We all have a junk drawer, whether it’s in the kitchen, spare room or tucked away in the attic. Of course, these drawers are stuffed full of things that you couldn’t bring yourself to throw away, but probably don’t need and are never going to use either. Unfortunately, there can be quite a few items in such a drawer that aren’t so great for the environment unless disposed of in a specific manner. A topic you can read more about in the post below.
Unused party balloons
The good news is that latex balloons are fully biodegradable. That means they can go onto the compost heap and stop using up space in your drawers! However, there are often eco issues surrounding mylar balloons and the strings and weights that are used with them. The reason being that the former are not biodegradable, while the latter often use plastic.
To that end, if you find your junk drawer stuffed full of deflated mylar balloons, be sure to recycle them. Yes, they can be added to your recycle bin just like another other plastic. The same goes for the string and weights as well. However, if given a choice, try and pick cotton or paper springs as they are much better for the environment.
Out of date mobile phones
A common item to be found lurking in the junk drawer is an old mobile phone. After all, when we get an upgrade, it’s easy to cast the old one aside and forget it. The great thing about discovering an old mobile in your junk drawer is that, not only can you dispose of it responsibility, you can also make some money doing it!
This is because when you choose to recycle mobile technology by selling it to a used phone provider, they will pay handsomely for your trouble. Not to mention that the parts will be reused and, therefore, won’t end up in a landfill.
Batteries
Yikes! Who hasn’t got a myriad of different types of sizes of batteries rolling around at the back of their junk drawer? Of course, chucking them in the bin is a big no-no. This is because old batteries eventually break down and start to leak toxic substances into the landfill they are placed in. This effectively poisons the soil and potentially the water table too.
Picture sourced at Pixabay – License CC0
Fortunately, it has become a great deal easier to dispose of batteries now. Just look for the recycle points at your local recycling centre, and the tip.
Thumb tacks
If you plunge your hand into the junk drawer, you will often be eagerly greeted by a sharp and perhaps rusty thumb tack! Ouch! The good news is that because these little devils are made from metal, they can be recycled in most places that offer metal recycling services.
Although, you may want to fish them all out and pop them in bicarb solution instead. Thus removing the rust, meaning they can be once again used in your home. Just be sure to find a tub or container to store them in, so you are taking good care of both the environment and your poor fingers!
This is a collaborative post.
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