We reduce, we reuse, we recycle. But inevitably we end up with items that we just aren’t sure what to do with. We want to dispose of them responsibly. But how? Where? That’s where Bluedot comes to the rescue with our guide on how to get rid of (almost) everything. We know there’s plenty we haven’t yet covered (we’re working on it!) so please tell us what we’re missing. And if you know of how to get rid of it, please share.
Please note: This guide contains specific information on how to get rid of items in Canada. You can view the US version here.
Appliances:
Sure you can turn to Facebook Marketplace or donate to the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore for your still-has-some-life-left-in-’em fridges, freezers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners, but for those that have nothing left to give, check out the Earth911 database, which finds local businesses that will recapture scrap metal from your appliances. Type what you’re getting rid of and your postal code in the search bar to find your closest one. (For folks in BC, there’s also the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable’s appliance recycling locator.)
Automobiles:
Sure you can turn to Facebook Marketplace or donate to the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore for your still-has-some-life-left-in-’em fridges, freezers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners, but for those that have nothing left to give, check out the Earth911 database, which finds local businesses that will recapture scrap metal from your appliances. Type what you’re getting rid of and your postal code in the search bar to find your closest one. (For folks in BC, there’s also the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable’s appliance recycling locator.)
Antifreeze:
Unopened, antifreeze can last forever and opened, it can be used for up to eight years. However, if you need to recycle a bottle of antifreeze, check the Earth911 database for local recycling options. Plenty of auto parts shops also accept certain car fluids, so ask your local shop! For proper antifreeze recycling in B.C., find a recycling center through Interchange Recycling, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free recycling.
Batteries:
Everything in our lives seems to rely on battery power these days. But with all that power, comes the responsibility of properly disposing of batteries when they’ve come to the end of their lives. And different batteries require different disposal methods. Let’s break it down:
Alkaline batteries:
According to Bluedot’s eco-advice maven, Dear Dot, “most disposable alkaline and zinc carbon batteries do not contain hazardous material and, according to the state of Massachusetts’ Recycle Smart initiative, throwing these in the trash is the best option.” However, because batteries can contain materials that are worth conserving, you might want to take any batteries to the nationwide Call2Recycle, which will sort and handle a variety of battery types, including single-use, rechargeable, damaged or recalled batteries (you’ll need a special package for these), and cellphones.
Lithium batteries found in watches, remote controls, and cameras:
Lithium batteries found in watches, remote controls, cameras: These can leak heavy metals into our soil if they’re tossed to please ensure they’re disposed of properly. Call2Recycle has you covered.
Rechargeables:
Check out Call2Recycle or your local transfer station to see if they accept rechargeable batteries, which contain significantly more toxic chemicals than alkaline. Make sure your rechargeables truly are at the end of their lives though before you dispose of them or they’re actually worse for the environment than single use.
Vehicle batteries:
Return vehicle batteries for safe disposal to stores where they’re sold (handle them carefully!). For hybrid or electric vehicles, refer to manufacturers’ instructions on how to dispose of batteries. Never put vehicle batteries in household trash or curbside recycling.
E-Bike Batteries:
Check with bike stores — many will accept them for disposal. Or rely on Call2Recycle.
Books:
- Your local used book store may buy used books or accept donations (in Toronto check out Cliffside Books in Scarborough, Pegasus Community Project in The Beach, ABC Books south of Yonge and Bloor, and Pandemonium in the Junction).
- You may be able to sell your books (and comics and magazines) at BMV.
- Toronto Public Library
- The Children’s Book Bank
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore
- Trinity College Book Sale
- Prison libraries: Correctional Service of Canada facilitates donations to federal institutions. Contact: [email protected]
- Goodwill
- Salvation Army
- Value Village
- Local theater groups. Older books are sometimes needed for props.
- Books for Africa
- Second Life Books will come pick up your books at no charge (whether it’s 10 or 10,000 books!)
Bras:
It can take over 200 years for textiles to decompose in the landfill. Instead of sentencing your old bras to that slow death, give them a new life by sending them to Bra Recyclers. This organization accepts old bras and donates them to women in need, including survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, women who are homeless or living in poverty, and women struggling with medical expenses, such as breast cancer survivors. Bra Recyclers sends usable bras to these women, and will recycle unusable bras — so feel free to donate your bra even if it isn’t in pristine condition.
Carpet:
Ready to tear up that old broadloom? For a fee, 1-800-Got-Junk will remove and recycle carpets in Canada and Australia.
