It’s springtime. Garage sale signs are out and spring cleaning has commenced.
But there are some things to keep in mind when cleaning out your home.
In a scene that is familiar to many, piles of stuff in a garage or a closet that is scary to open.
It’s springtime, which means people will be deep cleaning, decluttering and digging up old belongings.
Some items can be donated and some thrown away or recycled.
But what about the hazardous items that we can’t put in our trash or recycling bins?
Corpus Christi Landfill Manager Andy Montes tells us that certain items can be damaging to our water system and community if they end up in the landfill.
“Don’t put any hazardous waste such as insecticides, pesticides, paints,” Montes said. “We’ve even caught people putting engines in trash carts which is a big no-no.”
Any types of metals or heavy woods are not allowed into the trash cart. So it’s mostly garbage and that’s what the garbage can is intended for.
Household garbage.
In fact, there are more than two dozen items that you cannot put in your trash can.
Most of these hazardous and heavy items can be brought to the J.C. Elliott Collection Center in Corpus Christi. At the collection center, you can separate your items into designated areas and they will be disposed of properly.
“The household hazardous is free to the public,” Montes said. “As long as you’re paying for solid waste collection, there is no charge for you.”
Other items that could need disposal include electronic products.
You can bring used electronics to Best Buy where they have recycle bins available. Some bigger objects like TVs do require a fee to be recycled.
These are just a few tips to keep in mind when cleaning out your house this spring.
And if you have prescription medication you want to dispose of, the proper way to do it is to drop them off at a prescription drug drop-off box.
One can be found in the Precinct 2 Constable Office in the 800 block of Carancahua. Another can be found at the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office.
