batteries, can be toxic. Don't let that burnt-out light bulb intimidate you-- If there's a will, there's a way to recycle everything from light bulbs to Capri Sun pouches. So if you will, here are some recycling options for those harder to recycle items.

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Aluminum Foil

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Aluminum foil can be recycled, but it's not accepted by all waste departments. According to Grist's Umbra Fisk, while aluminum foil is as recyclable as aluminum cans are, it's sometimes not accepted by waste departments because we make foil dirtier than we do cans. Check with your local department before you throw it in with your aluminum cans. If your local center doesn't accept foil, check out these surprising ways to reuse foil.

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Aluminum foil can be recycled, but it's not accepted by all waste departments. According to Grist's Umbra Fisk, while aluminum foil is as recyclable as aluminum cans are, it's sometimes not accepted by waste departments because we make foil dirtier than we do cans. Check with your local department before you throw it in with your aluminum cans. If your local center doesn't accept foil, check out these surprising ways to reuse foil.

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Comments

[drumz]

02:47 PM on 03/14/2010

I have been recycling since the early 70's when you really had top makje an effort just to find places and now they pick it up. They charge you and then profit off the returns but that's another story. I really appreciate articles like this and wonder why it is not on the front page...

Here in Portland, OR there's a recycle place next to the transfer station and it's great. You don't even have to get out of your vehicle; hazmat employees descend on you and you are out of there in no time. I take old computer equipment, CFL'c, cooking oil (deep fryer), motor oil (the garbage company takes that as long as it's in clear plastic milk containers) batteries, electronics, wire, tires, you name it.

We have come a long way since but we still have a ways to go.

[Sarielle Stroman]

06:59 PM on 03/14/2010

I live in Portland too. What's the address of this place?

[drumz]

08:09 PM on 03/14/2010

It's along Hwy 30 but I do not know the address. It's before the St. John's bridge and it's on the water side. Sorry I can't tell you more but you could probably Google it.

[Rosewren]

09:08 AM on 03/11/2010

If you don't recycle the plastic can holders, at least cut them up before you throw them away so birds and small animals don't get their heads caught in them.

[drumz]

02:36 PM on 03/14/2010

That's what I do though we don't buy them very often. Thanks for posting and maybe others will do the same.

[WilliePilgrim]

09:20 PM on 03/10/2010

The quandary over what to do about these 'tricky' things like CFLs, and small batteries and other high tech debris comes about just as the US Post Office is looking for something to do. Why not make tyvek envelopes widely available so that it's easy to seal it up and putting into a mailbox for eventual collection, paid for by a small built-in fee.

[aphid]

12:36 AM on 03/11/2010

Great idea. These suggestions are not green if you need to drive somewhere for proper disposal.

[unitron]

06:21 PM on 03/10/2010

"Energy-Efficient" lightbulbs may contain mercury, but that was an incandescent filament bulb in the picture.

[hammer109]

02:51 PM on 03/10/2010

I have two pre-school age children so we go through a lot of batteries. Wouldn't it be easier if there were separate bins that you could set out with the rest of your recycling? I'm happy to sort my garbage into piles but shlepping to Home Depot is not as likely. And if I balk at that, I can assure you most of the rest of America will too.

[Patrick Morgan]

02:42 PM on 03/10/2010

Stories like this are useful, but what is true in one area of the country is not necessarily true in another, so looking at a national site, such as Earth911 may not give a person the best local options. There are often local resources to find out how to recycling of things in one's home area. I live in Portland, Oregon and there is a region-wide recourse through a local government agency. The public can call a phone line six days a week or go on line to obtain recycling and safe disposal information (if anyone is reading this in the area, you can see this at www.oregonmetro.gov/recycling). There are city and county resources available throughout the country, so check there first.

[Rfagan]

06:01 PM on 03/11/2010

Good point Patrick! However, the cool thing about Earth911 is its local data. Though it is a national site, it is all about local. Depending on the product you want to recycle, Earth911 could have an option for you within 5-25 miles. If it doesn't, it also has a lot of mail-in options or local events listed that may not be as ideal, but are still an option. It is cool that Portland has such great government resources (as well as Voodoo Donuts, my fav!), however other local communities may not, and in those cases (as well as yours), I think Earth911 is a great option. Yeah, I know, I'm bias cause I work @E911, but I work here cause I think its a great resource!! :)

[FPhoebe]

02:25 PM on 03/10/2010

I have scoured the internet for ways to recycle shoes (that are not made of real leather and are not sneakers) and there is just nothing. Does anyone know if you even can recycle them? I mean, the bottoms are rubber, so at the very least that can be reused right? And these are shoes that just cannot be worn anymore, by anyone.

