Here’s 41 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle

In celebration of Earth Day—and Earth Day Texas—we’re taking a closer look at recycling. Many of us recycle the basic things—paper, plastic, cans, etc—but there’s a whole a world of recyclables that most of us are throwing in the garbage.

From batteries and video games, to inhalers and metal keys, here are 41 things you might not now you could be recycling.

 

1. Carpet

Replacing your carpets? Have unused rolls lying around the house? Don’t throw them to the curb. New rolls can go to Habitat for Humanity. The Carpet America Recovery Effort can help you recycle the old ones. Many carpet manufacturers will help recycle your carpet, too.

2. Batteries 

Throwing away batteries can be terrible for the environment. Recycle them instead. Many office supply stores like Office Depot offer battery recycling. Even some Ikeas have it, too.

3. Cardboard boxes

People always need boxes. Try donating them to nonprofits or shelters—they’re often in dire need of cardboard boxes. Businesses that collect at least 100 boxes each month are also eligible to resell their boxes to UsedCardboardBoxes.com.

4. CDs/DVDs

A simple scratch is enough to turn CDs into garbage. But don’t place them in the trash—The CD Recycling Center can help you recycle them instead.

5. Clothing

Throwing out clothes is a waste. Visit your local Goodwill or other thrift store to donate them instead

6. Clothes Dryers/Washing Machines

Everything you need to know about recycling large appliances can be found here

7. Fluorescent light bulbs

Fluorescent light bulbs leak mercury into the environment when broken in landfills. Home Depot, Lowes, Ikea and similar locations commonly accept fluorescent light bulbs for recycle. Visit search.earth911.com to find a location near you.

8. Toilets

Call your city’s recycling center or a local waste management company to see if they recycle toilets. Most Habitat For Humanity locations will also accept used toilet donations.

9. Ink Cartridges

Re-manufacturing plastic ink cartridges requires 80% less energy than making new ones. In other words, be sure to reuse and eventually recycle your cartridges. Many office supply stores will refill them for you. Call the cartridge manufacturer for advice on how and where to recycle them.

10. Computers

Made from a variety of materials, computers are notoriously difficult to recycle. However, most computer manufacturers have take-back or trade-in programs where they’ll collect your computer in order to reuse its materials. Call your manufacturer for more details.

11. Video Games

The aforementioned CD Recycling Center will accept and then recycle any video game discs you might have. For all cartridges, Nintendo offers a take back program where they’ll recycle your games free of charge. They even take non-Nintendo brand games, too.

12. Motor Oil

The EPA has said that “If all the oil from American do-it-yourself oil changers were recycled, it would be enough motor oil for more than 50 million cars a year.” Needless to say, recycling your motor oil can make a real difference. Consult your local service station or auto shop to learn how.

13. Cell Phones

The best way to recycle your cell phone is to donate it to Verizon’s HopeLine program, which benefits survivor’s of domestic abuse.

14. Sports Equipment

Sporting equipment is best recycled through reuse. Sell or donate it to your local Goodwill, thrift store or Play It Again Sports location

15. Athletic Shoes

Don’t throw out those tattered old running shoes. Instead, send them to Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program, which accepts any brand of old sneaker and recycles them into various sport courts and fields so kids around the world have more places to play.

16. Cooking Oil

Many cities offer cooking oil recycling. Call your local recycling center for details.

17. Construction Wood

It’s not always been easy to recycle wood. But now there’s a great resource to show you how and where. Visit reusewood.org to learn the most efficient way to recycle all that extra wood.

18. Bicycles 

Rather than tossing out your old bicycle, donate it to Bikes of the World, which collects, refurbishes and then donates bikes to lower-income people and various institutions in developing countries.

19. Crayons

All those unused and broken crayons don’t have to end up in the trash. Crazy Crayons is an organization that will recycle your old crayons into new, fun, multicolored ones.

20. Holiday Lights

To learn how to recycle those old xmas lights, click here. Many Home Depot and Lowes locations will recycle them, too.

21. Christmas tree

There’s tons of fun ways to reuse and recycle your old xmas tree—take a look.

22. Wine Corks

Recycled wine corks can be used to make everything from insulation and car parts, to yoga mats and sports equipment. Several health food stores like Whole Foods have drop boxes for collecting corks for recycling. ReCORK is another option—they’ll recycle your corks into shoe soles and other clever products. Check their site for drop off locations.

23. Trophies

A thorough guide on recycling your trophies can be found here.

