Practically every day, we bring new items into our homes. While it’s relatively easy to add items to our households, it can be difficult to know exactly how to dispose of certain things. Yes, we realize we can recycle plastic containers, and we shouldn’t put grease down the drain, but what about when your fridge goes on the fritz, when you have to replace that CFL light bulb, or when you change out the batteries in your child’s favorite toy?
How to Properly Dispose Of Common Household Items
It’s easy to throw something in the trash can when you no longer need or want it, but can your item help someone else in our community? If you are considering throwing away a piece of clothing, a book, or a pair of shoes, for example, look at our list of where you can donate household items in Orlando before adding them to the waste stream.
Once you are left with everything you can’t donate, you might still question whether an item can be thrown away or recycled and where to do so. Read on to find out how to dispose of trash in Orlando.
What Do I Do With Batteries?
Only alkaline and lithium batteries can be thrown in the trash. Other batteries, like power tool batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and battery packs, must be recycled. Throwing away these three types of batteries is illegal in Florida because of the toxic materials they contain. To properly dispose of your batteries, take them to your Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility. Local Target stores have a Guest Recycling Station in the front where you can recycle cell phones and MP3 batteries. You can also visit or call other stores selling batteries, phones, or electronics, as they often take back used batteries for proper recycling.
How Do I Dispose of CFL Bulbs?
CFL bulbs can be thrown away in the trash or taken to your local Household Hazardous Waste facility. If you do put your CFL bulbs in the trash, be sure to place the bulb or bulbs in two plastic bags and seal it with a knot for regular trash pickup. Though disposal is an option, recycling them locally is still best. Batteries Plus, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and IKEA stores, for example, have collection bins to take your CFL bulbs. To find the location nearest you, check Earth911’s website.
What About Printer Cartridges?
Printer ink cartridges can be incredibly damaging to the environment if left in the trash, as the ink or toner can leak out into the soil or water and harm plants and animals. One way to properly dispose of used cartridges is to return them to the manufacturer; many come with a special envelope. Other methods include donating used cartridges to charity or nonprofit organizations, selling them, or taking them to your local Staples, OfficeMax, or Best Buy store. To find the location nearest you, check Earth911’s website. Some Central Florida Goodwill locations also accept inkjet cartridges.
What Can I Do With My Old Refrigerator?
Before disposing of your refrigerator, consider why you’re doing so. If upgrading to a newer model, consider donating it to a local home or shelter. If granting isn’t an option, you can schedule a large item pickup with the City of Orlando’s Solid Waste Services for refrigerators, stoves, washers, other appliances, furniture and other bulky items. You may also want to check to ensure you don’t have a bounty program in your area of town or contact your local retailers for appliance pickup and disposal services. Be sure to check the requirements, though, as many programs have specifications for which appliances they can accept.
Can I Recycle Electronics Locally?
Goodwill of Central Florida will take your old computers, laptops, keyboards, and cell phones, keeping these electronics out of landfills and providing jobs for people needing work.
Some stores will also take your old electronics. Target stores have a Guest Recycling Station in front of each store where you can recycle cell phones and MP3 players. All Best Buy locations in Orlando (and throughout the country) accept all kinds of used tech for recycling. Find your nearest Best Buy location and see if they can get your used TVs, computers, and cell phones.
What About Cleaning Products?
The best way to discard everyday cleaning products—like strippers, cleaners, and soaps—is to use them. Once empty, carefully tighten the lid and throw it in the trash. Recycling centers typically do not accept containers that previously contained chemicals or cleaning items.
If you need to get rid of your cleaning products before they’re empty, take your items to your local Household Hazardous Waste facility.
What Can I Do With Yard Waste?
Grass clippings, leaves, branches, and twigs can be put out on your yard waste collection day. Visit the Orlando Information Locator and enter your address to determine which day to put out these items.
How Do I Dispose Of Plastic Bags?
Take your plastic bags to your local grocery store or Target for recycling.
What Should I Do With My Prescription Medications?
Need to get rid of unneeded medication? This resource lists prescription drug disposal locations in Orlando, including the Orange County Sheriff’s Headquarters, the Winter Park Police Department, and several other sites around town.
What Other Items Are Accepted At Household Hazardous Waste Facilities?
What do prescription medications, paint, and cell phones have in common? They’re all forms of hazardous waste, which means they all have special requirements for disposal or recycling. Hazardous wastes, by law, cannot be collected curbside with your regular garbage pickup. They can, however, be disposed of free of charge. In addition to the items we have mentioned above, Orlando’s Household Hazardous Waste facility also accepts the following:
- Paint, including oil and water-based, aerosols and stains
- Pool and spa chemicals
- LP glass bottles
- Gasoline, motor oil, and diesel fuel
- Tires
- Pesticides
- Fertilizers and herbicides
Is There A Better Way to Get Rid of My Food Waste?
Why not start a compost pile instead of tossing food waste into the trash or disposal? With fresh compost made at home, you can plant your dream garden. Even with zero yard space, you can enjoy a small kitchen garden by growing greens and herbs in pots on a landing or in a window and using your homemade compost. Composting is easy, thanks partly to the City of Orlando, which gives out free composters to residents. Fill out this form to claim yours.
ABC Cares About Our Environment
It’s easy to throw household items or materials away in the trash. But taking the extra time and effort to dispose of your items correctly can keep potentially dangerous chemicals out of our landfills and help protect our environment.
ABC Home & Commercial Services cares about our environment. We use our decades of experience in pest control to develop effective treatment plans while being safe for our families and minimizing the impact on our environment.