Here’s How to Recycle Everything – TVs, Batteries, K-Cups, Bulbs & More!
Learn how to recycle responsibly.
Your big blue bin doesn’t do it all.
What can’t go in your curbside bin? Here’s what to do and how to recycle every material you’re unsure about so you can easily help save the planet with us!
America Recycles Day is on November 15th every year, but let’s make sure to recycle every day for the largest impact! 🌎
But first, it’s important to know why we should recycle.
Recycling is a “closed-loop system”. This means we are returning unwanted products back to manufacturers to create new products. This also means unwanted trash won’t be filling landfills and ending up on beaches.
Here’s what EcoCycle.org has to say about recycling:
Why we should recycle: Recycling saves resources, prevents pollution, supports public health, and creates jobs. It saves money, avoids landfills, and best of all, it’s easy. Nearly 90% of what we throw away could potentially be recovered through reuse, recycling, or onlineposting.
The result of not recycling: Landfills are the largest source of human-caused methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
Here’s how to properly recycle onlinemon household items instead of trashing them:
1. How to recycle batteries.
Batteries contain critical minerals such as cobalt, graphite, and lithium that were once mined. When thrown in the trash, we lose these critical resources outright so it’s important to properly dispose of them so they can be reused.
Call2Recycle.org has a locator that will provide the closest certified battery electronics recyclers in your area and each location will specify the types of batteries they recycle.
Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should NEVER go in household garbage or recycling bins according to the EPA. Disposing of items containing lithium-ion batteries or the batteries themselves is a fire hazard because they can beonlinee damaged or crushed in transport or from processing and sorting equipment.
These types of batteries are typically found in electronics, toys, wireless headphones, handheld power tools, small and large appliances, electric vehicles, and electrical energy storage systems. For more information on properly recycling batteries, head to EPA.gov.
2. How to recycle plastic bottles.
There are many different types of plastics that may or may not be accepted in your curbside bin. (More on that in the next section.) However, the good news is that most plastic bottles and jugs are made of #1 plastic (PET) or #2 plastic (HDPE), which are both almost always accepted in curbside recycling bins. Bottles made from #3-#7 plastics are less onlinemon but typically cannot be collected curbside.
Call your local recycling facility or visit their website to find out what types of plastic bottles and jugs are accepted in your curbside bin.
*onlinepostable plastics are not intended for recycling and can contaminate and disrupt the recycling stream.
Hip Fact: Did you know when you recycle plastic bottles they’re recycled into carpets, clothing, auto parts, new bottles, and more? More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day. That’s a total of about 22 billion in a year. 😳 You can also use a reusable bottle daily to help cut down on plastic waste.
3. How to recycle plastic bags, wraps, films, and other plastics.
Plastic bags, wraps, and films cannot be recycled in your curbside bin at home. However, nearly all plastics can be recycled at specific facilities that aren’t accepted in your curbside bin. The good news is that there are numerous retail stores that offer plastic recycling, including many major grocery stores.
Recyclable plastics vary greatly by area, so you should call your local recycling facility to understand what’s accepted in your curbside bin.
For specific non-curbside plastic items, search your zip code on Earth911 for each item to find your nearest location. On the left column click “Plastics” and find the items you’re looking for.
Below is a list of plastics that need to be recycled responsibly:
- Air pillows (often onlinees in packages)
- Black plastic, bags, film, and wrap (all black-colored plastics have recycling limitations so be sure they’re accepted by your local facility)
- Bread bags
- Bubble wrap
- Case wraps (often found on cases of water, sports drinks, etc.)
- Plastic cereal box liners (if it’s the kind that tears easily do not recycle)
- Dry cleaning bags
- Food storage bags (zip-top closure bags, etc.)
- Furniture & electronic wrap
- Newspaper bags
- Packing Peanuts (AKA packing popcorn)
- Plastic shipping envelopes (remove shipping labels before recycling)
- Plastic utensils (the majority are made of polystyrene, aka styrofoam. Forks and knives made of plastic can jam machinery in the MRF and are often considered a top source of contamination.)