24. Bras 

There are several organizations that accept bras to benefit women in need. Here’s a great resource for choosing what option is best for you.

25. Greeting Cards

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children accepts greetings cards of all shapes and sizes and reuses the materials to create new ones. Funds from the new cards go to benefit abused and homeless families.

26. Packing Peanuts

Most cities don’t have options for recycling Styrofoam peanuts. However, many packaging stores like UPS will accept them for reuse. The Plastic Loose Fill Council can help you find a location near you.

27. VHS Tapes

Recycling tapes can be tricky, but it’s possible. Earth 911 is a great resource for learning how.

28. Inhalers

Millions of Inhalers go to waste every year. But there’s good news: Inhalers can now be recycled through the “Complete the Cycle” campaign.

29. Brita Water Filters 

When it comes to Brita filters, there are several options to choose from when recycling them. Consult this resource for detailed instructions.

30. Cosmetics

Cosmetics contain many chemicals harmful to the environment (including lead), and in most cases cannot be recycled. However, these products can be repurposed in a number of creative ways. As far as the packaging goes, many of the larger makeup retailers collect cosmetic containers for recycling—including MAC, Lush, Aveda, and Origins. Some even give gifts or gift cards in exchange.

31. Mattresses 

Before tossing out your old mattress in favor of a new one, check with your mattress’ manufacturer—chances are they’ll help you recycle it. However, if they don’t, you’re not completely out of luck. Check with your city, many areas have recycling centers that will take mattresses off your hands.

32. Apple Products 

Apple products are one of the easiest things to recycle. Apple locations accept all their products back for free recycling.

33. Cars, Boats, and Motorcycles

Junkyards are often the best way to properly dispose of your vehicle in a way that insures most of its materials will be put to good re-use. Junkmycar.com—something of a virtual junkyard—is another viable option. Bonus: both choices are likely to earn you some extra cash.

34. Hearing Aids

The Starkey Hearing Foundation collects all makes and models of hearing aids to benefit the hearing-impaired all over the world.

35. Backpacks

The American Birding Association will take your donated backpack and give it to scientists who will use it in the field when tracking neotropical birds.

36. Wedding Dresses

Brides Across America accepts recently used wedding dresses and gifts them to United States military brides in need. In addition to dresses, the organization accepts weddings accessories like veils and tiaras, too. Why toss out your dress when it could go to a cause like that?

37. Keys

The Keys for Hope Foundation is a non-profit that donates 100% of its proceeds to help feed those in need by helping to stock community food pantries. Keys can also be recycled as scrap metal at your local recycling center.

38. Crocs

Upgrading your ratty old Crocs? Take them to your local official Croc store to be recycled or reused. The company’s “Soles 4 Souls” campaign helps put shoes on the underprivileged and others in dire need of footwear.

39. Hairdryers 

You might be surprised to learn that hairdryers are easily recycled. Simply locate your closest scrap metal recycling center, drop it off, and you’re done!

40. Juice Pouches

Strictly speaking, these aren’t recyclable. However, TerraCycle will donate 1 cent for each juice pouch collected, and donate the proceeds to the non-profit or school of your choosing. TerrarCycle provides free shipping for sending in the pouches, too

41. Ziploc Bags

Yep, you can now recycle Ziploc Bags. Just watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFeJAM0Je88

42. For everything else, TerraCycle has your back!

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5 Ways To Reduce Your Eco Footprint Today: With Earth Day Texas’ Michael Cain

At Cedarcide, we’re passionate about leading sustainable, environmentally responsible lives. To help share our enthusiasm for environmental education and awareness, we spoke with Earth Day Texas’ Michael Cain about everyday things we could all being doing to reduce our ecological footprint. Cain has been on the founding board of Earth Day Texas, the nation’s largest Earth Day event, since its beginnings in 2010. From 2014 to 2015, Cain served as the organization’s executive director, and is now the president of The Earth Day International Film and Media Festival, which is set to launch this coming April.

Consider Reducing Your Beef Consumption.

“One of the more obvious choices you can make is to reduce the amount of beef you eat. Many will say ‘oh, I can’t do that,’ but the idea is that everyone can reduce their intake even if they don’t want to stop eating beef altogether. In an ideal world, if we were all vegetarians or vegans, we’d see an immediate reduction of about 17% in the amount of carbon dioxide that’s being put out into the planet. Roughly 14% of all greenhouse gas emissions—more than all the exhaust from all the world’s transportation—comes from agriculture. So you can imagine what a change it would make if we all just reduced the amount of beef we consumed daily.”