CDs/DVDs/More:
You may be able to sell your DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records at BMV at three Toronto locations. Greendisk will properly recycle and dispose of CDs, DVDs, VHS, audio cassette tapes, and more. They supply shipping materials for sending in your outdated techwaste from some locations in Canada. Electronic Products Recycling Association operates regulated recycling programs in nine provinces across Canada, simply visit their website to find out where you can recycle near you.
Coffee Pods:
While the greenest coffee pod is the reusable one, makers of disposable coffee pods are recognizing that people want the convenience without the guilt. Many municipalities (Toronto being one) do not have facilities to recycle coffee pods, so they go in the landfill stream unless consumers seek out recycling options. Different brands offer different methods for handling waste: Nespresso offers drop-off bags, Tassimo’s T-Discs can be returned using a mail-in envelope program through TerraCycle, while Nescafe offers a mail-back box for large volumes (700 capsules). Note that Keurig’s K-Cup pods are not widely recycled in municipal recycling programs outside of B.C. and Quebec, despite advertising campaigns to the contrary — something for which the company got into legal trouble — so check with your local program to find out if you can recycle them in your area. Another option is to get a TerraCycle box, such as the “Break Room Separation – Zero Waste” recycling box, designed for workplace non-organic kitchen garbage such as coffee pods, tea accessories, and rigid plastic packaging: You buy the box, send it to TerraCycle, and they handle the recycling for you.
Cold Gel Packs:
Food subscription services are rising in popularity, and while they can be a sustainable choice, they can also leave you with an excess of cold gel packs. Donate excess packs to local food pantries, non-profit organizations like Meals on Wheels, or other charities that handle and deliver food. If you cannot find a local donation site, cut open your cold pack and remove the goo inside of it. Let the goo dry out before throwing it in the trash, and allow the plastic wrapper to dry before recycling it.
Computers:
You might be done with your old laptop, but it can still be of use to someone. The nonprofit Computers with Causes accepts old tech items and donates them to students, foster children, shelters, disabled US veterans, and a number of other causes. World Computer Exchange is another nonprofit that will donate your unwanted tech items to people in need. If you prefer cold-hard cash for your old electronics, Backmarket works like this: You go through an assessment, get a price offer from an electronics refurbisher, and then mail your device for free using Backmarket's prepaid shipping label. Once the refurbisher receives the item, they'll check to see that it matches the assessment. If it's fine, they'll pay you by direct deposit. If things are a little off, all is not lost! The refurbisher will send you a counteroffer. You're free to accept or reject any offers. Backmarket accepts smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, headphones, earphones, and speakers.
Contact Lenses and Eye Care Products
TerraCycle’s Bausch + Lomb One by One free recycling program offers thousands of drop off locations for your used lenses and blister packs. Send in your unused lenses and solution to the non profit, youth-founded organization DonateContacts, where they will redistribute the donations to folks in need who match the same prescription.
Cosmetics Packaging:
As long as your cosmetic compacts, lipstick tubes, foundation pumps, and makeup jars are clean and empty, drop them off at a Pact bin. The non-profit collective has bins at 950 locations across the U.S. and Canada, and offers a mail-in program as well.
Christmas Decorations:
When your holiday decor has exhausted its merry-making for you, they might still have life in them to deck someone else’s halls. For holiday decor that’s still in working condition, donate to thrift shops such as Goodwill, or nursing homes or hospitals. Lights contain glass, plastic, and copper, and those components can therefore be recycled in some areas through Product Care Recycling, but check on what they accept in your province. You can recycle string lights in BC, for instance, but not in Ontario. . And don’t forget your local municipal recycling depot, which will often accept all sorts of electronics, including holiday lights.
When your holiday decor has exhausted its merry-making for you, they might still have life in them to deck someone else’s halls. For holiday decor that’s still in working condition, donate to Goodwill, Greendrop, or other thrift shops.
If you live in Colorado, donate your unwanted functioning artificial tree to The Christmas Tree Project. If your tree is not functioning, you can reuse it to make other decor such as garland or a wreath!
Lights contain glass, plastic, and copper, and those components can therefore be recycled. Take your no-longer-working holiday lights to hardware stores, such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Ace. If you live in an area with a Mom’s Organic Market, they will also accept Christmas lights.
And don’t forget your local municipal recycling depot, which will often accept all sorts of electronics, including holiday lights.
You can mail your faulty lights to Christmas Light Source, Holiday LEDs, or Green Citizen.
Or consider donating festive decor to nursing homes or hospitals.
Clothing:
Stains and damage got you down? Refurbish your favourite clothes with this garment care guide for getting out stains, and this guide for repairing clothes from Canadian non-profit Fashion Takes Action, which focusses on sustainability, ethics, and circularity in the fashion industry. If you live in Toronto, check out your local Sewing Repair Hub.
