How to get rid of it the green way

Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review April 12, 2010 Now is the time of year when many of us finally get around to tackling our biggest cleaning and organizing projects around the house. You can create a second life for your extra and outgrown stuff, and keep it out of the landfill.

Follow these tips from earth scientist Terri Bennett of DoYourPart.com:

For shoes of all sizes, consider donating them to SolesForSouls.org. This organization gives your shoes to kids and adults around the world who need them most. You can find collection sites in hundreds of stores all across the country. website how to get rid of gas

Toys take up a lot of room all over the house. Many local charities accept them, as do certain battered women’s shelters. Children’s hospitals generally won’t accept toys unless they’re new.

Old cell phones, chargers, mp3 players and other electronic devices we no longer need can find new homes. NextWorth.com or Gazelle.com are two Web sites that will pay you to send in your electronics. If you want to get rid of a computer, a good option is to drop it off at Goodwill. Workers there will wipe out any personal information, and either resell it or remove the valuable parts for recycling. site how to get rid of gas

If you have plans for a kitchen or bathroom remodel, Habitat for Humanity’s Restores can be a valuable resource. Some stores have crews who will disassemble and remove usable cabinets for free. They sell these and other donated household goods to fund building local Habitat for Humanity homes.

Don’t forget to get rid of any household hazardous waste that might be lurking in your home or garage. Household hazardous waste includes things like paints, bug killers, antifreeze, most batteries and even used CFLs because they contain mercury. Go to Earth911.com and search by zip code to find locations near you that will recycle or dispose of the products safely.