How to recycle at home
Change starts with “us” and “at home” first.

Change starts with “us” and “at home” first.
When people think of recycling at home, they usually consider materials like paper, plastic, and glass. It’s amazing. Really. However, many household items still end up in landfills, so their value is lost forever. We should create a more circular solution with recycling.
Before throwing anything away, we must ask ourselves, “How can I evaluate this?” If we still want to get rid of it, we should put it into suitable trash cans.
Moreover, recycling has its ecological problems. For example, now, most recycling ends up in the garbage. It’s a horrible reality. For this reason, the main idea should be to eliminate unnecessary consumption.
Let’s shed light on recycling at home with 19 different items.
Read more: How to create a zero-waste home in 13 super easy steps
More than 350 million ink and toner cartridges are disposed of yearly. Sadly, these cartridges take 450 to 1,000 years to break down naturally. This got me thinking about how to recycle them.
Before recycling:
⚠️ Choose brands with recycling programs. Print sparingly to reduce waste. Use both papers.
Recycling or upcycling any outfit is easier compared to other household items. However, it’s one of the most wasted belongings. Because of fast fashion, wasted clothes are now like big mountains.
TVs contain dangerous substances such as heavy metals and chemicals, so appropriately recycling electronic items is crucial.
Before recycling:
⚠️ If buying a new TV, consider energy-efficient, long-lasting models made by companies with environmental policies and take-back programs.
⚠️ Check local regulations because recycling processes vary by region.
⚠️ Synthetic corks aren’t compostable. But they can sometimes be recyclable with plastics.
Emotionally, people may not be very keen on converting their books, but sometimes they have to dispose of them for various reasons. For a while, I wanted to get rid of all the belongings in my life and fit them in one suitcase. That’s why I donated my college books to the school library.
⚠️ You should appraise some valuable, collectible, or rare books before deciding their fate.
⚠️ Before recycling or repurposing, ensure the crayons are non-toxic and safe.
⚠️ When donating or selling, the toys should be clean and work. If a toy is broken or too worn, look for ways to recycle the material or repurpose it rather than sending it to a landfill.
⚠️ Before recycling or repurposing, ensure they’re clean. If the coating (like Teflon) is chipping or damaged, it’s better not to donate for health reasons. Instead, opt for recycling the material if possible.
Batteries contain harmful chemicals. For this reason, properly recycling batteries is crucial.
⚠️ Before recycling, store used batteries in a cool, dry place, preferably in a non-metal container.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) contain a small amount of mercury, so recycling them is crucial to prevent the mercury from entering the environment.
⚠️ Use LED light bulbs, which are more energy-efficient, last longer, and don’t contain mercury.
Before recycling:
Before recycling:
Before recycling:
Many old electronic devices have been sitting in a corner for years—it’s time to move one. Besides, computers contain harmful materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. It’s crucial to ensure they’re recycled responsibly and not just thrown into landfills.
Before recycling:
Before recycling:
Due to their mixed-material construction, umbrellas are more challenging to recycle. With a little effort, you can effectively recycle or repurpose different parts of an umbrella.
Before recycling: