Imagine standing in your living room, surrounded by years of accumulated belongings. Each item holds a story, a moment in time, but not everything can come with you as you prepare to move. This is where the journey of decluttering your home begins, as you tidy up your space while preparing for a lighter move.
Leftover paint in your storage
Have you discovered some leftover paint in your storage? The paint may have served its purpose, or you may want to bring it to your new home for some home touch-ups in the future. However, if you no longer need this colour, consider dropping it off at a paint recycling location near you.
If you find yourself looking for some leftover latex paint for a small project, check out the PaintShare program. Product Care Recycling offers this program, which allows people to pick up leftover paint for free from designated recycling locations from others in the community who no longer have use for it. This gives the leftover paint a new life and ensures it ends up where it belongs – on walls, doors, or other home projects.
Taking care of household hazardous waste products
When decluttering your home, you’ll likely encounter various household hazardous waste (HHW) items that require special attention. They’re not your everyday recyclables and shouldn’t be treated as such. HHW includes a range of products, from solvents and flammable liquids to pesticides. You can find the full list of products belonging to the HHW category here.
HHW items are not your everyday recyclables and should be properly disposed of.
The summer season often sees an increase in the use of many HHW products, and as you will soon be moving, proper disposal becomes a priority. Whether it’s leftover paint thinner from a DIY project or BBQ lighter fluid from your backyard barbecues, each item must be taken to a designated recycling location in Canada.
Product Care provides a network of recycling locations across provinces like British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, where HHW items can be dropped off for safe and responsible disposal.
While decluttering your home, did you happen to find any burnt-out light bulbs?
You may have replaced the bulbs a while ago and haven’t brought the old ones out for recycling. These items should be dropped off at a recycling location to ensure their recyclable components, such as aluminum, get a second life, and to ensure that any mercury in the bulbs is safely handled and stored. Although some bulbs contains a tiny amount of mercury and phosphorus, even a small amount has the ability to contaminate our groundwater — so every recycled light bulb counts.
When you recycle lights, any mercury and phosphor powder in them will be handled securely.
Aluminum requires 96% less energy to make from recycled items than it does to process from raw materials. Hence, recycling your light bulbs gives these parts a new life, rather than adding them to a landfill where they could be around for up to 1,000 years!
No longer need the old mattresses?
Your mattresses have been a faithful companion in providing you and your family comfort for years. However, it might be time for the mattresses to retire. While it may seem daunting to dispose of such a bulky item, bringing it to a recycling location will help ensure that you live sustainably and support your local environmental initiatives.
It’s estimated that 18.2 million mattresses end up in landfills each year. These mattresses take up space and release harmful chemicals, such as flame retardants and volatile organic compounds, as they decay. By recycling old or unwanted mattresses, we can repurpose materials like steel, foam, wood, and fabric to reduce the need for new resources and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.
Most companies will take away your old mattress for a fee when they deliver your new one. Be sure to check your local municipal website for safe mattress disposal options.
—
By connecting your decluttering efforts with responsible recycling practices, you’re not just clearing space in your current home but also contributing to a cleaner environment. As you move to your new home, you can take pride in knowing that your decluttering process was beneficial not only for your peace of mind but also for the planet.
If you have any questions about our recycling locations or the items we accept, feel free to contact us here.
