Early Spring Cleaning: Recycle Unwanted Items

Starting your Spring cleaning early? According to the town's website, there are plenty of avenues to get rid of your unwanted items. Don't just throw them in the trash.

Do you have unwanted appliances? Call JRM at (800) 323-4285 to schedule a pick-up for items like stoves, microwaves, washing machines, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and more.

Have a used car you want to donate? Contact the Special Olympics or Habitat for Humanity. You may even get a tax deduction.

How about batteries? Alkaline batteries manufactured after 1994 can be thrown out with your regular trash, according to the town's website. However, if you have batteries made later than 1994, bring them to the Household Hazardous Waste Day. To recycle rechargeable batteries, call (800) 8-BATTERY or visit Call2Recycle.

Have a bike you don't use anymore? Contact Bikes not Bombs, and your bike could be shipped to a third world country.

Everyone has used books they would like to donate. Got Books? sells the books donated to them and the money goes to local non-profits.

Just got a new cell phone? Bring your old one to Staples.

Did you know that your old eyeglasses are recyclable? The Lions Club collects them.

Need to get rid of furniture? Mattresses, sofas, recliners can be placed on the curb, but only one item per week is allowed. To arrange a pickup at your home call the Mission of Deeds (781) 944-9797, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (781) 595-7570 x13 or Salvation Army (617) 542-5420.

Household items like clothes, linens, and other things can be donated to the Coalition for the Homeless, call (781) 482-3733, The Salvation Army, or Goodwill Industries.

Got old newspapers? Put the papers in paper bags and place them on top of your recycling bin when you put it out for pick-up.

Did your child out grow his or her sneakers? Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program collects old sneakers, they can be any brand. They grind up the shoes and use them to surface playgrounds and athletic courts in underprivileged communities, according to the town's website.

Have some old vinyl records? The Salvation Army, Goodwill, thrift stores, and some music stores sell used albums and Freecycle Boston has a Reading group with users that may be interested in your old records. 

Did we miss something you want to recycle? You will most likely find it on this list.