We are all trying to be a bit greener lately. Over time, we’ve learned a lot about the way our battery-driven lifestyle affects the environment, and we want to be cleaner. Most of us know that batteries aren’t good to toss in a landfill, but knowing how to properly dispose of them is a different story.

Figuring out where to get rid of batteries depends a lot on what kind of batteries you have. Here is where to get rid of batteries which are commonly found in everyday objects.

Cell Phone Batteries

This is probably the easiest type of battery to recycle, which is good because it is also the worst to toss in landfills. Cell phone batteries are incredibly rechargeable, which is why we love them so much. When they break or get too old, we can’t just throw them out.

The chemicals inside of your cell phone battery are very hazardous to our land. The easiest way to recycle a cell phone battery? Take it to a cell phone store. Pretty much any store that sells phones and phone batteries also accepts them to recycle for free. Sometimes, they’ll even pay you for them.

Car Batteries

These are also hugely important to recycle. Your car needs a very large battery to run. Throwing a car battery into a landfill is like pouring toxic waste into a landfill – you just shouldn’t do it.

Thankfully, most mechanics and car dealerships will take your car battery from you and recycle it. If you’re having a new one installed, they will probably just do it automatically. However, if you have an extra one you need to drop off, you can usually do that, too. As with cell phone batteries, some places even offer to pay or cut a sum off of your bill if you recycle through them.

Common Households Batteries

These run everything from flashlights and alarm clocks to kid toys. All of those little round and square batteries you have that you need to pitch might seem like they won’t affect the environment much. They’re small, right?

Well, when everyone in America has that mindset, before you know it, our landfills are full of battery acid. Although these are nowhere near as awful for the environment as car and cell phone batteries, they should still be dropped off at your local recycling and conservation center.

Get More Information On Recycling Batteries

Recycling batteries is one small step you can take to help the world remain cleaner and healthier for longer. To find another step, or discover additional options on where to get rid of batteries, try using TalkLocal to connect you to experts in your area.

When you have a lot of stuff to dispose of, it’s sometimes easier to just toss it all in a dumpster and move on. Maybe you have even rented a dumpster so you can easily dispose of waste from a project. Although disposing of materials in a dumpster is easy, it’s not always okay. There are some prohibited materials in a dumpster you should know about.

Some prohibited materials in a dumpster include:

Electronics

Don’t put electronics in a dumpster. Electronic items have chemicals and parts that are incredibly detrimental to the environment. When you put something in a dumpster, it’s typically tossed in a landfill for the rest of eternity until it breaks down and decomposes. Electronics can’t really decompose, and their parts actually poison the environment.

Instead, you need to recycle or properly dispose of your electronics. A lot of public businesses can help with this. If you have an old car battery, computer, television, or similar waste, try taking it to a store that sells the same type of item. They’ll often be able to recycle it for you, either for free or for a small fee. Some establishments even pay a few bucks for you to recycle these items. It’s not so bad on your pocket book and it’s wonderful for the Earth.

Batteries

They are really small, but they are serious business. Batteries contain acids and chemicals that hurt the environment. Although they don’t contain mercury as they once did, they still hold a cocktail of chemicals and unnatural fluids. Rechargeable batteries are, by far, the most dangerous to toss in a landfill.

You can recycle these, too. Most local recycling centers offer battery recycling. If not, you can take your batteries and rechargeable batteries to a number of retailers, who will recycle them for you.

Furniture Or Large Appliances

No, you can’t toss that busted washing machine or your stained and smelly couch in your dumpster. They’re too heavy and oftentimes they really screw things up for the garbage collectors.

Instead, you can try to recycle them, either as a whole or for scraps. If that doesn’t work, you need to call your local garbage collectors to have these items removed. Oftentimes, counties will have a “free dump,” day where you can drop off whatever you have at a certain location and they’ll take care of it for free.

Finding Local Garbage Removal Services Is Easy

Properly disposing of these items is very important. Tossing them in a dumpster won’t work out well for you or the Earth. If you have more questions, or need to speak with a garbage removal professional near you, TalkLocal can make the connection for you.

