If your garage has become so crowded you cannot park your car inside, you might need to set aside a day to clean it and throw out things your no longer use. However, not everything should be thrown away. Many items you find cluttering your garage can be recycled. Recycling helps you lower your carbon footprint and benefits the environment. In many cases, recycled items can be used in the production of new items. Here are some things to consider recycling.

Old Newspapers, Books And Magazines

Tucked away in boxes and bins, you might find many old books, magazines or newspaper. All of these items are made from paper and make a great recycling item. If your trash service does not accept recycling, you can easily drive it to a local recycling center. In many cases, recycled paper is used in the production of invitations, notebooks and other paper products.

Copper Piping, Fittings And Faucets

You never know what you might find in the recesses of your garage. Anything made from copper should be set aside for recycling. According to Federal Metals Inc, a company that recycles copper in Calgary, there is more of this material tucked away in garages than you might think. When you get ready to remove your copper from your garage, you will want to look for a place where you can sell it for a fair price. Recycled copper can be melted down and used to create new pipes or other fixtures.

Furniture

While you will not take your old furniture to a recycling center, you can take it to a local thrift store or women’s shelter to be used by a new family. In some cases, people are just happy to have a dresser no matter how old it is. If you have damaged furniture, there might be a restoration company in the area that will come pick it up from your home. After they restore it, the piece will be recycled to a new home.

Old Batteries

From computer batteries to cell phone batteries, you can take these to be recycled. Your local office supply store probably has a drop-off bin. In some cases, charities accept old batteries to use in cell phones they already own. Your local Goodwill or Salvation Army store might take these as a donation to be sold to someone else.

Hidden inside your garage is a treasure trove of items that can be recycled. When cleaning out your garage, you can set aside a special area or box for recyclables. Your old junk can find a new home or earn you a little spending money.