When you hear recycling, your mind might immediately jump to paper, glass, or soda bottles. But there’s a whole world of recyclable items right under your nose that you don’t think twice about. Recycling these hidden gems lightens landfills and breathes life into waste. Let’s look at six things you didn’t know were recyclable.
Contact Lenses
Those tiny plastic circles you toss in the trash after each use don’t just vanish. Contact lenses eventually break into microplastics that pollute water systems. Luckily, companies like Bausch + Lomb provide recycling programs where you can drop off your old lenses.
The recycled contact lenses are turned into materials for outdoor furniture or other necessities. So, instead of letting these tiny items blend back into the waste cycle, collect them in a container until you’re ready to send them in.
Tennis Balls
Tennis balls lose their bounce over time, making them useless on the court. You can recycle old tennis balls instead of throwing them in the trash. Organizations like RecycleBalls grind up tennis balls and creatively reuse their materials. They create cushioned playground surfaces or shred the balls for insulation products.
Look for collection boxes or donate your used balls directly to a recycling program. This way, that old can of tennis balls in your garage won’t end up in the garbage.
Windshield Glass
When your car’s windshield cracks or gets replaced, what happens to the old one? Most people assume it goes to the dump, but windshield glass is recyclable. Broken windshields can turn into fiberglass insulation or new glass containers.
If you replace your windshield, ask your auto shop if they partner with a recycling program. Supporting windshield glass recycling helps reduce waste and make the planet cleaner.
Industrial Waste
Businesses have found creative ways to reuse industrial waste. In particular, solvent recovery is an innovative way to recycle industrial waste.
Factories use solvents to clean machinery, and instead of discarding the spent chemicals, they recover and reuse them.
Personal Grooming Devices
When your hair clippers or trimmers stop working, you might throw them in the trash. However, personal grooming devices are probably things you didn’t know were recyclable. These electronic tools contain recyclable materials like wiring, plastic, and metal parts.
Many e-waste centers accept personal grooming devices, and they recycle the parts. Your old clippers might transform into a new tech gadget or car part!
Chip Bags and Snack Wrappers
That shiny, crinkly wrapper from your favorite snack may look like trash, but you can recycle it through special programs. Snack wrappers, which contain layers of plastic and metal, require unique processing.
Programs like TerraCycle accept these wrappers and convert them into benches, totes, or other functional items. Some brands even partner with TerraCycle to make collections easier. For example, you can collect these wrappers and mail them in or drop them off at participating stores.