When taking on a home project, one of the many factors to consider is the best way to remove the old to make way for the new. One of the most efficient ways to get rid of the excess waste is through a dumpster.

Dumpster rental sizes vary by company, so it is always important to check with your local dumpster rental company to get exact information. Here is some basic information that you will want to know when considering a dumpster rental for your project.

10 Yard

This dumpster holds 10 cubic yards of waste. They usually run 12 feet long, eight feet wide, and four feet tall. These are ideal for small cleanups such as for a garage or basement. They also work well for small remodeling jobs such as for a bathroom.

20 Yard

This dumpster will hold 20 cubic yards of waste. They generally are 22 feet long, eight feet wide, and four-and-a-half feet tall. These slightly larger dumpsters tend to work well for larger cleanups, such as both the garage and basement, or for the removal of one layer of shingles from a 2,500 square-foot roof.

30 Yard

This dumpster holds 30 cubic yards of waste and generally runs 22 feet long, eight feet wide, and six feet tall. These are generally used for large home additions, construction of  a new home, or demolition of a small building, such as a garage.

40 Yard

This dumpster will hold 40 cubic yards of waste and is usually 22 feet long, eight feet wide, and eight feet tall. These are often used for large home window and siding replacement, commercial facility clean outs, or construction of a large new home.

Find The Right Dumpster For You

To figure out which dumpster rental sizes will suit your specific needs and budget, call an expert. TalkLocal can find a local garbage removal expert for you for absolutely free. Our service is fast and incredibly easy, sparing you the time it takes to search the Internet or phonebook for help.

Disposing of large piles of waste is not fun. Going through trash bags, organizing, and piling the waste can take a lot of time. If you have to take special measures to dispose of the waste after all of that, you could have a serious project on your hands.

Thankfully, a lot of your typical household waste can be disposed of in a dumpster. If you are wondering what can be disposed in a dumpster, check out this quick guide.

What can be disposed in a dumpster?

General Household Waste

Anything you throw out in your kitchen or bathroom trash. This includes spoiled food, drink and food packages, remnants of a mess, old cotton swabs and so on. If you find yourself with a full bag of garbage, or even a few, you can tie them off and toss them in your local dumpster worry-free.

Various Household Items

Glass jars, shampoo bottles, packaging from mail, old light bulbs, old pillows and blankets, clothing — all of this can be legally tossed in a dumpster. That said, there are other ways to dispose of these items that might be a better choice.

If you can donate old pillows, blankets and clothing, you should. Recycling anything that can be recycled is also preferential. Typically, items in a dumpster are collected and thrown in a landfill. Although this is unavoidable for some items, it really helps for other things to be donated.

Woodwork

If you have small tables, chairs, stools, picture frames, shelves, and other items made of wood, and you can’t recycle them for whatever reason, they can be tossed in the dumpster, too. If you can, try to break them down to conserve space.

These, and many other items, can be disposed in publicly provided dumpsters (for those that live in an apartment complex or other shared living spaces) or in privately rented dumpsters. Honestly, the list of what cannot be disposed in a dumpster is much shorter than the list of what can be disposed in a dumpster.

You will need to avoid throwing electronics, batteries, and anything really heavy or dangerous in a dumpster. Most other items are dumpster-friendly, but may also be recyclable.

Contact Garbage Removal Companies

If you have more questions, TalkLocal can help connect you with the local professionals who have answers. Finding local garbage removal professionals should not be hard. With TalkLocal, it’s never been easier.

If you are planning a large home project with lots of expected waste, you may be wondering about the average dumpster rental cost in your area. After all, renting a dumpster is arguably the most efficient means of handling large surges of waste.

Like storage rental, the cost of a dumpster can vary depending on a variety of factors. The following are five factors to consider when determining your dumpster rental cost.

Location

The price of disposing waste in municipal landfills varies greatly by area and is the main factor in determining how much you will pay for a dumpster. The way this works is as follows.