[PallinAround]

02:57 PM on 03/10/2010

My nemesis is textiles. Unless you live in a big city, you can't recycle torn/damaged clothing or other forms of fabric. I have a boatload of old nylon hosiery that I would like to see recycled, but it looks like it's just going to go into the trash. And sometimes in large cities, there will be collections of old denim jeans, which are used in wall insulation for houses, but in my area, no such recycling program exists. I don't want to see tese things in a landfill, yet I seem to have no other options. It's VERY frustrating to those of us who want to "do the right thing," yet all I seem to be doing is cluttering up my house and garage waiting to find a recycling option that probably doesn't exist. HELP!

[T Pol]

08:27 AM on 03/13/2010

One thing you could try is contacting local crafters' groups and teachers. Pantyhose and such, cut up, makes nice pillow fill. While clothes may be torn and worn, there may be sufficient good pieces for quilting, bag making, etc. Teachers can use less than great fabrics for craft projects.

Good luck. I think we can all feel your pain on this one!

[ForVivi]

11:44 PM on 03/13/2010

If you're inclined to recycling and creative endeavors here is a site for you:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Make-Rag-Rug.aspx

[drumz]

02:38 PM on 03/14/2010

Nike takes in old shoes. Not sure where they do it (my wife works there so she takes them in (Beaverton)) but their website might have an answer.

[busterbrownthefirst]

02:23 PM on 03/10/2010

Let's socialize garbage collection and recycling just to give Republicans a heart attack.

Actually, I live in one of those Western states where throwing away everything in a landfill is as inalienable a right as giving your 12-year-old a semi-automatic for Christmas. On my block, which is mostly Republican, me and exactly one other neighbor (a Democrat) recycle. Point made. Let's do this.

I'll write my Representative right this second so he can draft some boffo legislation that will pass in the House and die in the Senate, unless, of course, some truly objectionable amendment is attached.

[InYourWorld]

07:18 PM on 03/12/2010

Republicans don't recycle? I guess my republican run HOA needs to get with the rimes...

[PDXTransplant]

12:13 PM on 03/10/2010

FYI - If you recycle batteries you should put a small piece of tape on one end of the battery so that it does not have contact with another battery. They can cause a fire.

[Perry Clease]

11:26 AM on 03/10/2010

Looks like that some of the wine corks in the photo are made of that corkless stuff. I suppose that is recyclable but I would need to do research. In the meantime I have a container filling up with wine corks of both types. I was planning on using them in some sort of art project.

Our local IKEA takes in small batteries for recycling. I don't shop there very often, but I collect my batteries in a container until I have enough to justify a trip the mouse maze or am shopping nearby.

My San Diego neighborhood has green recycling and takes about every thing except palm fronds and other fibrous plants. City residents can go to the green recycling center and get free mulch and compost.

I second what JScott says, shop greener.

[sgmorr]

01:59 PM on 03/10/2010

I noticed too that lots of the "corks" in that photo were of the plastic variety.

[ForVivi]

11:45 PM on 03/13/2010

Those could be used as earplugs.

[Lex10]

11:18 AM on 03/10/2010

Just chop up yer corks! Go ahead! Chop 'em up!

Yeah, uh, chop up your corks......

[Jpwill]

10:54 AM on 03/10/2010

If the Swedish police can recycle confiscated alcohol, you can recycle anything....

http://greenexplorer.ovi.com/getinspired/europe/sweden/creative-recycling-booze-in-the-tank/

You just need enough enthusiasm and the law on your side!

[Gasparilla]

10:46 AM on 03/10/2010

the main problem is we're a lazy country. Not only is buying bottled water envorinmentally wasteful [I know, there are exceptions], but most of the plastic bottles are thrown away when they could be taken home and recycled or placed in a recycling container.

[JScott]

10:44 AM on 03/10/2010

One could avoid recycling by just not buying some of these items. Like drink pouches and soda can packs with rings. There are alternatives, and they are probably better for you than then HFCS loaded contents.

[sgmorr]

01:59 PM on 03/10/2010

1. Reduce 2. Reuse 3. Recycle in that order.

[Cork ReHarvest]

02:02 PM on 03/10/2010

Thank you for the excellent coverage of the cork recycling movement. We'd like to add our organization to the list of cork recycling programs you are aware of. As the nations leading nonprofit cork recycling program, Cork ReHarvest's mission is to collect and recycle the cork, without increasing it's carbon footprint and to keep the cork here in North America. Our partnership with Whole Foods Markets is creating a nationwide collection model that will collect and recycle cork and also help raise awareness about the Mediterranean cork forests importance to the worlds biosphere. Please visit our website:www.corkreharvest.org to learn more.