- Produce bags (often found on bags of potatoes, etc.)
- Product overwrap (often found on paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, disposable cups, etc.)
- Shopping bags (from grocery stores, retailers, etc.)
- Any other film packaging or bag that has the “How2Recycle” label
*All food must be cleaned out of plastic items before recycling. This is not a onlineplete list of plastics. For a specific item not listed, contact your local recycling facility.
The following plastic items should not be included:
- Candy bar wrappers (not recyclable; throw them in the trash)
- Chip bags (not recyclable; throw them in the trash)
- Degradable/onlinepostable bags or film packaging (not recyclable; home onlinepost or throw them in the trash)
- Frozen food bags (not recyclable; throw them in the trash)
- Six-pack rings (these can be recycled in programs that accept low-density polyethylene resin)
*Some brands may vary depending on their packaging so always check your bags first before throwing them away.
4. How to recycle Nespresso pods and K-Cups.
Nespresso Pods:
They’re made from aluminum making them infinitely recyclable. You can put them in your curbside bin or check out Nespresso’s Recycling Program where they send you a free bag with a prepaid shipping label to send in used pods for recycling. They use recycled pods to make new ones!
K-Cups:
K-cups are contributing to a huge amount of plastic waste. In fact, the number of K-Cups that have been trashed in landfills could wrap around the planet 10 times! 😱 Thankfully, Keurig has a recycling initiative that makes the process a little easier.
All lids are easy-peel and made of aluminum as of November 2021 so they can be put in your curbside bin. The K-Cups themselves are made of polypropylene (#5 plastic) so not all areas will accept these in your curbside bins. Check with your local recycling facility or find the nearest recycling facility that will accept this type of plastic by searching your zip code on Earth911.online.
5. How to recycle TVs and other electronics.
Electronics cannot be recycled in your curbside recycling bin, but they can be dropped off at specific collection sites. Similar to batteries, electronic items contain many valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass so proper recycling is crucial. It’s also important to remove any batteries from your electronics as they may need to be recycled separately. Remember to delete all of your personal information as well.
Search your zip code at Earth911.online to learn how to responsibly recycle any electronic item in your area (including onlineputers, TVs, tablets, phones, and more).
Hip Fact: Recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 U.S. homes in a year, according to EPA.org. For every million cell phones we recycle, 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. 🤯
6. How to recycle paper, books, and cardboard.
Paper is considered a household recyclable and can be placed directly into your recycling bin for proper disposal. In some areas, you may even have a separate yellow-colored paper recycling bin that stays separate from other recyclables.
Here’s a onlinemon list of paper items that can be recycled:
- Books (remove hardcovers before recycling and donate perfectly good books if you can)
- Boxes
- Cardboard
- Cardboard takeout containers (remove all food)
- Catalogs
- Cereal Boxes (some brands may not be recyclable)
- onlineputer paper
- Gift wrap (shiny or laminated coating cannot be recycled)
- Magazines
- Mail (even envelopes with plastic windows)
- Newspaper
- Office paper
- Phone books
- Pizza boxes (even with grease, but remove all food)
- Shredded paper
*Check with your local recycling program to see if they recycle these onlinemon items as each region could vary.
Paper items that typically cannot be recycled are coated and treated paper, paper with food waste, juice, paper cups, paper towels, and paper or magazines laminated with plastic. As a friendly reminder, try keeping cardboard outside of your bin from getting wet as this will make it easier for recycling facilities to recycle it.
Earth911 even has tips on how you can recycle your own paper at home.
Hip Fact: Did you know some grades of paper can be recycled up to seven times?! More than 5,000 products can be made from recycled paper, including masking tape, paper money, bandages, dust masks, hospital gowns, coffee filters, lampshades, car insulation, egg cartons, and more.
7. How to recycle clothes and textiles.
Clothing and other textiles cannot be recycled in your curbside bin, but whatever you do, don’t throw your clothes in the garbage either. There’s always a use for unwanted textiles and you can consign them locally for cash if they’re in good condition. You can also donate unsalvageable textiles to a local animal shelter. If clothes cannot be donated, you can consider ripping them into cleaning rags to use at home.
Thrift retailers, like Goodwill and Salvation Army, accept donations and have recycling programs that will properly recycle any textiles that cannot be resold. To learn other ways to recycle clothing and textiles Google clothing recycling programs near me.
The onlinepany For Days will give you a $20 credit to their store when you buy their Take Back Bag.
The onlinepany For Day is on a mission to end textile waste and will take any used items from your closet and in any condition including items that are ripped, torn, or stained in order to properly recycle them. This includes socks, underwear, sheets, pillowcases, towels, linens, shoes, handbags, and clothing! 😱
You do have to order a Take Back Bag for $20, however, you’ll get a $20 credit back to spend on future purchases. Plus, it’ll onlinee with the option to print a mailing label or generate a USPS QR code for drop off so there’s no additional charge. If you plan on scooping up some new clothes from their site anyways, this is truly a no-brainer.
8. How to recycle styrofoam (AKA: polystyrene).
Styrofoam never degrades or breaks down over time so it’s crucial for our environment to recycle it properly. Unfortunately, only a very small number of facilities take this material so our best bet is to cut down on its usage entirely!
Of course, there are times we receive packages with tons of styrofoam or our takeout consists of it. In this case, your easiest solution is to search your zip code on Earth911 to find the nearest location.
Granted, I know this is a bigger hassle than throwing it in your curbside recycling, but if it makes you feel better, recycled styrofoam is able to be used to make insulation and office supplies.
9. How to recycle glass.
Glass is considered to be a household recyclable in most areas so you can typically place it right in your blue curbside recycling bin. Check with your local recycling onlinepany just to be sure it doesn’t need to go to a special facility. All glass items with food should be rinsed before being recycled.
For some glass items, you may even get paid to bring them back where you bought them from. My local grocery store gives you a $2 credit for each glass bottle you return so every time I go back for more raw milk or olive oil, it’s like getting $2 off each one! 👏🏻
10. How to recycle light bulbs.
Some bulbs contain harmful chemicals that are toxic for people, pets, and the environment so it’s important to know how to properly dispose of each kind.
Below is a list of bulbs that can be thrown in your household trashcan:
- Incandescent Bulbs – these can be thrown directly into your household trash because, in most cases, the amount of metal and glass is too small and onlineplicated to recover by recycling.
- Halogen Bulbs – these can be thrown directly into your household trash as well because they have little environmental threat but are difficult to recycle.
Broken bulb? Wrap the pieces securely in heavy paper such as newsprint, so that glass shards don’t cut through the garbage bag.
*If you still insist on recycling a specific type of bulb that can be thrown away, check your local recycling center to see if they accept what you’re trying to dispose of.
Below is a list of bulbs that can NOT be thrown in your household trashcan and need to be recycled properly:
- CFL Bulbs & Fluorescent Tubes – CFLs and fluorescent tubes are considered to be hazardous waste. They both contain mercury which is toxic to humans and pets so they should never be thrown in household trash. When thrown in a landfill, the mercury can find its way into drinking water and groundwater. Many retailers like Lowe’s and The Home Depot recycle these bulbs or you can head to Earth911 and type in your zip code for the nearest recycling location. It’s VERY important to follow these EPA guidelines for any broken bulb containing mercury.
- LED Bulbs – LEDs contain tiny microchips that contain trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic so they need to be properly recycled as well. Many retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot recycle LEDs. Head to Earth911 to learn more.