If the clothes are in good condition but you are ready to pass them on, you may be able to sell them at bricks-and-mortar or online consignment shops, organize a swap, or donate them to thrift stores such as Value Village and Goodwill, or drop them off at collection bins organized by groups such as Oasis or Diabetes. You can also schedule a free pick up of clothes and other household items via Diabetes Canada. Toronto Cares holds monthly drives so you can donate easily whenever you declutter. Check out the Toronto Cares website for more information. (See also “Kid’s Stuff,” below.)
Denim:
Let Blue Jeans Go Green transform your old denim into creative new products, from insulating material for building efforts to pet bed inserts to thermal insulation used in sustainable food and pharmaceutical packaging.
Disposable Razors and Razor Blades:
Terracycle’s Gillette Recycling Program offers free shipping labels to send in razors, blades, and plastic packaging (of any brand). Albatross sends its customers an envelope with every order that customers can send their used safety blades in as a part of their recycling program; they also accept other brands of razors. If you use a straight-edge razor, simply collect the blades in a recyclable metal container and recycle them with your tin cans and other metals.
Earbuds and Headphones
Whether they are run down from blasting music or they were accidentally washed with the laundry, earbuds and headphones are a common e-waste item. Best Buy’s Electronics and Appliances Recycling Program will recycle them for free, accepting three items a day per household. Many manufacturers will take back the batteries from their earbuds and headphones to be refurbished or recycled, including Sony and Apple, which will send you a prepaid shipping label… You can also find a drop-off location at many retailers using Recycle My Electronics offered by the Electronic Products Recycling Association, or book a pick up from the Electronic Recycling Association in Canada and the US.
E-Waste:
If your electronics are well and truly of no use to anyone, ensure that they get disposed of properly. Best Buy will accept three items daily at its stores. Goodwill has partnered with DellReconnect to recycle e-waste at any of its 2,000 locations. Staples will take your e-waste for free, and also recycled ink and toner cartridges. Or send your items to Amazon (via a free mailing label).
Electronics:
You might be done with your old laptop, but it can still be of use to someone. In Vancouver, the GTA, and Peterborough, the registered charity ReBOOT accepts old computers, monitors, gently used keyboards and mice and donates them to charities, non-profits and people with limited access to technology. .
If you’d like to get some cash for your electronics, sell them to Decluttr or through Amazon’s trade-in program, which will give you Amazon gift cards in return. If you’re looking for more options, check out SellCell, a site that compares buyback companies and helps you find the best deal.
Eyeglasses:
Lions Clubs around the world will accept your eyeglasses and ensure they make their way to someone who needs them. You can find locations here.
Various retailers, including LensCrafters, Target Optical, Pearle Vision, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Optical will accept donations and get them to the appropriate nonprofits either for responsible disposal or reuse. Check with your closest optical retailer to confirm.
Fur Coats:
The fur industry is on the decline, and awareness of the animal cruelty behind the once-chic fur coat has spread. You might not be shopping for these pieces anymore, but if you have an old fur coat gathering dust, there are organizations ready to help. In the U.S., PETA, for one, is taking these remnants of a brutal industry and turning them into something positive by donating it to the homeless or refugees. Some wildlife rehabilitators and groups such as the BCSPCA also accept these garments and recycle them into bedding and tiny capes to keep injured animals warm.
Furniture, Building Materials, Appliances:
Habitat for Humanity accepts these new or gently used items, including furniture, household appliances, and building materials, which you can either drop-off at a Habitat ReStore near you or schedule for pickup. The money raised at these stores goes toward the organization’s efforts to help families in need build affordable homes. In Canada, you can request a furniture pick-up (with a cost starting at $160, though you get a charitable receipt) from Furniture Bank.
Garden Hoses
Because of their shape and the tough plastic materials they’re made of — including #3 and #7 plastics — garden hoses have close to zero recycling options. However, if your hose is only slightly damaged, you may be able to DIY a repair or donate it to a local thrift store that can resell it. If it is beyond repair, cut off the metal tips of the hose, which are recyclable through a scrap metal recycling facility and the rest of your hose can be upcycled into a door mat, blade cover, and more.
Greeting Cards:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children will accept greeting cards — used or new ones that you just never got around to sending. Children at the hospital will attach new backs to the cards to create new cards, which St. Jude’s sells on their website. The only cards you cannot send in are Hallmark, American Greetings, and Disney (for copyright reasons) and cards from other nonprofits. You can also repurpose old gift cards by using the fronts as gift tags.
