This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

5 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle

Five things you didn't know you could recycle that can help the environment and people

It’s that time of the year for “spring cleaning.”

Before you throw all your garbage into the trash, read this list of five things you didn’t know you could recycle. You might be throwing something away that may be useful to someone else, or even harmful to the environment.

1. Eye Glasses

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If your vision has changed and it's time for a new pair of glasses, don't toss the old frames in the trash. Charity organizations, including the Lakehurst/Manchester Lions, will spiffy up those old spectacles and give them to someone in need. Prescription and sun glasses can be left in the designated yellow boxes at the Whiting Town Center as well as throughout the Crestwood Villages.

 2. Cell Phones

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Is your cell phone ready for an upgrade? If so, don’t throw your old one away. CellPhoneBank.org is an organization that collects cell phones to give to those who need them for emergencies. You can drop off your cell phones at Boscovs at the Ocean County Mall or at the Ocean County Office of Aging, 1027 Hooper Ave., in Toms River.

3. Sports Equipment

If you or your kids have outgrown a sport, and have no use for those soccer cleats or tennis racquets, you can recycle those too. Just contact the Vietnam Veterans of America at Pickupplease.org. This organization comes to your home, picks up your donation for free and gives them to those in need. You can also donate gently used clothing, toys, general household items and more.

 4. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL)

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, although great for reducing your carbon footprint, can impact the environment when not disposed of properly. Because they contain mercury, it is very important to recycle these bulbs properly. You can bring your CFL bulbs into your nearest Lowes, including the Manchester location, and they will know exactly what to do with them. 

5. Greeting Cards

For those of you who enjoy scrapbooking, you can use your old greeting cards to add more interest to a page. Or, for those clever or touching cards you want to save but don’t know where to put, simply take an old picture frame and frame your card to add to your wall or desk for a quick decoration fix.

Before you throw out all that junk, remember to recycle these items because it will not only protect the environment, it may help someone in need.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?