Community Corner

Five Things You Didn't Know Could be Recycled

Everyday items that can have a useful second life.

We all put our recycling bins out each week, but besides the standard paper, plastics, metals and glass that mostly comprise their contents, there are a ton of things that we might not even realize that can either be added or reused again either for free or with very limited costs.

As part of our lead up to Earth Day, the Mineola Patch will be offering tips, suggestions and looks at people and ways in order to help residents go a little greener.

Here are five things which may be lying around your home which you didn’t know could be recycled: 

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1. Restaurant carry-out containers

Sure, we order out all the time and those bulky plastic containers are also microwavable, but did you know you can also put them in your recycling bin? Check the container for the triangular symbol and if it’s there, it can be reused.

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2. Carpet

A perfect opportunity for recycling is literally underfoot. It is estimated that 5 billion pounds of used carpet end up in landfills each year in the United States. Some carpets even contain chemicals like polyvinylchloride (PVC) and Polypropylene, which can contaminate groundwater.

If you are having new carpet installed, be sure to check with the store to see if they will haul away and recycle your old carpet of if you will have to contact with another company, like Long Island Carpet Recycling, which offers both pickup and disposal.

3. Toothbrushes and razors

Before you get grossed out, we do not condone passing your used toothbrush onto someone else. Toothbrush handles are often made of plastic, which can be recycled. The Preserve toothbrush offers a subscription for $13 a year where you can mail back your used toothbrush for recycling and get a new one every three months.

There are also other ways to recycle your toothbrush:

  • Because of their size, toothbrushes can become detailed cleaning brushes for when you need to fit into cracks and grooves of household items where bigger brushes can’t go.
  • Jewelry, utensils, the edges of the sink or shower or even cleaning your razor when its become a little dull are perfect suggestions for uses.

4. Crayons

Are you a parent with one too many crayons around the house? Did you know that there is a national crayon recycling program? They have already saved 47,000 pounds of crayons from going into landfills. The program accepts unwanted and broken crayons for recycling into new ones and offers a mail-in program as well as drop off bins.

5. Wine Corks

Most people have a few bottles of wine around the house, but what do you do with those corks after the bottle’s drained dry?

First, if you have a compost pile, toss them in there. They are made from cork trees after all and its free!  Second, shredded corks can be used in mulch.  Whole foods is also accepting wine corks for recycling, and there are several businesses online where you can send in your corks to be recycled.


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