Hand Sanitizer:
Our world seems up to its eyeballs in hand sanitizer (thanks Covid!) but did you know that the EPA considers any unwanted hand sanitizer to be hazardous waste, mostly due to how flammable it is? While you can dispose of teensy amounts in your household garbage, don’t even think about dumping it down the drain. Instead, you can donate unopened individual sized hand sanitizer to Street Health, a non-profit, community-based organization working to improve the health and wellbeing of the homeless and under-housed population in Toronto. Otherwise, take it to your local hazardous waste depot.
Kids' Stuff:
Buy Nothing groups are popping up everywhere and offer the ideal place to unload (or get) kids’ clothing, sports gear, and more.
With locations all over Canada, Once Upon A Child buys your kids clothing, shoes, toys, and baby gear for resale.
And don’t forget Poshmark and ThredUp — they’re not just for big people’s clothing.
Do your kids have an entire menagerie of stuffed friends that need new homes? You can drop them into Oasis Clothing Bank bins Tiny Toy Co. in Etobicoke collects and upcycles toys, children’s books, game pieces, and tiny toys smaller than your fist to keep them out of landfills. They’ll collect them from your door for $20, or you can mail them in. They also pick up and refurbish incomplete board games.
Mascara Wands:
The Pact program offers drop-off locations at Winners stores in Canada, not only for masacara wands but compacts, lipstick, pumps and dispensers, floss containers, supplement bottles, and more. All you have to do is check that they accept what you have, clean containers out, and drop them off at one of the participating stores.
Mattresses:
After the hassle of finding the perfect new mattress, you’re left with the daunting task of getting rid of your old one. Many stores will remove your old mattress for recycling when they deliver the new one, so be sure to ask. If it is in good condition, you may be able to donate it to the Furniture Bank. Otherwise, some municipalities, including Toronto, will pick them up from the curb and send them out for recycling to dedicated facilities such as Recyc-Mattress, which operates in Ontario and Quebec. Individuals can also arrange to have their mattress picked up by Recyc-Mattress for a fee.
Medications:
It’s important to get rid of no-long-needed prescription medications safely to help avoid misuse or overdoses. Do not flush or dump medications down the sink, where they find their way into waterways and, potentially, harm water creatures. Any pharmacy in Canada will take your old medications, any day of the year.
Motor Oil:
At home oil changes are relatively easy and cost efficient, but what do you do with all of that old motor oil and the old filters? In Canada, drop it off at Canadian Tire locations. Or check out your municipality's Hazardous Waste Disposal depots.
Nail Polish and Remover (Acetone):
Although pretty, nail polish and nail polish remover are considered hazard waste materials. To dispose of them properly, find your local hazardous waste depot.
Paint:
If you’re saddled with a few cans of not-quite-empty latex paint, the EPA suggests you expose it to air until it dries into a solid, or mix with shredded newspaper or kitty litter, let dry, and then dump in your household garbage. If you live in Ontario, Product Care Recycling has multiple drop-off locations that accept old paint.
You can also return old paint to hardware stores such as Rona, Home Depot, and Home Hardware. If your paint is oil-based, it’s hazardous waste (which should also give you pause about using it in your home). Drop it off at your closest hazardous waste disposal site.
Pianos:
Got a piano that you never really play taking up space in your living room? Piano Adoption accepts free pianos and keyboards. Just add a listing to their website and shoppers looking for a free piano in your area will contact you if they’re interested in purchasing. The buyer and seller then coordinate the exchange.
Political Yard Signs:
Are you a dedicated supporter of democracy with political yard signs? Typically, these signs are mounted by a metal stake that can be taken to a local scrap metal yard, which may even earn you some money. If the sign is made of plastic film, it can be recycled alongside plastic film bags at some local grocery stores, including Target and Whole Foods. If the sign is made of either laminated cardboard or corrugated plastic, find a specialty recycling facility using Earth911’s locator. Or consider contacting the candidate to inquire about returning the sign for reuse, or upcycle it by repainting a new message on it.
Prescription Pill Bottles:
What to do with all those empty prescription pill bottles? Some municipalities (including Toronto) can recycle them, while others cannot not. Blister packs for pills are not recyclable in most municipalities. (Vets will sometimes reuse pill bottles so check there, too.)
Prom Dresses:
Everyone should be able to attend prom when they graduate, but not everyone can afford a dress or suit. A number of projects have been popping up to help grads get gussied up for the big event, and are looking for dresses, heels, tuxes, suits, dress shirts, ties, dress shoes, and costume jewelry. Many towns and cities have their own organizations, including The Prom Project (Toronto), Prom Glitz (Barrie area), The Cinderella Project and The Adopt-A-Grad Foundation (both in the Calgary area), Gowns for Grads (Winnipeg), Talia’s Closet (Abbotsford, BC), The Enchantment Project (Tri-Cities area, BC), Fairy Godmother (Ottawa).
