After changing the oil in my wife’s care yesterday I brought the used oil to the local auto store to be disposed of appropriately. This got me to thinking about other things around the house that need to be disposed of in an appropriate matter.
The motor oil is a great example. One gallon of motor oil can contaminate up to a million gallons of drinking water. Think of that if you are ever tempted to just throw it out with the trash.
Here are some things that need to be disposed of responsibly:
Batteries - Many of the big box home centers will take recyclable batteries, and you can find bins for single use batteries in many local supermarkets or even some libraries.
Electronics - There are numerous electronic stores that have programs to take back old computer, phones, cameras, etc… Just look around at your local retailer to see what they offer.
CFLs - These energy-efficient bulbs have a tiny amount of mercury in them and need to be disposed of in a safe manner. Again look to the local big box hardware center to see what type of program they offer.
Paint - This is a really difficult one. Everyone has done multiple one time projects only to have the unused paint start to take up shelf space in the shed or garage. Getting rid of this extra paint can pose a problem. A couple of solutions are:
- Check your local landfills disposal program
- Offer to donate the paint to a local non-profit
- You can add hardeners to the paint to cause it to dry so you can throw it out
- Put an ad on Craigslist offering it for someone else’s project
So please remember that not everything can be thrown out with the trash. It is important to be responsible when getting rid of the items above.
Next time I will talk about those things that we all have thrown into our recycle bin in an effort to do our part even though they don’t belong there.
Comments(8)