Knowing what to do with waste items can be confusing. Luckily, Take Care of Texas has your back! We’ve compiled a list of items that are commonly dumped or discarded in the wrong way. Keep reading to find out more information on these items and what can and can’t be recycled.
Believe it or not, diapers are one of the most common sources of contamination in the recycling stream. Most diapers are made of a mix of plastic, paper, and absorbent polymers—which are nearly impossible to separate. Additionally, they’re contaminated with human waste which makes them unrecyclable. Many people toss used diapers into their recycling bins with hopes that they will get recycled anyway, an action termed “wish-cycling.” Unfortunately, wish-cycling makes the recycling process less efficient and, with items like diapers, can cause harm to the workers handling waste at sorting facilities.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills, consider using reusable cloth diapers or choose diapers that are plastic-free and biodegradable. Just remember that all disposable diapers should be placed in your curbside trash bin.
Mattresses can be a difficult item to dispose of because of their size and all of the different materials that they’re made of. To reduce the amount of illegally dumped mattresses and furniture, many cities and waste haulers offer bulk item pickup or collection events. Many mattress retailers also offer pickup of old mattresses when you have a new one delivered.
If your mattress is still in good condition, organizations like Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and homeless shelters may accept used mattresses.
Garden hoses are another common contaminant in the recycling stream. Similar to diapers, garden hoses are also made of plastic, but they are not made of the same plastic that bottles and detergent jugs are made of. Garden hoses are typically made from PVC or vinyl, which is not accepted in most curbside recycling programs. Additionally, hoses get tangled up in sorting machines, causing damage and costly downtime. Garden hoses should be discarded in your curbside trash bin if they cannot be reused or donated.
String lights, like outdoor holiday lights, are another commonly wish-cycled item. One thing is for sure, they do not belong in your curbside recycling bin. Like garden hoses, they can damage recycling equipment. Working string lights can be donated to local thrift stores or repurposed for various crafts. String lights that are no longer working can be recycled through specific recycling programs, such as HolidayLED. You can also check with your local municipality for string light recycling programs and drop-offs.
Most electric toothbrushes have a rechargeable lithium battery which is not recyclable in curbside recycling programs and should not be placed in curbside trash bins. Rechargeable lithium batteries are designated as Universal Waste by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality because they can cause fires if broken, bent, or crushed. Lithium batteries are accepted at most Household Hazardous Waste collection events and can be recycled through the Call2Recycle recycling program.
Oral-B also has a “Recycle on Us” program where you can recycle your Crest, Oral-B, and Fixodent products for free. They accept items like plastic toothbrushes, toothbrush head refills, toothpaste tubes, mouthwash containers, floss containers, and floss picks.
It’s important that you never dispose of your prescription drugs down the drain or toilet as pharmaceuticals can pollute our water and unintentionally expose people and wildlife to the chemicals in the medications. The best way to dispose of your expired, unwanted, or unused prescription drugs is through a drug take-back program. Most pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreens, have take-back kiosks where you can safely dispose of medicines. Additionally, the DEA hosts national drug collection events where residents can safely dispose of their unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Most curbside collection programs do not accept foam, such as Styrofoam, as it is difficult to recycle and breaks apart easily. Some communities have drop-off centers that accept foam, such as the City of Frisco. Use the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s database to search for foam recycling programs by location. If there are no recycling options near you, foam should go in your trash bin.
Similar to foam, most communities do not accept milk cartons in curbside recycling programs because they are difficult to recycle. Milk cartons are made from layers of different materials like paper, plastic, and sometimes aluminum which are difficult for recycling centers to separate and process effectively. Use the Carton’s Council’s address locator tool to check if cartons are accepted in your curbside bin or at local drop-off centers. If there are no local recycling options, it is best to place cartons in your trash bin.
It can be hard to know exactly what to do with your waste items. Earth911 and Recycle Nation are database-type websites where you can look-up if your community has recycling or collection options for whatever item you’re looking to dispose of. Terracycle is another company that offers recycling programs for hard-to-recycle items. Check out Take Care of Texas' helpful guide for more information on disposing of items once they’re past their usable life.