Rubber Bands:
So small, so useful. Here are some ideas for reusing these mighty problem solvers.
School and Office Supplies:
End-of-school cleanout time? Donate your new binders, paper, stationery and other office supplies that could be used by students next fall. Toronto Cares holds monthly drives so you can donate easily whenever you declutter. Check out the Toronto Cares website for more information.
Shoes:
Whether your shoes still have some spring in their step or their treads are truly dead, there are organizations that will help you keep them out of the landfill.
Soles4Soles (in both the US and Canada) will find feet somewhere in the world that need your gently used shoes. There are drop-off locations or ship-for-free options. Also OneWorldRunning puts still-usable athletic shoes to work helping military recruits and athletes around the world.
TerraCycle will take pretty much any footwear (no in-line skates, please) but their program isn’t free. Nonetheless, it’s a great way to do a footwear drive at your school or church and ensure shoes aren’t going to the dump.
Use your ASICS shoebox to ship back old or unwanted shoes for free and ASICS will donate them to charities.
And for any shoes that are still usable, don’t forget Goodwill, Salvation Army and other local charities.
Soles4Souls Canada accepts all sizes and styles of gently-worn or new shoes. They will send them to a facility where they will make the biggest impact on an individual or community in need.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors:
Some manufacturers, including First Alert, offer mail-back services where you can send your old detectors, you only have to pay the postage. Curie Environmental Services and EZ on Earth offer their own mail-in recycling services for these life saving electronics for a fee. Or search on Earth911 for local options.
Socks:
Smartwool’s “Second Cut” Project will recycle donated socks into dog beds. They will take any brand of socks.Sock Box lists shelters across Canada that are in need of socks on their website, simply visit or mail your donations to the closest shelter to you.
Toothbrushes
Collect your toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss containers, flossers, picks, and mouthwash bottles into any box and send it to TerraCycle as part of their Oral Care Free Recycling Program.
Bamboo Toothbrushes:
You’ve made the switch to an eco-friendly bamboo brush. Yay! However, to ensure your switch really makes a difference, you’ll have to take a few extra steps to dispose of them properly. Remove the bristles by plucking them out with something like pliers and throw them in the trash. The bamboo handle can be added to your backyard compost bin and will decompose over time. Break up the handle into smaller pieces to speed up this process.
Toothpaste Tubes:
Tom’s of Maine has a first-of-its-kind tube that can be recycled in home recycling bins – including the cap. Parent company Colgate-Palmolive says it will share technology with others but, thus far, Tom’s is the only brand you can toss in the recycle bin.
Vinyl Records:
If your vinyl records are starting to sing a sorry tune, donate them to any local thrift/secondhand store or take them to BMV. However, if they are damaged beyond use, consider using them for decorative crafts or check the Vinyl Institute Recycling Directory to find a recycling center that accepts vinyl near you.
Wedding Dresses:
Is your wedding dress taking up too much space in your closet? You can make someone else’s big day memorable and make some extra money by selling it through stillwhite.com. You pay a one-time fee, post some photos and videos of the dress, and get connected with potential buyers all through the website. In Ontario, Gina’s Closet sells previously-loved wedding dresses and accepts donations by appointment only. Visit their website to set up a time to donate your old dress!
Wine Corks:
You can throw your glass wine bottle in the recycling bin — but what to do with the cork? Recork will accept them and use them to make shipping material, fishing tackle, shoe soles, and model-train tracks, among other things. To limit their carbon footprint, they do not receive shipments and instead accept materials at drop-off locations. Search for one near you on their website.
Women’s Work Attire:
Dress for Success has locations around North America, the UK, the EU, and Africa and will take your business-attire cast-offs (clean and in good condition, please) and outfit women seeking to find and maintain work. Suit Yourself is a volunteer-driven organization based in Canada that has provided women facing barriers to employment with appropriate attire and support to enter into the work force since 2002. They accept money, clothing, and unused cosmetics as donations.
Yoga Mats:
Yoga mats that still have some life left can be used for people or pet beds at shelters. But if your mat has truly hosted its last downward dog, put it to rest. Terracycle offers a Sporting Goods Zero Waste Box starting at $200 that you can use to ship your yoga mat and other sporting equipment for proper disposal.
Miscellaneous:
You can donate various household items including clothing, household items, shoes, books and more, to Diabetes Canada. Use their drop boxes or schedule a pickup.
If you know of somewhere accepting items that are typically hard to dispose of, let us know. Email [email protected].
