Most of us are aware of the basics we can recycle such as paper, plastic, clothing, and glass, those kinda things, but there are a ton of random, everyday things that we never knew you could recycle. And if you’re like us, you’re always on the hunt for new ways you can help this planet of ours. Let’s take a look!
Crayons
This is one of those instances where a small thing can make a big impact, and what we mean is crayons may be little, but they fill up our landfills in a big way. These waxy little fellows aren’t biodegradable, so rather than throwing these out, send them off to the Crayon Initiative. From here, they’ll be melted down and remanufactured, then sent off to art programs and children’s hospitals.
Carpet
If you’re pulling up old carpet, don’t just toss it. Instead, look for a carpet reclamation facility or if you know the name of the company that manufactured your carpet, give them a call to see if they have a recycling program of their own.
Shingles
Shingles are made of asphalt so they can easily be recycled and used for paving streets and highways.
Eyeglasses
Even though they’re broken beyond repair to you, there are still plenty of parts that can be repurposed such as the lenses, plastic frames, and nose protectors. Check out the Lions Club to see if there is an eyeglass recycling center near you! (They accept hearing aids as well!)
Holiday Lights
Who hasn’t gone to plug last year’s Christmas lights in only to find they no longer work? Good news, instead of throwing them away you can send them to Holiday LEDs where they will recycle the products within the lights and they’ll send you a discount for the next round of lights you’ll be buying. (Inevitably.)
Razors
Most of our local recycling centers won’t accept these, but old razors, blades, and ever the plastic packaging you bought them in can be sent to TerraCycle, which has partnered with Gillette to recycle product materials.
Dirty Diapers
If you’re a parent, you know babies go through diapers fast. In fact, one ton of diapers per child is currently sitting in our landfills as we speak. But we can put a stop to this thanks to the company Knowaste which collects and recycles dirty diapers at hospitals, nursing facilities, and public restrooms. They separate the, uhm, waste from the diaper’s plastic, the plastic is then turned into pellets that are used for making shingles; as for the paper pulp, it goes on to become wallpaper and shoe soles.