Paper Bags
If you have brown paper bags around your house, we're here to tell you not to throw them away. The next time you're done eating your lunch out of your brown bag, save it because they may come in handy on a rainy day.
If you get caught in the rain and get completely soaked, scrunch up the bag, and stuff it into your shoes or the sleeves of your wet clothes. The paper will absorb all the moisture and your wet items will dry much faster. Amazing!
Lighter Fluid
Most of us use lighter fluid when we're cooking some delicious barbeque. However, do not throw leftover fluid in the garbage. Lighter fluid is a fuel, which means it's categorized as hazardous waste.
Since it's hazardous to both humans and the environment, it needs to be disposed of at a waste facility.
Broken Tile
You're probably asking yourself, why should I be keeping broken pieces of tile? Pieces of your floor broke off, and it's time to throw them in the garbage!
Believe it or not, it might be best to keep these pieces if you're growing plants. To elevate the roots of your houseplants to prevent them from rotting, put down a layer of tile pieces, spread soil over them, then add the plant and water away!
Cooking Oil
You just finished cooking dinner and you only have a few drops of oil left in the bottle. You could either throw it out or use those last drops for something useful.
Did you know that applying cooking oil to a door hinge can stop the door from creaking? How cool is that!
Old Flags
When it comes to old flags, not only is it frowned upon to throw them out, but the United States Flag Code was written in 1976 to address the issue of their disposal.
According to the United States Flag code, if a flag is in poor condition and can no longer be used, it should be destroyed in a dignified way such as burning.
Baby Food Jars
What do you do after you finish feeding your baby and the jar is empty? We're guessing you probably thrown the jar in the garbage, but we have a better suggestion for you.
Instead of throwing it out, use the jar to store salt, pepper, or any other spices. And if you have a lot of them, give your entire pantry a makeover!
Paint
Is painting a hobby of yours? When you finish your paint cans, where do you put them? Depending on what the paint is made out of, you may be harming the environment if you toss them in the trash.
Latex-based paints should be disposed of at special waste sites, while small amounts of oil-based paints can be mixed with an absorbent material and thrown away.
Cardboard Tubes
The next time you finish your toilet paper or paper towel roll, consider saving them instead of throwing them out. They can actually be used as an organizer for your accessories.
Gather a few rolls together, cut them down until they're shorter than the height of your drawer, and hot glue the sides of the rolls to each other. The roles serve as compartments so you can add anything in there from necklaces to rubber bands!
Old Pots And Pans
As a general rule, anything that's made of metal can be recycled, and old pots and pans are definitely included in this category.
Instead of throwing these things away, find your local scrap metal recycling facility, and they will be happy to take the pots and pans off your hands. Just let them know which ones are non-stick because the finish has to be removed before they're recycled.
Leftover Bones From Cooked Meat
Let's say you just finished eating your dinner and the bones are the only thing left on your plate. Obviously, your first instinct would be to throw them out, but maybe consider saving those bones for later use.
This way you can make homemade chicken or beef stock with some bones and a few delicious vegetables. You can even freeze it for later!
Old Swing Sets
We know it can be hard to part from the swing set you had in your backyard for years, but if your kids moved out years ago, it may be time to say goodbye.
However, you should consider donating it instead of throwing it out—schools, parks, and shelters are always in need of playground equipment. But if it's beyond repair, try to recycle it.
Newspaper
What do you do with the weekend paper after you finish reading it? Before you throw the paper out, consider reusing it for gardening purposes.
Newspaper makes for great garden mulch, so the next time you're shopping at the gardening store, skip the expensive stuff and use your scraps of newspaper instead. The paper sheets will keep your weeds in check and even help your plants grow!
Wine Corks
A lot of us drink wine and have plenty of wine corks lying around. Instead of putting them in the garbage, they can actually be used for some fun DIY projects!
You can keep your knives sharp by gluing several corks together, cutting one side off, and resting the blade on the inside part. Corks can also be used as pincushions or as the solution to wobbly chairs and tables.
Hot Oil
Let's say you just finished cooking a meal and you have a lot of excess oil in your pan. What should you do with it?
As a general rule, don't pour the hot oil in the garbage because that causes a huge mess, and don't pour it down the drain because that will cause sewage backup and pipe damage. Instead, wait for the oil to cool, place it in an empty container, then toss it.
T-Shirts
Why throw them out when they can be made into useful rags instead? Forget buying paper towels, your old t-shirts are the best solution when it comes to cleaning.
Rechargeable Batteries
We do have to be more mindful of the things we throw out because putting them in the trash can actually mean serious trouble.
Rechargeable batteries fall into this category. If a battery contains nickel-cadmium and lead-acid, it needs to be put in a special facility, whereas alkaline, manganese, and carbon-zinc batteries can be tossed in the regular garbage.
