Spring Cleaning: How to Divert Random Household Items From the Landfill

Clearing out those old plastic planting pots? Not all are recyclable so be sure to check with your local program. You can also reuse these pots, or see if your favorite garden center will recycle them.

Old mattresses. Obsolete electronics. Cans of dried-up paint. If you’re planning on some spring cleaning and don’t want to chunk your stuff into the landfill, you’ve come to the right place.

Did you know that more than 50,000 mattresses are thrown out or illegally dumped in the U.S. every day? The good news is about 75 percent of a mattress is considered recyclable. The foam can be turned into carpet padding or even incorporated into products like dog beds. The wood can be shredded into mulch, and fabric used for industrial oil filters. Bedsprings are made of steel, which is the most recycled commodity in the world (think cars) and can be turned into things like new appliances.

The trick is to see if your community offers bulk collection services and will pick up and/or recycle mattresses. If you’re buying a new mattress and box springs, ask the retailer if they will haul away and/or recycle your old set. Maybe someone you know and love could use a mattress set you’re replacing.

Many second-hand stores don’t accept used mattresses, but you can call and check. Our favorite retailer for reusables is Habitat for Humanity ReStore, but mattresses are one of the few categories of donations they don’t take. It’s known as a great place to take and buy reusable home improvement stuff, but remember ReStore’s not just for construction projects. You can buy and donate used clothing and furniture there too–all while supporting a nonprofit organization that helps people find affordable homes.

Here are some more environmentally friendly spring cleaning tips:

You can buy, sell and exchange clothing at cool shops like Buffalo Exchange.
Clearing out those old plastic planting pots? Not all are recyclable so be sure to check with your local program. You can also reuse these pots, or see if your favorite garden center will recycle them.
If you’ve got old cans of paint, remember oil-based needs to go to a local household hazardous waste collection site. If it’s water-based, check to see if there’s a local paint recycling program. If the paint’s still good, see if a school or nonprofit might be able to use it.
For old computers and other electronics, check out this “Recycling Locator” from Earth911.
If it’s finally time to replace those swirly CFL light bulbs, put them in a plastic bag (not together as they can break and leak mercury) and take them to your household hazardous waste collection center. Be sure to replace them with today’s super-efficient and affordable LED light bulbs!
Have a ton of old hangers you don’t need? Try taking the wire ones to the dry cleaners to see if they’ll recycle them. Habitat ReStore and Goodwill could always use the plastic ones. And when you’re buying clothing, leave the hangers at the checkout if you don’t need them.
If you have a few pairs of worn out athletic shoes, check out Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe recycling program.
And this just in: we heard about this company called Ridwell that collects hard-to-recycle items from your doorstep! We haven’t tried them yet but think this is a great concept. See if they’re in your area and give them a try!
For enviro-tips throughout the year, please follow us here. Happy Spring Cleaning!

Valerie Salinas-DavisMarch 14, 2022

Spring Cleaning: How to Divert Random Household Items From the Landfill

Here are some more environmentally friendly spring cleaning tips:

You can buy, sell and exchange clothing at cool shops like Buffalo Exchange.

Clearing out those old plastic planting pots? Not all are recyclable so be sure to check with your local program. You can also reuse these pots, or see if your favorite garden center will recycle them.

If you’ve got old cans of paint, remember oil-based needs to go to a local household hazardous waste collection site. If it’s water-based, check to see if there’s a local paint recycling program. If the paint’s still good, see if a school or nonprofit might be able to use it.

For old computers and other electronics, check out this “Recycling Locator” from Earth911.

If it’s finally time to replace those swirly CFL light bulbs, put them in a plastic bag (not together as they can break and leak mercury) and take them to your household hazardous waste collection center. Be sure to replace them with today’s super-efficient and affordable LED light bulbs!

Have a ton of old hangers you don’t need? Try taking the wire ones to the dry cleaners to see if they’ll recycle them. Habitat ReStore and Goodwill could always use the plastic ones. And when you’re buying clothing, leave the hangers at the checkout if you don’t need them.

If you have a few pairs of worn out athletic shoes, check out Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe recycling program.

And this just in: we heard about this company called Ridwell that collects hard-to-recycle items from your doorstep! We haven’t tried them yet but think this is a great concept. See if they’re in your area and give them a try!

For enviro-tips throughout the year, please follow us here. Happy Spring Cleaning!