7 Household Items You Should Dispose Of With Care

When it comes to items that are broken, expired, old or simply going unused, it’s tempting to reach for the nearest bin. However, you should think twice before throwing everything away - some items you find around the home can actually pose a huge danger to the environment. Read on to discover the 7 household items you should dispose of with care.



Chemicals

Household cleaners such as bleach, pesticides, solvents and corrosive chemicals should never go straight in the bin. Due to their potential to harm both people and the environment, chemicals should be treated with extreme care. If you are unable to use up your unwanted chemical products, you should take them to a household hazardous waste facility for safe disposal.

Batteries

Batteries may be small but they contain substances such as cadmium, mercury and lead. When batteries end up in landfill, these harmful chemicals can be released in large amounts. To minimise environmental risk, it’s best to recycle batteries instead.

TVs

While it might seem convenient, you should avoid disposing of old televisions in bins and skips. This is because they contain toxic chemicals like lead, mercury, nickel, cadmium, and more. Instead, consider taking your old TVs to a recycling centre or electronics store.

Computers and monitors

Like TVs, computers are regarded as hazardous waste. They contain toxic chemicals like arsenic, lead and cadmium. Another consideration to deter you from throwing them away carelessly with your hard drive intact is that you could be putting your personal information at risk. Again, it’s best to dispose of these items at a recycling facility.

Phones

The materials found in phones pollute the air, contaminate soil, damage animal and plant life and can impact our food supply and drinking water. There’s no excuse for sending mobile phones to landfill - from kiosks and donation bins to electronic store chains, there are plenty of places where you can hand in your old devices to be recycled.

Microwaves

Parts of old microwaves can be hazardous, as they use a capacitor that contains a residual electrical charge. Most local waste disposal companies will recycle old microwaves for you.

Hazardous materials

Materials such as asbestos, pesticides and contaminated soils should never just be thrown in the bin. When exposed to the soil or water, they can become extremely toxic. Asbestos should be double wrapped in a strong plastic bag and disposed of at a waste treatment centre, while unwanted pesticides should be taken to your local household hazardous waste.

Here at William Thompson & Son we proudly offer professional landfill services and recycling solutions for those in and around Glasgow, putting sustainability at the heart of our landfill site’s operations and processes. We strive to recycle as many of the landfill products we collect as possible - to find out more about eco friendly landfill, please do get in touch today.