Dryer Lint
Who finds dryer lint super annoying? You always have to remember to remove it from your dryer and it sometimes makes a huge mess.
Old Laptops
When your laptop is ready to be put to rest, don't throw it out in the trash. Laptops hold extremely toxic materials like chromium, mercury, and lead. The good news is that some stores offer help when it comes to disposing of laptops.
If it's still functional, some companies, like Staples, have a tech trade-in program when you can trade it in for money. And if the device is broken, Staples offers to recycle it for free.
Dead Plants
When you hear the word compost, what comes to mind? When you're composting at home, most people think of eggshells and vegetable peels, but there are actually other things you can use to compost, like dead plants.
So don't throw your dead plants in the garbage—recycle them by composting, and your garden will thank you.
Empty Liquor Bottles
Have you ever thought about using your empty liquor bottles for something useful? We know that some of you line the top of your kitchen cabinet with empty bottles for some odd reason, but why not take one down and use it as a cool soap dispenser?
Just take that empty bottle of your favorite drink, rinse it, add a soap dispenser pump and some liquid soap, and you're all set!
Wine Bottles
Isn't it frustrating when our knee-length or over-the-knee-length boots lose their shape and crinkle? How do we prevent this from happening?
We have one simple solution for this. When you finish a wine bottle, put the bottle in your boot. This way the shoe will retain its shape, and you'll never see any crinkles again.
Ink Cartridges
Don't be so quick to throw out your ink cartridges. When your ink runs out, it's normal to want to toss it, but we have some better ideas for you.
If you stop by Staples, you can recycle them and they even give you $2 per cartridge! Another option is to get your ink refilled at Costco.
Egg Cartons
Before you throw out your latest egg carton, consider using it to make a DIY jewelry storage project. All you need is some paint and your accessories.
Paint the paper or plastic carton however you like, and place your jewelry where the eggs used to be. Your jewelry won't get tangled, and it's always fun to be creative!
Fluorescent Bulbs
When your fluorescent lightbulb stops working, please do not throw it out in the garbage. It may be tempting, but it's actually very bad for the environment.
These lightbulbs contain mercury and it can cause serious damage when released. A much safer option is to look up companies that recycle them properly--there are a few out there.
Mercury Thermometers
Do you have an old-school thermometer in your house? If you do it might contain Mercury. Mercury can be very dangerous if it's released into the environment, so you can't simply dispose of it in the trash.
Motor Oil
Similar to lighter fluid, motor oil is just as equally flammable. If you need to dispose of this oil, you should never dump it in the garbage.
Instead, you can bring the oil to a hazardous waste facility, or better yet, donate it to a local car repair shop.
Smartphones And Tablets
If your phone or tablet is on its last leg, it might be time to buy a new one. But just like laptops, other electronic devices are made up of hazardous materials like chromium, mercury, and lead, and you can't toss them in the trash.
Luckily, Staples' recycling program includes all devices, so they can help you either trade or recycle.
Toothbrushes
At some point our toothbrushes get old, and it's time to buy new ones. But before you throw them in the trash, consider saving them because toothbrushes can come in handy when it comes to cleaning.
Disinfect them first (obviously), and then use them to scrub any hard-to-reach spot in the house, like the grout that's between your tiles.
Unused Medications
If you're disposing of medications, it needs to be done safely—we want to avoid medications getting into the water supply, or winding up in the wrong hands.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has a National Prescription Drug Take-Back event once a year, or you can find a substance disposal location in your area. In addition, there are some medications that you can put in the trash if it's mixed with an inedible substance like soil or cat litter in a plastic bag.
Knives
What do you do with a knife you don't want? For safety reasons, please don't simply throw it out—we have a few suggestions. If it's still functional, you can donate it to a thrift shop or soup kitchen.
If the knife is broken and cannot to be used by anyone, locate a scrap metal recycler. And if you really want to just throw it out, wrap it in some newspaper, bubblewrap, or heavy-duty tape, and place it in a box to avoid hurting anyone.
Old Books
When you finish reading a book, what do you with it? When it comes to books, they definitely do not belong in the trash. If the book is torn up, you can recycle it, but if it's in decent condition, recycling isn't the best option.
Plastic Jugs
Need a small shovel to scoop out your pet food or to tend to your garden? If you forgot to buy one at the store, don't worry! As long as you have an empty gallon or half-gallon container of milk, you can make a fun DIY project.
Have the container standing upright and cut 2 holes—one about two inches from the handle and the other on the opposite side, but an inch lower. Cut from one hole to the other, and you got yourself a mini shovel!
Bread Tags
Once your bread runs out, how many of you are saving the bread tags? Probably none, but they might come in handy if you have different wires in your house.
If you don't know which cable belongs to which device, label the bread tags and attach them to the wires so you'll never get confused again.