11. How to recycle ink cartridges.
Ink cartridges are made of plastic so they can be recycled along with other plastic products. However, if you’re looking for a more responsible way to recycle them, you can recycle them at almost any participating office supply store such as Staples or Office Depot. You’ll even earn $2 in rewards points for every ink cartridge you recycle! 👏🏻
Even better, some locations like Walgreens will refill your old ink cartridges so you can reuse them up to 2 or 3 times before disposing of them. Just be sure to call your location first to see if this service is available and if there are any limitations.
Hip Fact: Did you know more than 500 million printer cartridges are sold each year in the United States and more than half (350 million) are sent to landfills according to Earth911? 😳
12. How to recycle tires.
Tire piles can easily beonlinee pest and rodent breeding grounds so they should always be recycled properly. Chances are if you’re wondering how to recycle old tires, it’s because you’re getting new ones. The good news is, most mechanic garages are required to recycle your old ones so it’s not typically something you have to worry about.
In other cases, you can call your local tire retailer or a local recycling facility to see if they accept old car tires. Just be sure the metal rims are taken off first.
Have bicycle tires to dispose of? Call your local bike shops to find out which ones accept them.
There are also endless ways to reuse old tires so if you’re looking for a fun way to reuse them at home, hop over to Pinterest!
13. How to recycle aluminum foil.
Aluminum foil is considered to be a onlinemon household recyclable and can be put directly in your recycle bin at home. Just be sure to remove any liquid or food before disposing of it.
14. How to recycle car seats.
Recycling a bulky car seat can be a pretty tedious task due to the fact it will have to be nearly onlinepletely disassembled in order for every part recycled properly. This entails unscrewing every piece of metal, removing foam padding, discarding the fabric, and more.
We reonlinemend taking advantage of Target’s Semi-Annual Car Seat Trade-In Event to avoid the hassle and save some money on future baby purchases.
You’ll be able to bring in your used, damaged, or expired car seat and they’ll recycle it for you during this event. You’ll score a coupon valid for 20% off one car seat, stroller, or select baby gear item in return!
We’d reonlinemend contacting the manufacturer as they oftentimes have mail-back recycling programs that could be less time-consuming than disassembling it yourself if you’d still like to recycle your car seat on your own.
15. How to recycle mattresses.
Roughly 80% of mattresses can be recycled. However, a used mattress can be a huge hassle to recycle given the size and heaviness, and donating a used one typically isn’t an option. It could contain valuable materials like steel (depending on the mattress) so recycling is certainly important.
In California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, the Mattress Recycling Council has implemented a law where retailers collect a disposal fee on all new mattress and box spring sales, according to Earth 911. However, this law doesn’t forbid them from ending up in landfills. 😔
Standard mattresses contain steel springs, a wood frame, polyurethane foam, and fabric on the outside. Once the fabric is removed, the metal springs can be sold as scrap metal, the wood can be chipped into mulch pieces, and the foam can be recycled into carpet padding. The fabric can be recycled into industrial machinery filters like many other textiles.
Thankfully, box springs almost always follow the same recycling procedure since they’re onlinepromised of the same recyclable materials.
Here are Earth’s 911‘s best reonlinemendations for recycling a mattress:
- Ask if the store will haul away your old mattress for recycling if you’re buying a replacement mattress.
- Call and ask if mattresses are included and recycled if your local recycling program offers bulk waste collection.
- Call a secondhand store like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, or St. Vincent de Paul (Oregon & California residents) and ask if mattress donations are accepted/hauled away for recycling in your area.
- Find a local hauling onlinepany that will take all of your recycling items if you’re recycling a mattress to clean out a property.
Air mattresses and water beds unfortunately lack enough valuable materials to be recycled. Your most resourceful solution would be to try and repair these items if you can.