The full truck will drive across a scale upon arriving to the landfill. It will dump the load and return to the scale empty. The difference in weight is then charged according to the going rate per ton at your landfill.

Flat Rate

Many dumpster rental companies will offer a flat rate to use the dumpster for a certain amount of time. This rate is usually around a few hundred dollars and should include delivery, pick up, and the actual disposal.

Extra Fees

Always read the fine print. Some companies will offer you the dumpster for a certain rate but tack on fuel surcharges if you live a certain distance from the landfill. Others will apply a fee if you choose to keep the dumpster longer than the normal time.

Weight

Most companies will quote your charge based on a maximum weight allowance. When you receive your flat rate, be sure to ask about the maximum weight allowance. If you are allowed a load of four tons and exceed that weight limit, you will likely be charged a fee.

Type Of Waste

Some waste must be disposed of in a secure manner. Depending on the type of waste you are disposing of, you may be charged more if special circumstances apply to your waste.

Garbage Removal Experts Are Available To Answer Your Questions

Your best option when determining dumpster rental cost is to contact a local garbage removal expert. He or she will be able to give you local quotes for your waste disposal. TalkLocal can find a local professional for you, and we won’t charge you anything for it.

There are so many things that can be recycled. Although paper and plastic first come to mind, even furniture, metal, and batteries can be recycled, too. Out of everything, glass is the most recyclable material, as it is able to be recycled continuously, over and over again. You might find yourself wondering: Where can I recycle glass? I want to do my part to help the Earth, but I just don’t know how.

Where Can I Recycle Glass?

If you are asking this question, you first want to inquire with your city or county’s garbage removal professionals. Your local area may have a specific location or certain professionals to recycle your glass for you. If that is the case, giving them a quick call can get you the answers you need easily.

You also might check with local vendors. If there is an area business that produces a lot of glass, they might have a drop-off or even pick-up service for glass recycling available to you.

Most recycling drop off centers do have a special bin for containers, including glass. Some even have a special bin for glass alone. If you have a local center where you can drop off paper goods, plastic, etc., you should double check for glass.

When you recycle glass, there are a few very important things to keep in mind.

Never recycle broken glass: Unfortunately, broken glass can’t be recycled. Not only is it dangerous for you to handle broken glass, but it’s especially dangerous for those who empty recycling receptacles. They expect glass bottles to remain unbroken. If they reach in to a bin with broken glass, they can encounter serious injuries.

Clean your glass before recycling it: If it’s a bottle that once held a liquid or powder, make sure it is cleaned out and dried. Leftover products can be dangerous to workers and also attract bugs and messes.

Take off the lids: Oftentimes, the lids of your glass bottles need to be recycled separately, or even tossed out. Either way, you need to make sure you remove them from the bottles for the recycling process.

Get More Information On Local Glass Recycling

Garbage removal and recycling can be kind of confusing, but it’s pretty important. If you need more help with doing your part to keep our earth clean and happy, TalkLocal can connect you with the professionals in your area who can answer your questions.

It is important that you properly dispose of yard waste or else you risk the waste from your yard clogging storm drains or filling up bodies of water in your area. This article will teach you how to throw away yard waste in the most environmentally-friendly ways possible.

Grasscycling

By recycling yard waste, or “grasscycling,” you will limit the build-up of thatch on your lawn and make it much easier to care for you lawn. Additionally, it will make the tedious job of mowing your lawn much quicker (it can make the process up to 50% faster). You will also not need to fertilize and water you lawn as often. All in all, grasscycling will make it quicker and easier to take proper care of your lawn.

How To Grasscycle

To grasscycle, you simply have to leave the clippings of your lawn after you mow. The grass clippings will soon decompose and add nutrients to the soil of your lawn. If you plan to grasscycle, you should mow your lawn when the grass has not been watered in a while. You want there to be no moisture in or on the grass. Additionally, you want to mow your lawn with a mower with sharp blades.

