Make safety a priority

Just because you use something in your daily life, it doesn't mean that it isn't dangerous once you discard it. "When not properly disposed of, these substances can leach into the environment," explains Scheel. "Once this happens, these chemicals have the potential to harm humans, plants and animals, as the toxins contaminate things like the air, ground and even our drinking water."

Certain items can also be dangerous to anyone who handles them or is in the nearby vicinity if an incident occurs. Residents are advised to check with their local municipality or county for proper disposal options when dealing with explosives, radioactive materials, flammable and combustible substances and poisons.

Aerosol cans

The problem with an aerosol can isn't the can itself—it's what might be inside of it. There could be chemicals or propellants still in there, which could cause it to explode inside of a trash compactor. If you've completely emptied all of the contents from the can, you may be able to recycle it. (Check with your local recycling service or waste-collection agency.) And an important FYI: Never try to pierce an aerosol can—to get rid of its contents or for any other reason—as this can be very dangerous.

Batteries

We use batteries for all sorts of things, which means we eventually end up with a big collection of dead batteries that need to be discarded. But think before you throw them in along with the rest of your unwanted stuff. "Rechargeable batteries are great initially, but when the cycle finally ends, the metals used to make them, including cobalt and lead, can be harmful to the Earth if disposed of improperly," says Batterson. "Today, batteries can be dropped off not only at local municipal sites, but some retailers now offer in-store recycling boxes to ensure that batteries are recycled properly."

Tires

Tires are other items you should never throw in the garbage. They can have a whole new life when they're recycled and ultimately reused. "It is important to recycle tires, as there are outlets for them after they've fulfilled their initial intended use on a vehicle," says Meredith Leahy, the waste diversion manager for circular solutions at Rubicon. "Tires can be used for tire-derived fuel, which can be used to help run different types of facilities. They can also be used as a tire-derived aggregate, which can be used for backfill in construction projects or components in road-stabilization projects. And ground rubber from tires can be used in different landscaping projects, rubberized asphalt and other rubber products."

Motor oil

"Motor oil shouldn't be placed into the regular trash, as doing so could cause it to leak into the groundwater," says Leahy. You also never want to dump it down a drain or sewer because it can block or damage pipes. So, what should you do with it? "Many automotive parts or repair shops that sell motor oil will often take it back for recycling. You will need to inquire at each store before visiting one of these shops," she says. You can also check with your county. Many solid-waste offices offer motor oil recycling programs, but this varies, so call for details in your area.

Construction debris

Concrete is one of the toughest materials to dispose of...but one of the easiest to recycle. And that's a good thing because there's an awful lot of it out there. "Concrete is quite possibly the single easiest material to find a recycling home for, and the life span of recycled concrete can fall into the hundreds of years," says Batterson. "The EPA estimates that the amount of C&D debris generated is more than double the amount of standard solid waste. Finding alternative outlets for materials for reuse, repurposing or recycling is even more critical in this space to have the greatest impact on reducing the overall amount of landfill space in use."

Fluorescent light bulbs

The chemicals in fluorescent light bulbs can be harmful. This is why you should follow a careful process to clean up any bulbs that smash or break. "Fluorescent light bulbs can contain harmful dust and vapor, such as mercury, [so it's a big problem] if these bulbs are simply thrown in the trash and break," says Batterson. "Many communities and manufacturers offer mail-back programs where you receive a cardboard box to load the bulbs into and mail to a vendor for proper recycling."