You Can Recycle That

Recycling your stuff should be easy, but recycling alone won’t solve our waste problems. Our produce it, consume it, toss it out system needs to be redesigned to eliminate waste at its source. For instance, manufacturers need to take more responsibility for the full life cycle of their products. So this “Recycle Anything” guide provides resources for Texans to divert as much as possible from our landfills, with an emphasis on waste prevention and manufacturer-based recycling programs whenever possible. Yes, you should recycle as much as possible, but there’s much more we can do to prevent our trash troubles. So let’s make waste a thing of the past.

Easy stuff
Glass Containers
Metals
Paper/Cardboard
Plastics
Yard/organic waste

Hard stuff
Styrofoam
Large appliances
Automotive Waste
Electronics
Construction Waste
Household Chemicals
Paint
Pharmaceuticals
Other: CFLs, Water Filters, etc.

Why Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?
Landfills in Texas are, literally, a growing problem. The Lone Star State alone has 12 landfills towering above 200 feet tall. And they’re much more than unappealing eyesores: waste and landfills are leading contributors to global climate change, air, soil and water pollution, and unsustainable consumption patterns. To make matters worse, Texas’ environmental standards for landfills are among the weakest in the nation. In addition, many consumer products contain toxic materials and are difficult to recycle, and their producers typically pay none of the high cost this creates. Combine this with heavy tax subsidies for landfill space, and we’re left with a current system in which dumping trash in a landfill is far more profitable than recycling it – up to ten times more profitable, according to industry insiders. This is a huge reason why recycling programs aren’t available in every community, home and business.

We can do better. Trash and landfills aren’t inevitable or necessary: waste is simply a design flaw, one that can and must be solved if we are to create a sustainable future. But we need to think beyond traditional recycling ideals and get to the root of the problem, because recycling alone won’t solve the design flaws that create so much waste in the first place. “Zero Waste” proponents are working to strengthen environmental laws for landfills, to create “producer take-back” programs in which manufacturers are held responsible for recovering and recycling their products, and reminding communities that the best way to eliminate waste is to think reduce/reuse as a first option.

Get Involved!
There are many organizations working in Texas, nationwide and even globally to stop waste at its source and create a more sustainable future. Here are just a few. Join the effort today!

Texas Campaign for the Environment Fund — the author of this webpage, TCE Fund works to promote recycling, waste reduction, sustainable product design and zero waste solutions in Texas.
The Story of Stuff — an amazing, must-watch internet video that makes consumption and waste easy to understand, and easy to fight.
Texas Product Stewardship Council — a group of local government officials and community leaders working to make more manufacturers responsible for recycling the products they create.
Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance — committed to the realization of a sustainable Zero Waste (or darn close) economy in Central Texas before 2040.

19 Responses

Martha Womac, on July 29, 2010 at 9:11 am said:

GREAT Info !!!!!
gus cei, on February 4, 2011 at 10:03 am said:

Recycling polyurethane foam in Texas (from old cushions, furniture)? How? Where?
Becky, on March 25, 2011 at 1:47 pm said:

Where can I recycle clothes that have rips or stains, so that they are probably no longer wanted to wear, or pieces of cloth?
- Johnny, on December 22, 2011 at 8:15 am said:
  
  goodwill and salvation army will recycle clothing that they can’t sell
Tony Sanchez, on May 24, 2011 at 11:40 am said:

I need a place where I can take an old computer monitor.
- texasenvironment, on May 24, 2011 at 12:43 pm said:
  
  The easiest thing for you to do would be to take it to any nearby Goodwill location. Goodwill has a statewide partnership with Dell to recycle any computer equipment for free.
  
  Thanks,
  TCE Staff
GDB, on June 7, 2011 at 7:44 pm said:

I have a rear projection TV, 65 inch, the power unit is unrepairable. It is a MItsubishi. I do not live in any of the cities described on the MRM web site.

Where can i take this for recycling?
- texasenvironment, on June 8, 2011 at 1:01 pm said:
  
  Unfortunately, your best option at this point is to find the nearest “E-Steward” electronics recycling company and haul it there. Here’s a website with a map of locations. Hope it helps!
  http://e-stewards.org/find-a-recycler/
  
  TCE Staff
shanna, on December 6, 2011 at 2:38 pm said:

I have (3) 8,000 gallon fiberglass coated steel tanks I need to recycle in the Austin Texas area and I could use some help locatiing a site that will take them.
- texasenvironment, on January 10, 2012 at 1:06 pm said:
  
  That sounds like something for a scrap metal recycler. If I were you I’d look in the Austin yellow pages or do an online search for scrap metal purchasers. On the bright side, the tanks are probably worth some money.
  
  Thanks,
  TCE Staff
kiki, on January 9, 2012 at 12:55 pm said:

Where can I recycle old hair straightners?They don’t work anymore but i don’t know what to do with them.
- texasenvironment, on January 10, 2012 at 1:04 pm said:
  
  Hair straighteners fall into the category of “other electronic waste,” so you should look for a nearby responsible e-cycling company. For a full list in Texas, see http://e-stewards.org/find-a-recycler/
  
  Thanks!
  TCE Staff
Cait, on February 22, 2012 at 12:47 pm said:

I’m looking for a way to recycle used furniture: tables, dressers, nightstands, desk tops – any scrap metal will already be removed.
- texasenvironment, on February 22, 2012 at 1:01 pm said:
  
  The best option for old furniture is reuse (ReStore – Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, garage sale, Freecycle, Craigslist). Since scrap metal is removed, is the piece still usable, minus coming up with handles, runners, etc.? If so, then the piece can and should be reused and just needs minor repairs. If not, what kind of materials are we talking about?
  
  Thanks!
  TCE Staff
ibby, on March 20, 2012 at 4:15 pm said:

Hi, can anyone run me through the process of how recycling works in Texas
- texasenvironment, on March 24, 2012 at 3:08 pm said:
  
  Hi ibby,
  
  Texas is a very large and like most places in the US recycling varies by municipality. I would need to know where you live so that I could provide you accurate information.
  
  Thanks,
  TCE Staff
Bruce Towne, on June 4, 2012 at 1:22 pm said:

I am looking for a recycling center in south Texas for wood construction trash. Found one for masonry, concrete and roof shingles but not for wood. This is from demolition so not for Habitat.
Mario, on August 26, 2014 at 3:15 pm said:

I have hundreds of power supply cables, RCA cables, and a few hdmi cables plus close to 100 Time Warner Cable remote controls (with batteries) to recycle. Do you have any ideas on what my best plan of action would be? The hdmi cables can probably be reused so I can take them to Goodwill electronics but many of the other cables use a metal other than copper and I don’t want a recycler to just burn the plastic insulation off to recycle the metal.

Thank you
- texasenvironment, on August 27, 2014 at 9:19 am said:
  
  Goodwill is probably the best place to take all the cables and cords. As for the remotes, Goodwill may not want them — try Best Buy next, and if that doesn’t work, find an e-steward recycling company here: http://www.e-stewards.org/