10 Common Household Items You Didn’t Know Could Be Recycled

Household Items You Didn’t Know Could Be Recycled

While most people may only recycle common things like bottles, cans, and cardboard, you might be surprised to learn that there is a lot more opportunity for recycling. Your home is full of items that can be given a second life — if you just know what to do with them.

At Junk Busterz, we see this every single day. During a Full house junk removal project, we’ll find everything from broken chairs to old electronics that could have been recycled or repurposed. The truth is, a lot of things we toss out too quickly actually have value — just not in the way we expect.

The following is a list of items you may have not even identified as recyclable, and why it’s important to utilize trusted Junk Removal Services Bolingbrook IL when you are ready to dispose of them. 

1. Mattresses – Even More Recyclable Than You’d Think

That old mattress that is sitting in your basement? It does not have to end up in a landfill. It can be broken down and reused. The metal springs, wooden frame, and even the fabric all can be recycled. 

When you call a local Bolingbrook Junk Removal team like Junk Busterz, they don’t just haul it away — they make sure it goes to the right facility. It’s all about giving each part a second purpose while saving space at the landfill.

2. Outdated Electronics

We all have that drawer with our old phones and cords that we “will deal with later.” Most electronics are recyclable, even if they’re broken, and not functional. E-Waste contains precious metals such as copper, aluminum, and even a little gold in some components.

Not sure where to take them? That’s where Junk Removal Bolingbrook Illinois experts come in. They know the local dropping off places and recycling centers that handle e-waste responsibly. And that is the most important part, is keeping toxic materials from ending up in our land.

3. Furniture That Has Seen Better Days

Your couch may have a ripped cushion or your grandma’s dining room table may have a broken leg..but that doesn’t mean it’s trash. Furniture made from wood, metal or fabric can often be taken apart and recycled. 

During a junk removal as part of Full house junk removal, the guys at Junk Busterz are separating furniture into categories of reused or recyclable. Some of the furniture goes on to a donation center, while other furniture is sent to recycling organizations that give the raw materials a new life.! 

4. Worn Carpet and Rugs

Carpets and rugs may not seem recyclable, but in many instances made from plastic fibers that can be made into new goods such as insulation or even industrial flooring. Instead of throwing these items into the dumpster, ask your junk removal service if they have a carpet recycling representative — many do. 

That’s one of the benefits of hiring professional Junk Removal Services Bolingbrook IL — they know exactly where to take items like this so you don’t have to do the research yourself.

5. Clothes, Curtains, and Linens

Clothing and fabrics are among the easiest recyclable items around your home — but most don’t even know it. Even worn out clothes that can’t be reused, can be shredded and made into industrial rags or padding. 

Next time you clean out your closet, don’t bag everything for the trash! Call Junk Busterz or include them in your Bolingbrook Junk Removal service — they’ll make sure your old fabrics find their way to the right place.

6. Light Bulbs and Batteries

Although they are small sized items, batteries and fluorescent or LED bulbs can create huge environmental problems when they are tossed into the garbage can. Batteries can leak dangerous lead and acid and most fluorescent lamps contain mercury – a big no-no! 

These items generally should not go in the garbage and have specific steps to recycling. Any Junk Removal Bolingbrook professional should be able to wrap these items accordingly for shipment to a facility that will responsibly dispose of batteries and bulbs without harming the environment. 

7. Kitchen Cookware

If the time commitment to recycling is making you want to throw away that set of pots and pans, hold on! These items are all metal! Additionally, metal can be recycled. Even if it’s rusty, or has a slight dent in it, pots, pans, and utensils can be recycled.  

So as you’re searching through your junk and thinking to search for junk removal in Bolingbrook Illinois, if you come across some sad pots, pans or kitchen utensils, be sure to put those into your recycle pile! The team will sort through it for you — that’s one less trip for you, and a small win for the planet. 

8. String Lights and Holiday Decorations

Everyone has that box of old string lights and how many of you still have a box or two of old, tangled string lights that stopped working years ago? The copper wire in string lighting can be recycled but putting them in your trash means they will just go to waste.

Instead, hand them off during your next Full house junk removal project. Professionals know where to drop them off so the valuable materials inside can be recovered.

9. Old Books and Magazines

If you have books and magazines collecting dust on your shelf that you probably will never read again, recycling is the answer. Paper recycling companies can make new paper products, which helps save trees.

A simple call to Junk Busterz can help — their Junk Removal Services Bolingbrook IL include sorting recyclable paper materials from regular waste. It’s a small gesture that makes a big impact.

10. Broken yard tools and equipment

That rusty shovel or lawn mower with a broken handle is not garbage. Most lawn tools are constructed from metals, which can be reused after melting down the tools and making new items. Even garden hoses can potentially be recycled into other industrial materials. 

Instead of leaving them in the corner of your garage, include them in your next Bolingbrook Junk Removal service. The team will handle the heavy lifting and make sure everything ends up where it should — not in a landfill.

Why Working with Professionals Matters

You could load your car and make several trips to recycling centers yourself — but let’s be honest, that’s time-consuming and messy. Companies like Junk Busterz make the process simple.

They don’t just cart items away. The team sorts, separates, and delivers the items to local recycling and donation centers, which means when you hire a ‘Junk Removal Bolingbrook Illinois’ service professional, you’re not just clearing your home you’re doing your part to help the environment. 

Their Full House Junk Removal is ideal if you have a large clean out, big renovation project, or just seasonal decluttering — they do the heavy lifting in a safe, efficient and responsible manner. 

Final thoughts: Recycling Begins at Home 

Recycling is more than a nice concept, but a habit that improves our future. And once you recognize what can be recycled it becomes even easier making good choices. 

So next time you’re clearing out your attics, or taking on a home project, stop and think whether or not an item belongs in the trash. From mattresses to electronics to children’s toys there is a good chance almost all junk can be reused or recycled, and Junk Busterz is at your service.If you’re in need of Junk Removal Bolingbrook services or a complete Full house junk removal, reach out to the team that cares about your home and your planet.