 

Be Mindful of the Clothes You Buy

“A lot of people will be surprised to learn that fashion is the second largest source of pollution in the world. Clothing dyes eventually come out of clothes and often end up in rivers and oceans. Another problem is that many clothes are manufactured so cheaply they’re essentially disposable, but if you buy clothes that are of higher quality—that last longer—you’re not only reducing waste but also reducing the amount of unethical labor used in the creation of clothing around the planet.”

Eat Organic

“Eating organic, eating locally and seasonally—that’s a big thing that you can do. For example, something like eating sustainable seafood is a change that you could consider making. About 90% of all the world’s fisheries are either fully fished or over-fished. So looking for sources of food that are working within a sustainable model is always the way to go.”

Drink Filtered Water

“This is an easy one: drink filtered tap water, don’t buy plastic bottles. We’ve consumed forty-eight billion bottles of water since 2012. Nearly every piece of plastic that was ever created still exists today. So, even just bringing and reusing your own bottle can make a significant dent. All of those plastic bottles, even the recycled ones, have to be transported, and that’s another source of exhaust. The reality is that we all feel good about recycling, but the majority of those bottles are not being recycled, so they end up in our landfills, rivers, and oceans.”

Monitor Your Home Energy Usage

“75% of the electricity that powers our home electronics is consumed while those electronics are turned off. Unplugging things like stereos, speakers, laptops, and televisions, certainly when you’re not around, is a great way to conserve energy. I think an energy audit from a reputable source is a great way to understand how much energy you may be losing, especially from your roof, for example. That’s one of the largest sources of wasted energy in the home.”

Bonus: Think Beyond Yourself!

“Ever since the birth of my first child, I find myself thinking about what kind of planet I’ll be leaving for my two daughters. I feel that as a father I have a responsibility to lower my eco footprint and to educate my daughters about the need to live responsibly and sustainably. I look forward to leaving them clean beaches and beautiful forests, which I see as part of creating a better life for them. I encourage you to think beyond yourselves, to think about what life will look like after you’re gone, and to do what you can to make the future of our planet a better place.”

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Natural Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring time means spring cleaning. Unfortunately, spring cleaning usually entails toxic products, artificial perfumes and corrosive chemicals. From skin irritation and asthma, to birth defects and cancer, commercial cleaning agents are typically the most dangerous products we keep in our homes. To make matters worse, the harsh chemicals in over-the-counter cleaners can linger in your house for days after use, increasing the likelihood they’ll adversely affect not only your home’s air quality but also the environment and our water systems. If you’re looking for safer, more natural and eco-friendly ways to spring clean your home, we got you covered. Here are some of our favorite natural spring cleaning tips.

 

Use Lemons

Because of their natural acidity, lemons are a versatile disinfectant, stain-remover and air-freshener. From deep cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, to restoring table tops, laundry and furniture, lemons are an essential natural alternative to harsh cleaning agents. Quick tip: Use lemon juice to remove tough stains from cutting boards and countertops. For more tips on cleaning with lemons, click here.

 

 

Use White Vinegar

It might not smell great but distilled white vinegar is among the most useful natural cleaners in existence. It’s a handy stain remover, deodorizer, and degreaser. Quick tip: In a reusable spray bottle, mix a 1-to-1 ratio of water and vinegar to create a highly effective all-purpose cleaner for use on countertops, toilets, ovens, microwaves, sinks, and more. The possible uses are virtually endless. In fact, here are 95 additional ways to use the cleaning power of vinegar throughout your home.

Avoid using vinegar on granite or marble—vinegar is known to cause damage to these surfaces.

 

Use Baking Soda

Nothing deodorizes quite like baking soda. But did you know it’s also an incredibly effective natural cleaner? From cleaning mattresses, rugs, and cloth furniture, to restoring grills, ovens, flatware and even silverware, baking soda is as versatile as any cleaner in your kitchen. Quick tip: To clean your kitchen oven naturally, create a paste from a 3-to-1 ratio of baking soda and water; spread the paste on all dirty areas within the oven, and let it sit for at least 5 hours (dirtier ovens may require an overnight soak). Return, wipe the paste from the oven, and the grime disappears. For especially dirty ovens, you might need to repeat this process.