For the best results of grasscycling, you want only small grass clippings left on your lawn. Make sure to mow your lawn often, so that you are never mowing more than one third the length of your grass.

Composting

You can also place your grass clippings in a bin with other green waste, such as weeds and trimming. Adding a bit of water to the bin will allow nature to decompose the waste even quicker. Compost will usually attract insects and microorganisms that can be helpful to your lawn. You can place compost on top of you lawn or mix it with your soil to benefit your lawn.

Find A Place To Dispose Of Yard Waste

If you have excess yard waste, you may want to contact a garbage removal professional to help you. With the help of TalkLocal, you can be on the phone in minutes with up to three, high-quality garbage removal professionals in your area that are available when you are.

Your computer is full of hazardous and dangerous materials which can harm the environment.  For example, the older, bulky CRT screens contain cathode ray tubes, containing high levels of lead, while the circuit boards and batteries usually contain dangerous amounts of heavy metals and lead solder.  If you just throw away your computer, you’ll be risking those heavy metals and dangerous materials leaking into the environment.  Fortunately though, there are many safe ways to recycle your computer so that you don’t have to worry about damaging the environment when it’s time to purchase a new computer. Below is a list of where to recycle computers.

Reuse and Donations

The first place you should look for is one that can reuse your computer, as this is the most eco-friendly way to “dispose” of your computer.  If your computer is still in good shape and usable, you should consider donating your computer for other people to use.  Most such organizations will be local and city-based, so try to find the one closest to you through searching sites such as eCycling or Earth911.

Manufacturer Recycling

Most electronic manufacturers and retailers will have some sort of recycling program in place to reclaim your used and outdated equipment.  Best Buy offers an electronics recycling program in all of their stores, allowing you to bring two pieces of electronic equipment per day.  Likewise, Office Depot provides Tech Recycling Boxes (for a small fee) that you can fill up with as many electronic items as you can fit in them and drop off to any Office Depot store.  Staples also has an EcoEasy recycling program where you can recycle your computer for $10 per item you bring in.  Most businesses in your area will sponsor some form of electronics recycling, so just ask around and find one that suits you best!

Find A Computer Recycling Center Near You!

If you have any concerns about appropriately recycling your computer, you should talk with a garbage removal professional.  TalkLocal can connect you with the highest quality garbage removal professionals in your area in just minutes, for free!

These days, many people are trying to reduce their impact on the environment, and one way to do that is through composting. The benefits of composting are undeniable, and the following steps will teach you how to compost your garbage easily.

1. Determine if your area allows for yard composting. If so, and you decide to keep a compost pile, skip the rest of these steps and continue in the section of materials you can compost.

2. Many choose to create a compost bin. To do so, find or buy a cheap 32-inch garbage bin.

3. Drill holes in it from top to bottom, six to 12 inches apart and one to two inches in diameter.

4. Cover these holes with window screening secured with strong duct tape or epoxy. This will allow oxygen to reach the microorganisms, which is needed to compost.

5. As you add material, try to keep a ratio of 50 percent “green” material  and  “brown” material (more on that below).

6. Place the bin on bricks or blocks to allow for more air circulation underneath.

7. Spray the pile with water only enough to dampen it.

8. Add a shovel full of garden soil to the mix. This already contains the microorganisms needed to get the process moving.

9. Turn the can about twice a week to keep it aerated and make sure it stays damp.

10. Your compost will be done in about four weeks under ideal conditions. When it is no longer warm, it is complete.

Items To Compost

Green

– Vegetables that have gone bad or have been cooked (provided there is no salt or butter on them)

– Egg shells

– Fruit and vegetable peels

– Coffee grounds

– Garden/yard clippings

Brown

– Twigs

– Leaves

– Sawdust

– Shredded newspaper

Learn More

If you still are not sure about how to compost your garbage, what to recycle, and what is considered trash, ask an expert. TalkLocal will connect you with an expert in garbage removal in your area for free. Our service is fast and the professionals are highly-qualified.