As spring cleanup and gardening seasons begin, you may be coming across old garden supplies and other items that you are unsure of how to properly dispose of. Here are some general reminders and tips on how to dispose of these items (but remember, your location may affect what you can and cannot do):
- Yard Tools – Yard tools like shovels and rakes are not accepted for recycling. Instead, they should be recycled as scrap metal.
- Electric & Gas Power Tools – Electric and gas power tools are not accepted for recycling. This includes electric power tools, power cords, rechargeable batteries and gas power tools. Be sure that these items are completely free of any gasoline or oil before they are dropped off at the proper facilities.
- Soil, Mulch & Compost Bags – Thick plastic bags holding soil, mulch or compost are not recyclable curbside or at retail stores. These kinds of bags are often too contaminated or wet to meet plastic film recycler requirements, so they should be placed in the garbage.
- Flowerpots & Seedling Trays – Tough, rigid plastic flower planters may be accepted for recycling as bulky rigid plastic. Plastic flowerpots and cardboard trays from garden centers and greenhouses are accepted for curbside recycling. Compostable pots are not recyclable or accepted for composting with green waste and should be placed in the garbage or be added to your compost bin. Seedling trays made of flimsy or crinkly plastic are not accepted for recycling and should be placed in the garbage. Ceramic flowerpots are not accepted for recycling and should be placed in the garbage as well.
- Garden Hoses – Garden hoses are not recyclable and often get stuck in the machinery at recycling centers, leading to shutdowns so they can be removed. Garden hoses should be placed in the garbage.
- Pesticides, Herbicides & Other Lawn & Garden Chemicals – These items are considered hazardous and should never be placed in your garbage or recycling bin. Instead, they should be brought to a Household Hazardous Waste event. Also included with these hazardous items are old gasoline, pool chemicals, motor oil and more.
- Green Waste – Check your local municipal collection guidelines to see if/when they pick this up at the curb. Some municipalities make their own compost.
