If you’re in the recycling habit, it can lead you to wonder what other items in your home you can save from the landfill while decluttering.

One way to play a big role in cutting down on wasted landfill space is by starting a compost pile where food waste can be placed and naturally broken down. But what about old batteries, filters, and lightbulbs? What do you do with that paint that has been collecting dust in the closet for years or those old computers and TVs? There are appropriate ways to dispose of these specific products.

Tablets, laptops, and smartphones | These items contain precious metals and should always be recycled to reduce the need to mine these materials again. Check with your cell phone provider to see if they have a recycling program. Current electronics can be recycled or donated to someone if the unit still works. For mobile devices, always make sure the SIM card is removed to wipe any of your data from it. Communities also offer electronic recycling days and there are non-profits you can locate online who specialize in refurbishing and recycling laptops and other hardware. Just be sure you clear all of your data with a factory reset before donating.

Batteries | In the past, disposable alkaline batteries contained mercury which made them hazardous to throw in the trash. Now, most of these single-use batteries no longer contain mercury which may allow them to be thrown in the trash. Look further into the battery’s label to see if this is an option.

Other types of batteries such as rechargeable batteries, nickel metal hydride, lithium and lithium ion, lead acid batteries, and button cell batteries may contain heavy metals and should be recycled. If you’d like to recycle your old batteries, including hearing aid and watch batteries, some companies allow you to mail them back to the manufacturer for recycling. If you’re not sure about how to dispose of your batteries you should contact your local recycling company.

Old paint | If you have some old cans of paint lying around and they’re still in good condition, you may want to donate them to organizations like Habitat for Humanity. If you have any old latex paint that you don’t want to risk coating your trash can, you can mix it with cat litter until it hardens then throw it all away. Oil paint is hazardous to the environment so it’s probably best to contact your local recycler or waste management company for disposal instructions.

Light bulbs | What about old burned-out halogen light bulbs? You can simply throw them away in your regular trash. Outdated compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) contain mercury so they should not be thrown out with the rest of your trash. Some stores, such as big box home improvement retailers, accept old bulbs for recycling.

Microwaves, TVs, and other appliances | In some areas, you’re not permitted to put old microwaves and TVs in with your regular trash. You can get rid of old appliances by contacting your local recycling company. They will take some of your old items, like microwaves and TVs, and utilize the metal for scrap. Some communities have special collection days to pick up some of your items, like refrigerators and mattresses. If you have a large volume of appliances or unwieldy items, it may be best to contact a junk removal company, which works to recycle as much of their waste as possible.

Eyewear and footwear | There are programs available that will accept old glasses and send them to a third-party recycler. You can look for drop-off locations at most big box retailers, which have in-house vision centers.

Concerning footwear, the same rules apply as clothing. Desirable shoe brands can be resold, shoes in decent shape can be donated, and shoes too worn out to wear can be dropped off in a clothing bin or taken to a recycling center.

Textile recycling | Around 85% of textiles end up in landfills. Clothing is another major source of waste which can be avoided. Donate wearable clothes to thrift shops or donation bins. Clothing retailers like H&M also collect textiles in any condition and work to close the loop on fashion materials.

Now that we’ve covered items that can be recycled or disposed of in a particular way, how about the stuff that belongs in the trash? There are many items people mistake as recyclable, but are not. Here are items that may appear to be recyclable, but should go in the trash:

• Greasy pizza boxes (parts that are clean are fine to recycle)
• Styrofoam
• Plastic straws and utensils
• Aluminum Foil
• Air Filters
• Metal Clothes Hangers