3 Things In Your Home You Should Be Recycling

Did you know that 80% of what people throw away can be recycled? We all know about recycling plastic, paper, cardboard and metal. Still, there are often many other aspects of your home and your belongings that can be recycled, and many times, people are unaware of exactly how many things can be reused and repurposed to help reduce what goes to landfill.

In the UK, we send over 15 million tonnes of rubbish from our homes to landfills, and 100 billion pieces of plastic end up in landfills yearly. These numbers are staggering so even recycling a small amount from your home can make a massive difference.

But let’s look at the things you can recycle or repurpose in your home or from your life that are often overlooked.

Electronics

According to PRNewswire, the average home has around 28 connected devices. When it comes to replacing old electronics, many people don’t know what to do with them and end up hoarding them or throwing them out with their general rubbish. But there are other options you can consider when getting rid of old devices you no longer want or need. Firstly, if they’re in good condition, you can see how much you can sell them for. You can use companies who specialise in buying used goods when the time comes to sell my apple watch, iPhone, laptop or tablet devices, for example. You can also send working and unusable items to electronic recycling companies who can correctly dispose of them or contact your council’s household recycling centre to ask what their electronic recycling options are. Alternatively, you can contact local businesses to see if anyone can use them for teaching or refurbishment initiatives to help those in your local community.

Tupperware

Tupperware is like socks; one minute, you have a matching tub and lid; the next minute, one or both are nowhere to be seen, and you’re left with a mismatched collection of lids and bases, none of which are helpful. But did you know these can be recycled in your plastic recycling? Check if your local council accepts these in your recycling collection, or head to your nearest plastic recycling centre to help you dispose of these items and avoid adding more plastic to the environment.

Kids Toys

Donating to charity shops, community groups, or charities that pass on toys to those in need can be a good option if your kids’ toys are in good condition and no longer played with. But what about those toys that are no longer good for use? You can look into different recycling options for them. Wooden toys can often be easily recycled in wood recycling facilities, provided they have no vinyl, plastic or varnish and paint on them. But the good news is if they do, they are likely still biodegradable, meaning they will break down if your only option is to send them to landfill. Plastic toys can be recycled like the Tupperware above, provided they are not covered in stickers or paint.

If you’re ever unsure of what can be recycled, your local household recycling centre can often be a good source of information about what they accept and don’t accept and the best ways to dispose of unwanted or unusable items from your home.