6 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle
This planet has a finite amount of resources, and every item that is recycled means that fewer resources must be used. In addition to this, it is a great way for any household to cut down on their carbon footprint and maybe even save a little money throughout the years. While everyone may be tossing their aluminum cans and glass bottles in the recycling bin, here is a look at a few of the odd items that many never think to recycle.
Cooking Oil
Cooking oil remains one of the most popular items to recycle due to the wide variety of unique uses for this product. Cooking oil is typically recycled in bulk with special cylinders being used to store and transport the oil. In recent years, cooking oil has been used to power bio-diesel engines which are a great alternative to traditional gasoline and diesel engines. Along with bio-diesel engines, some homes are now even using cooking oil byproducts to heat the building with specialty furnaces and heaters.
Small Electronics
It is especially important for all families to take a closer look at their handheld electronic devices when it comes to recycling. Many times, these devices contain a number of metals and chemicals that are not supposed to be grouped with common household waste. Topping the list of smaller electronic devices that should be properly recycled include batteries and mobile phones. Other products include handheld gaming systems, computer parts, stereos, e cigarette cartriges, and appliances.
Hair
Human hair may not be the first thing that one considers recycling, but donated hair is one of the best ways for someone to give back when changing up their hairstyle. While untreated hair can be sold for extensions, many companies exclusively deal with donated hair that can be used to make wigs for the needy. Those with longer hair that are considering donating should speak with a local hair donation center to see what products can and cannot be used before cutting.
Glasses
Many people will find themselves collecting eyeglasses throughout the years as their prescription continues to change, but glasses remain one of the most useful items to donate. Countless eyeglass warehouses and non-profit organizations accept old prescription glasses and simply regrind the lenses in order to change their strength. These glasses are then sold or given away to those in need.
Shoes
When shoes are no longer wearable, most people are going to toss them in the trash without knowing that they are made of some very useful substances. Some of the largest shoe manufacturers such as Nike and Reebok have created programs to reuse some of the materials of tennis shoes. Primarily, this is the rubber that is found on the soles of shoes that can be broken down and used to resurface playgrounds.
Water Filters
Using water filters is a great way to cut down on the use of plastic bottles, but many are at a loss of what to do with the filters after they have expired. These filters can last anywhere from a few weeks to a year and are now being used to create other plastic-based products after they are no longer needed. Along with the plastic, many water filters also contain filtering components such as charcoal which can be cleaned, detoxified, and repurposed.
Paper, plastic, and metals are only the beginning when it comes to creating a greener household. Everyone should take a second look at some of the items they toss out every single day to see which can be recycled, reused, and repurposed.