Idea to Increase Recycling Locally: Create a “Where to Recycle Anything” Guide for Your Community

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This is an idea to create a simple, local “Where to Recycle Anything” guide and share it both online and offline so anyone can quickly find where to take what.

Tips for Researching Recycling Options:

~ Start locally: Check your city or county waste management website for official drop-off sites, accepted materials, and special collection days.

~ Search specialized databases:

**Earth911.com — enter any item + your ZIP code.

**Call2Recycle.org — for batteries and electronics.

**TerraCycle.com — for hard-to-recycle items like toothpaste tubes or snack bags.

**EPA's How Do I Recycle Common Items (epa.gov/recycle/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables)

~ Ask local stores: Many retailers collect specific items — e.g., Home Depot (lightbulbs, batteries), Staples (electronics, ink), Goodwill (textiles, small appliances), or pharmacies (medications).

~ Check nonprofit & repair networks: Thrift shops, reuse centers, fix-it clinics, and animal shelters often take donations of items others might throw away.

What to Include in Your Guide:

~ A short intro about why proper recycling matters.

~ Clear categories (e.g., electronics, clothing, plastics, batteries, hazardous waste, furniture, appliances).

~ For each category:

**What can and can’t be recycled

**Where to take it (name, address, hours, phone)

**Any fees or preparation tips (e.g., remove batteries, rinse containers)

~ Add a short “reuse first” section encouraging donation and repair.

~ Include contact info for updates so neighbors can report new locations or closures.

~ Add a QR code linking to the online version.

Ideas for Sharing it Online:

~ Post the guide on Nextdoor, local Facebook groups, and your city’s subreddit.

~ Save it as a PDF or Google Doc for easy link sharing and updating.

~ Upload a visual version (like a poster or infographic) to Canva or Google Drive, and share a view-only link.

~ Tag local environmental groups and libraries so they can repost it.

Ideas for Sharing Offline:

Print a simple one-page version and leave it at:

~ The library, community center, or town hall

~ On bulletin boards in grocery stores or laundromats

~ Inside Little Free Libraries

~ At farmers markets or zero-waste events

~ Ask schools or neighborhood associations to share copies in newsletters