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How To Dispose of Household Items in Houston

How to dispose of trash Houston

We seem to constantly bring things into our homes—especially those everyday items we know we will eventually need. But before we know it, our homes are filled with countless empty bottles of cleaning supplies, old batteries, and electronics we don’t use. Adding more items to our house isn’t the issue, though; it’s how to dispose of those items once we’ve used them and ensure you are disposing of them correctly. If you look into how to dispose of trash, Houston is serious about giving residents options outside of adding items to area landfills.

How To Dispose of Household Items in Houston

Some things might be easy to dispose of, like recycling plastic containers. But others, like a washing machine, are sometimes harder to remove. For lightly used items, consider donating household items, like large electronics, to Houston residents that might need them.

Read our list below to learn how to dispose of other everyday household items in Houston safely.

Where Can I Dispose of Common Household Liquids?

Common household liquids include latex paint, used oil, and antifreeze. So if you just finished a painting project or possibly hosted an outdoor cookout that required cooking oil, this section is for you. If you’re trying to dispose of the abovementioned products, you can bring them to the City of Houston’s Westpark Consumer Recycling Center. Be sure to check the requirements, though. The center limits your load to two 5-gallon and ten 1-gallon paint cans, 5 gallons of used oil, and 5 gallons of antifreeze.

What Should I Do With Old Cleaning Supplies?

Using cleaning supplies is the best way to rid your home of them. But don’t simply toss the empty container in the trash or recycle it. First, tighten the lid to ensure no toxic materials can escape. You can also drop them off at your local Household Hazardous Waste facility.

What About Used Batteries?

Even though some batteries, like alkaline and lithium batteries, can simply be thrown in the trash, it’s still best to recycle them if given an option. Others must be recycled, like power tool batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and battery packs. To find a recycling center near you, call 1-800-BATTERY or visit call2recycle.org. You can also visit your local Target, as many locations have a Guest Recycle Station that collects MP3 and other small batteries.

Does The Same Apply For Light Bulbs?

Yes. While small quantities can be thrown in the trash, recycling any bulbs you might have is still best. Compact fluorescent lights and high-intensity discharge bulbs, though, must be recycled. That’s because they contain mercury. Take them to the Environmental Service Center. Both locations in Houston will accept fluorescent light bulbs and tubes from residents.

Where Can I Take My Electronics?

Our homes are filled with electronics, many of which we no longer use—old cell phones, desktop computers, accessories, DVD boxes, and more. Technology is helpful, but it leaves us with outdated models. Luckily, the City of Houston’s Electronics Recycling Center and CompuCycle partnered with Greenspot DropOff and Purple Heart to provide more than 60 accessible electronic drop-off locations. Visit the website to find the location nearest you.

What Do I Do With Large Household Items?

Large household items include washers, dryers, dishwashers, and stoves. These aren’t collected on the street, and their disposal shouldn’t be taken lightly. The Environmental Protection Agency has a nationwide Responsible Appliance Disposal program to help you schedule pickup appointments.

How Should I Dispose of Unused Drugs and Prescriptions?

Contrary to common belief, prescription drugs shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. The Drug Enforcement Administration is teaming up to host the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative to combat that mentality. The national event takes place in late April of each year. To find a local collection site, visit the site in mid-March for more information.

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ABC Home & Commercial Services cares about the communities we serve. That means we use pest control and lawn care products that get the job done while minimizing our environmental impact. Safe homes make up safe communities, and we can all do our part to make the greater Houston area a wonderful place to live.

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