Loose Broken Glass
Just like knives, putting broken pieces of glass in the garbage is a terrible idea. Someone can get seriously hurt while handling a bag that has these pieces (especially if they're unaware of it).
As a general rule, anything that's sharp and could potentially cut someone needs to be disposed of with protective wrapping.
Needles
As you can probably guess, needles cannot be tossed into your regular trash, and we think it's pretty self-explanatory. From whatever substance is in the needle to the sharp needle itself, you need to take precautions.
If you can, ask your doctor to borrow a hazardous material bin or find a local place where you can dispose of hazardous materials.
Tea Tins
Wonder what you can do with your empty tea tins? Instead of throwing them out, how about turning them into scented candles?
The pretty metal containers are perfect for this easy DIY project, so started decorating your house! You get bonus points if you're able to match the candle scent to the original tea flavor.
Think twice before tossing your mail in the trash. The first reason is an obvious one—you're wasting paper, and you should be recycling. The second reason is actually less environmentally motivated but still potentially damaging—there might be private information that could be used by identity thieves.
From medical and credit card information, it's not safe to throw out your mail, so to avoid these issues, shred the papers and then recycle.
Laundry Detergent
While you shouldn't be wasting your laundry detergent, sometimes there's reason to spill it out. Maybe you're allergic or you don't like the smell, but whatever the reason is, do not toss it into the bin.
The chemicals in the detergent can be harmful if they end up leaking into the ground, so we suggest you pour it down the drain instead.
Old Knobs
If you have any old knobs lying around, you should actually keep them. That's because you can turn them into a decorative rack for your keys on the wall or a place to hang your hats and umbrellas
Remove your old knob from the drawer, make a wooden plaque to hang on the wall, and drill a hole for the knob.
Matches
Imagine that you just lit a match to light your birthday candles. Now, what should you do with the used match?
It's not very wise to throw the match in the bin—it can potentially spark in the bag. So before you throw it out, soak the match in cold water.
Hair Styling Tools
Your blow dryer will break at some point, and when it does, how are you supposed to dispose of it? Electric items can be very toxic and contain chemicals such as chromium, cadmium, and lead.
If these chemicals are released, they could contaminate the environment. So instead of throwing them out, recycle your hair appliances for their scrap metal.
Old Clothes
Here's some really terrible news—according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 10.5 million tons of textiles wound up in landfills in 2015! When you don't want to wear your clothes anymore, what do you do with them?
Most clothes are not biodegradable and end up polluting the environment. So instead of contributing to this statistic, you can recycle your textiles, and several companies out there will do this for you.
Space Heaters
When it comes to space heaters, knowing where to throw them out can get a little tricky. It really depends on what material the heater is made out of. If it's made out of plastic, there's no problem throwing it out with the rest of your trash.
If it has a lot of metal components, you can bring it to a place that recycles scrap metal. And if the heater contains hazardous material, you have to bring it to a special waste facility.
Aluminum Foil
Before you throw out your used aluminum foil, think again, because it can actually be used for quite a number of things. We know we all have a habit of throwing things out, but this might convince you.
You can use aluminum foil to scrub your pots, sharpen your knives, or polish your silver. Amazing!
Old Appliances
This one is less harmful and more annoying. Let's say that your refrigerator is old and you're in need of a replacement. You can carry it down your 4 flight building with no elevator, but that's extremely annoying and terrible for your back.
Instead, when you buy your new fridge, ask someone in the store if they do removal services. They might even do it for free!
Unwrapped Mattresses
What should you do with your old mattress? You've had the same mattress for your years, and you're in desperate need of an upgrade. When you throw out the old one though, don't leave it plain on the street.
Mattresses attract bed bugs and in some places, you may get fined for leaving them on the street without a plastic covering—New York City, for example, will give you a $100 fine. To avoid issues, cover the mattress before throwing it out.
Bits of Soap
How annoying is it when you're almost done with the bar of soap, and you just have a small piece left? It's nearly impossible to use that piece, but instead of throwing it out, we have a better solution.
Save the little bits of your bar soap until you've collected enough pieces to melt them together into a full bar.
Old Bicycles
While you can throw out your old bicycle, we're not sure why you would, considering all of the parts that can be recycled. Instead of taking the lazy way out, there are so many charities that will happily take your old bikes off your hands.
Some companies will take your bike, refurbish it, and give it to youth in the community, Some even take away old bikes and teach youth how to build and repair them.
Used Tools
If you have no use for your tools or want to swap them for brand new ones, you may want to toss them in the trash. However, you should consider doing one of two things.
If they're still functional, try donating them to places like Salvation Army or Goodwill, and if they're broken, find a scrap metal recycler.
Mothballs
The EPA says that pesticides should not be disposed of in your regular trash can, and this statement includes mothballs. That's because mothballs actually contain ingredients such as naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene.
To get rid of them properly, the EPA suggests dropping them off at a hazardous waste facility.