Recycling isn't about just glass, aluminum, paper and plastic anymore. If you keep the right resources at your fingertips, you can find ways to recycle old eyeglasses, obsolete computers, last year's cellphones, worn-out rechargeable batteries, old carpeting and padding, electronics and much much more.
Before exploring some of the recycling guides below, remember that it's always better to reduce the amount of waste you produce in the first place -- by consuming less and reusing more -- than to recycle afterward. So think carefully before making any purchase that isn't an essential one like food or medicine, and ask yourself, "Do I really need this, or can I do without it and use something I already have at home?" You might find that you not only reduce waste, but save money that way too.
And here's another thought: for those things you're not using anymore that you can't find a recycling site for, consider selling them at a garage sale of giving them away via a site like freecycle, which lets you post online offers for goods you'd like to give away in your area (it's also a useful site for finding gently used, no-cost items that you might need). After all, what you consider trash might still be someone else's treasure.
Resources to help you recycle:
Call2Recycle features a searchable database that let you find drop-off sites in the U.S. and Canada for recycling rechargeable batteries and cellphones.
Computer Recycling Center lists information on computer recycling drop-off centers in Sunnyvale, San Francisco and Santa Rosa, California.
emagazine.com, the online version of E/The Environmental Magazine, features a helpful article on "How to Recycle Practically Anything," with tips of how to responsibly get rid of everything from old carpeting, pagers and iPods to wine corks, packing peanuts and Tyvek envelopes.
Earth911 provides information and links on how to recycle a wide variety of items, as well as guides to climate change, composting and air pollution prevention.
GreenOptions.com provides numerous articles, daily tips and suggestions for green living, including this helpful guide to fixing electronics and keeping them out of landfills.
The National Recycling Coalition includes an online recycling calculator that lets you assess how your consumption, disposal and recycling habits affect the environment.
wikiHow on "How to Recycle" offers basic tips and a few links to help you learn more about recycling. And, being a wiki, it allows you to add your own tips, links and ideas for better recycling as well.
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