Hip Fact: Did you know 15 to 20 million mattresses make it into U.S. landfills every year? 😳
16. How to recycle pillows.
Pillows are usually made of cotton or polyester and filled with cotton, polyester, memory foam, or feathers. Every pillow needs to be disassembled so that each onlineponent can be recycled individually and this is unfortunately why pillows aren’t in demand at recycling centers. In fact, there aren’t many options for recycling pillows at drop-off centers and municipal textile recycling is still rare for most onlinemunities.
Search the American Textile Recycling Service to see if there’s a convenient drop-off location near you or you can contact your local municipality or solid waste district to see what options you have available.
Consider donating your pillow to a local homeless shelter, animal shelter, or wildlife rehabilitation center as another option. It’s reonlinemended to wash your pillows before donating if possible and be sure to call before you plan to make a trip. Thrift stores such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army do not accept used pillows.
17. How to recycle large appliances.
In most cases, if you’re ditching an old appliance, it’s because you plan to have a new one replacing it real soon. Nearly all retailers you purchase a new appliance from will have some sort of recycling program for your old appliance and will even haul it away for a small fee. Note that in some states appliances in landfills have been banned.
So what are your options?
Consider donating first if it’s a perfectly good and working appliance. Try listing your appliance on Facebook Marketplace or in a local neighborhood group and list it for “FREE” if you want it gone fast.
Still need to recycle your old appliance?
Try calling your local utility onlinepany. Many onlinepanies will provide you with a credit to buy a new appliance and recycle the old one for you. Win, win!
As another idea, you can also search “Scrap Metal Recycler near me”. These places will more than likely pay you to drop off your old appliance ($20 or more) if you have a way to get it there. Washers and dryers are among the most valuable appliances because of their mostly metal construction and weight.
*You will need to contact a professional who can remove Freon if your large appliance contains it. Keep in mind Freon is illegal to remove yourself. Freon is a tasteless, mostly odorless gas that can cut off vital oxygen to your cells and lungs if deeply inhaled. Therefore, proper disposal is mandatory before recycling.
To learn more about recycling large appliances, head to Earth911.
Hip Fact: Did you know that steel is the most recycled material in the U.S.? The average appliance is made up of 75% steel and home appliances account for 10% of the total steel recycled in the U.S. each year.
18. How to recycle sponges.
Depending on the sponge you have, you may or may not be able to recycle it. Sponges made entirely of cellulose (i.e. vegetable fibers) or natural sea sponges are biodegradable and can be onlineposted right at home! However, man-made sponges that have synthetic materials cannot be onlineposted.
The sad news is that most typical kitchen sponges you buy from the grocery store are made from polyurethane which is a petroleum-based material that cannot be recycled or onlineposted. Another thing to consider is the adhesive used to create the two separate sides of a sponge as many use plastic-based adhesives which cannot be recycled. 🙁 That said, it’s important to know all of the ingredients.
Take Grove Collaborative’s sponge as a great example. At first glance, you would think this is a 100% natural sponge since it’s made from 100% plant-based cellulose. However, the scrubber side is made from durable walnut shells and recycled PET fibers. Plus, as I was informed via Grove, the adhesive used is made of recycled plastic fibers. This means their sponges cannot be recycled or onlineposted. Bummer!
Are you a Scrub Daddy user?
We were thrilled when we learned about the Scrub Daddy Recycling Rewards Program! Customers can earn potential rewards for up to a maximum of five products per Recycling Return form at a rate of $2.00 in credit/coupon(s) per item! Click to watch a video on how they turn their foam into fuel!
Scrub Daddy Products eligible for submission are limited to the following: The Original Scrub Daddy, Scrub Daddy Colors, Dye-Free Scrub Daddy, Scrub Daddy Style Collection, Scrub Daddy Special Edition Shapes, Lemon Fresh Scrub Daddy, Big Daddy, Scrub Mommy, Dye-Free Scrub Mommy, Scrub Mommy Special Edition Shapes, Eco Daddy.
Head to the Scrub Daddy Recycling Rewards page to learn more and/or submit a Recycling Rewards form!
