5 Items you can't recycle or throw in trash....
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
February 7, 2009 12:13pm CST
5 Items you can't recycle or throw in trash....or at least shouldn't.
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/46/five-recycling-mysteries-solved.html
But they don't give us anywhere to take this kind of stuff. I mean, I might dump
2 C batteries a month....it would cost me more money and gas to drive them to a "redemption" place to dispose of them cuse those places are really "out of the way" in towns. THose lightbulbs...again, they go out so seldom..what twice a year or less? Why don't they have a trash can that can be picked up that will be for just this kind of stuff...when it is full you pull that trash can to the curb...once or twice a year or so! Maybe make a "4 times a year" pick up for just this kind of stuff. I try to recycle best I can, but they just don't make it to where we can do anything but put them in a trash can... any thoughts?
4 responses
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
7 Feb 09
Here in Italy places for throwing away old batteries are very easy to find. They are in most towns and are similar to a 'litter-box'
I don't see medicines on that list. We have to recycle out of date medicine too and usually those disposal units can be found near chemists.
We get door to door collections for paper and plastic weekly and general rubbish and kitchen/food waste onalternate days. We also have a communal place to tip glass items which is emptied once a week. Does that sound like it is at yours too'
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
7 Feb 09
We have nothing here in USA or at least that I have heard of or seen/found. That does remind me that at alot of places, including the post office, they have special envelopes and free postage for recycling print ink cartridges. However, I think that is more as they can "sell" empty cartridges and keep the money. Schools do this too - kids donate the carts and the school sells them to "refill" places and the school keeps their money and the "Refill" places get very low cost materials.
The trash place does have 5 times per year per address where if youcall them and set the day, they trash people will comeout and pick up large items, furniture, applicances etc.. but it has to be able to be picked up by two men - nothing heavier.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
7 Feb 09
Oh yes I forgot to mention that they also come and fetch large objects that people are trying to dispose of. I don't know whether there is a limit as to how many times they will come and collect but I do know that they are very obliging and usually come the day sfter you call them 
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
3 Jul 09
I am pretty much in agreement with you. If we can't dispose of those in a way that is convenient and close to us, then why do they exist? Shoudln't research be made to replace those things with others that won't be that damaging?
In any case, if I choose to live in a specific place and pay my taxes, there really should be a collection for those kinds of items. As you suggest once or twice a year would be fine, but at least make it happen.
Like you I recycle as much as I can, and I am very careful not throwing things out without finding other options or uses for them. But it always comes a time when we get something that we can't really throw out - paint and batteries being the more common.
I have been thinking about this lately. With all the problems about garbage and recycling and this and that... why are thins allowed to be sold with all the extra packaging? All the unnecessary bows and ribbons?
Seems to me that someone is not doing their homework:)
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
3 Jul 09
Well, I"d suspect that they can't literally produce nothing but products that can be recycled. Stop selling batteries and we got problems... hearing aid batteries, and the like - many life threatening uses.
But at the same thing.. I think many would do more to recyle... if there was a place to do it! I mean, there are so few recylce drop offs and most of those are so far out of the way that people just don't bother or just don't know they exist! Then you have apartment dwellers that don't have the space to accomodate saving up stuff to take to a recycle center, even if it is close. Then you have those like me.. by myself and I use a 16oz water bottle, refill it a bunch of times then just toss it as after awhile they will collect germs and all.. but I toss one a week...do you realize how long it would take me to save enough to take a bag to a recycle place?
They beat into us about recycling..go green.. but at the same time.. do nothing to help us do that other than make a product that they want us to buy. Why dont they make more recycle places? Put plastic bottle recycle bins in parking lot of grocery stores or the link. Have a "recycle trash day" where they only pick up certain things - once a month or something. Guess we'll see how it goes!
@writermom8 (913)
• Philippines
7 Feb 09
Thank you for sharing the link! Unfortunately, since I don't live in the USA, my circumstances are different from what the article is talking about.
I am also a staunch recycling advocate and it pains me when I can't find anywhere to dump disposable batteries and light bulbs in! I once accumulated about 1 lb. of AA and AAA batteries in a plastic bag but has nowhere to send them to. I still ended up including it in the trash that garbage collectors get, to my utter sadness.
I since switched to rechargeable batteries and have no reason yet at the moment to throw anything out, thank goodness.
Last year, several organizations in my country have just started Waste Markets in various malls around the city held every weekend. I've yet to check them out but once I am able to gather all our recyclable junk, my hubby and I will troop to one and cheerfully unload all the "trash" there. It makes me glad to know that they will be very responsible in disposing everything properly.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
8 Feb 09
I do the best I can. I usually do the recycling myself, like refill my ink cartridges instead of buying new ones. (cheaper too!) And I reuse water bottles, I will buy a gallon and pour it into the 16 oz bottles to take with me or for the kids.