 

 

Freshen Your Air Naturally

Did you know store-bought air fresheners are one the biggest sources of air pollution in the home? (Worse yet, they contain chemicals called VOCs, which have been linked to cancer in both humans and animals). Opening the windows in your house for just 10-15 minutes a day can do far more to improve your home’s air quality than any artificial air freshener ever could. Quick tip: For a natural alternative to air fresheners, puncture a lemon or orange with a fork and then slowly bring it to a boil in an uncovered pot—the citrus scent will quickly and naturally refresh your home. However, our absolute favorite way to naturally freshen the air in our homes is through air-purifying plants; check the infograph below to choose one for yourself: (insert graph here)

 

 

Ditch the Clutter

Obviously, the easiest way to spring clean your home is to keep it clean all year round. While that’s not exactly realistic, one way to ensure the mess never gets too far out of control is to keep clutter to a minimum. Every unnecessary trinket or knick-knack is just another way for your home to collect dust. As you spring clean this season, keep a basket or bag within reach; anything you haven’t used within the last year, seriously consider getting rid of—but recycle or donate, don’t just toss it in the garbage!

 

Choose An All Natural, All-Purpose Cleaner

If we’re being honest, few of us have the time to make and mix our own DIY cleaners at home. Plus, even the best of these have shortcomings, often failing to remove particularly stubborn, set-in stains and grime. Finding an over-the-counter all natural, all-purpose cleaner is important for when DIY cleaners just won’t cut it. However, be sure to read the label, not all cleaners are created equal. Try to avoid the following ingredients when choosing an all-purpose cleaner:

• Ammonia
• Parabens
• Artificial colors
• Glycol ether
• EDTA
• Silicates
• Phosphates
• Added solvents
• Formaldehyde
• Any known or suspected carcinogen

Make the Switch To Microfiber Cloths

Switching from dangerous artificial cleaners to natural alternatives is a big step in the right direction. But reducing waste is crucial, too. It’s easy to exhaust roll after roll of paper towels when cleaning an entire home. Clearly, that’s a lot of wasted paper. Switching to a reusable microfiber cloth will greatly reduce this waste, and can potentially save your family hundreds of dollars each year. Microfiber cloths last much longer than traditional cleaning rags, and are significantly better at removing dirt, grime and dust, too. In fact, microfiber cloths are so efficient, they often require only water to be effective at removing even the toughest of messes.

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Hiking with your dog: 8 Tips

Exercise, nature, fresh air—hiking is a great way to bring you and your dog closer together. Few activities will excite your dog quite like exploring the wilderness with their very best friend. However, it’s not as simple as just grabbing your furry buddy and heading for the trails. Preparation and proper tools are needed to insure that you, your dog, and fellow hikers all enjoy a safe, responsible and rewarding hike. Adhere to the following guidelines to make the most of your dog-friendly day on the trails.

Physically Prepare Your Dog

Just like you, your dog needs to be in shape to undertake a hike. First off: all puppies less than a year old should probably be left at home. The demanding nature of hiking—uneven trails, steep inclines, long distances—is often too much for their young bodies. In some cases, hiking can even cause permanent harm to puppies’ still-developing bones and joints. For adults: weight, age, and breed should all be considered. Older or overweight dogs are obviously not the best candidates for hiking. Snub-nosed and smaller dogs also tend to have more trouble with hiking than other breeds (though they often excel on shorter, easier hikes)

Fortunately, conditioning your dog for hiking is not difficult. In fact, the process is not dissimilar from how humans prepare for hiking. Training should start with small walks and slowly progress to higher mileage and more difficult terrain. The aim is to build up your dog’s endurance and to toughen their paw pads, too. If you see your dog licking their paws, panting excessively, lagging behind or tucking up their tail, you should stop, rest and give your dog some water and a snack. These are signs of an exhausted dog. With proper and patient physical training, your dog should be ready for their first hike in just a few weeks.

 

Train Your Dog For Obedience

When hiking with man’s best friend, basic obedience is critical. Well-trained dogs are simply far less likely to hurt themselves or others on the trail. “Sit,” “stay,” “come,” “heel,” and “leave it” are all essential. If your dog is not familiar with these commands and thoroughly socialized with both humans and other dogs, they’re not yet ready to go hiking. Wild animals, other hikers, other canines, poisonous mushrooms and berries—hiking trails are full of potential pitfalls that could endanger both you and your pet if they’re not properly trained. Aggressive, loud, and overly protective dogs are also not good candidates for hiking.

