In contemporary life, the ongoing challenge of managing old and unwanted items has prompted a growing interest in recycling beyond traditional materials such as paper, metal, glass, and certain plastics. Common household goods, electronics, clothes, and beauty products require more specific approaches to recycling, given that most municipal programs offer limited coverage.

Mashable has provided an extensive guide to recycling difficult items, highlighting practical solutions and programmes across the United States that facilitate responsible disposal and repurposing.

Recycling Electronics

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a significant issue, with an estimated 6.9 million tons generated annually in the U.S., yet less than 18% is properly recycled. Items such as cellphones, laptops, and TVs pose environmental risks when discarded improperly, including the leaching of toxic chemicals and the loss of valuable metals and minerals.

Several companies provide accessible recycling options:

  • Best Buy operates an in-store programme accepting a variety of electronics including TVs, computers, audio equipment, and video game controllers, with a limit of three items per household daily. They also offer a paid collection service for larger appliances.
  • For those without a nearby store, Best Buy also supports a mail-in recycling option.
  • Samsung maintains drop-off centres, often located in retail stores such as Best Buy and Staples, where users can trade in devices, even with cracked screens.
  • Apple offers its own recycling programme with prepaid shipping labels for old Apple devices.
  • Chargers, cables, and dongles can be recycled at Best Buy and via Apple's programme.
  • Batteries can be recycled via Call2Recycle, a nation-wide programme with drop-off points at retailers like The Home Depot, Lowe's, and Staples, as well as a mail-in service available at a cost.

Recycling Clothes and Shoes

For clothing in good condition, resale platforms including Depop, Mercari, and Poshmark allow users to sell gently used items online easily. For donations, Give Back Box collaborates with various charities and provides a pre-addressed shipping label for a $20 fee.

Clothing no longer suitable for donation can be sent via programmes like Girlfriend Collective’s ReGirlfriend, a partnership with SuperCircle, which offers free shipping labels and store credit for recycled garments.

Recycling Household Items

Some common household goods, such as Swiffer pads, are difficult to recycle through conventional methods. Users can opt for newer cleaning technology or recycle through TerraCycle, a commercial initiative offering free mail-back programmes funded by major brands.

Coffee pods from companies such as Nespresso can be recycled via widespread drop-off points or through free mail-back bags, while Keurig offers a similar but paid programme focused on office use.

Recycling Beauty and Bathroom Products

Most beauty packaging is made of mixed materials posing challenges for traditional recycling. Local guidelines must be consulted to determine which plastics can be recycled curbside.

For non-accepted materials, participating retailers offer take-back programmes:

  • Ulta and Sephora use Pact Collective for collection bins in stores.
  • Nordstrom partners with TerraCycle for beauty packaging drop-off.
  • Project Beauty Share accepts non-expired, gently used skincare for redistribution.

Hair tools can be repurposed or recycled through partnerships such as Mane’s Pact Collective programme, which provides prepaid labels.

Personal grooming items including disposable razors, toothbrushes, and dental care products can also be recycled through dedicated TerraCycle programmes sponsored by brands like Gillette and Oral-B.

The information, detailed by Mashable, suggests that with a bit of research and effort, many personal and household items can be responsibly recycled or repurposed through various available programmes. This goes beyond curbside recycling, utilising corporate initiatives, retail partnerships, and specialised mail-back systems to reduce waste and recover valuable materials.

Source: Noah Wire Services