 

 

Research The Trail

Before choosing a trail for you and your furry buddy, it’s best to do a little research. Some areas and trails require permits or have other strict regulations concerning dogs (for example, most National Parks do not allow dogs on hiking trails). Waste disposal, leash requirements, breed restrictions—all trails have at least some rules. To save yourself a fine or a really short day on the trail, it’s best to know what rules are in place before starting a hike.

For your pup’s sake, it’s advisable to look for trails that are dog-friendly. Softer trails—leaf or soil covered, free from particularly rough or sharp surfaces—will help prevent common paw pad injuries. It’s also best to avoid trails with unusually steep inclines, ladders, drop-offs, and those heavily trafficked by bikes or horses. To find a dog-friendly trail near you, visithikewithyourdog.com.

 

Consider The Weather

Before heading out for a hike, check the weather. Cold weather, unless it’s way below freezing, can usually be solved with the proper gear—dog booties, dog vests, coats or sweaters. Hot weather, however, poses a greater health risk to your pet.

High heat and humidity, in particular, can cause breathing and hydration problems in your pet. Heavy panting, increased salivation, a bright red tongue, and general weakness are all signs of a tired and possibly dehydrated dog; if you spot any of these, stop, rest and hydrate immediately. Remember to take rest and water breaks every 15 to 30 minutes. Use your judgement: if it’s too hot, postpone the hike for another day, or seek out a shadier, less demanding trail, instead.

 

Pack The Proper Gear

 

 

 

Here’s a list of the things you’ll need when hiking with your dog:

• Leash (the shorter the better) and collar, complete with current ID tags
• Plenty of food and water for both you and your furry friend. Bring a little more than you both would usually need (Rule of thumb: 1 cup of food per 20 lbs of dog, per day.)
• A dog bowl for water and food (collapsible bowls are the most convenient.
• All natural, nontoxic Insect repellent (especially important due to Ticks)
• Dog-ready first aid kit
• Hiking dog booties for when it’s cold or in the event your dog incurs a paw injury.
• A towel for post-hike cleanup
• Biodegradable poop bags
• Carabiner.  This will allow you to go hands-free with the dog leash if necessary.
• Dog coat or vest in the event of cold weather
• Dog brush (for tangles, burs, and to check for insects)
• A dog pack (Tip: your dog should never carry more than a ⅓ of its body weight)

 

Treat Your Dog For Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes

Hiking is an easy way pick up bug bites. While most of the insects you’ll encounter in the wild are relatively harmless to you and your dog, some can be outright lethal—particularly ticks and mosquitoes. Ticks can transfer a number of serious diseases to your dog, and mosquitoes bites can lead to deadly heartworm disease. That’s why preventing bug bites is critical to the health of your dog.

Treating your dog with an all natural and nontoxic insecticide and repellent is the best way to keep bugs off your pet when hiking. Choosing a natural alternative to chemical pesticides is important, as most insecticides—even those specifically marketed to dogs—contain toxins that are dangerous for people, pets and the environment. In addition to treating your dog’s coat, try soaking a bandana in an all natural repellent and tying it around their neck for added protection against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

 

 

 

 

Follow Trail Etiquette

While laws and regulations vary from trail to trail, there are general etiquette rules that apply to every hike. For the safety and enjoyment of you, your pet, other dogs, and other hikers, be sure to follow these guidelines:

• Give hikers without dogs the right of way. Be sure to say “hi” and act friendly, too, so your dog knows these individuals pose no threat.
• Whether on-leash or not, keep your dog in sight and under control at all times
• Keep a 1:1 ration of dogs to people. If you’re hiking alone, just bring one canine buddy at a time.
• Leave the trail as you found it, cleaning up after both you and your pet as you go. Dog waste should be backpacked out of the trail or buried about eight inches underground,  somewhere far away from water sources.
• Keep your dog on the trail and prevent them from disturbing wildlife. Many plants, for example, are delicate and cannot survive being trampled. Obviously, this is for your dog’s protection too, as this will prevent him from encountering dangerous animals and any harmful plant life like poison ivy.

Do A Post-Hike Check

After a long hike, it’s easy to just brush off and head home. However, it’s important for the safety of your dog to do a post-hike check as soon as your adventure is complete. Brushing throughout their coat, check your pup for burs and other needle-like plant life—like foxtails and cacti. Also check for ticks, fleas, and other biting insects that may have found their way into your dog’s fur. Be sure to check all areas of your pet, especially in hard to reach places like in between toes and under armpits. Lastly, check your dog’s paw pads for any severe cracks or other injuries.

 

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