If you don't see it, it doesn't exist, right? WRONG. Every thing you throw away is bound to go somewhere and believe it or not their are items that you are not allowed to simply toss in the garbage bin in Maine.

If you do not dispose of these 3 items in the correct and proper manner, you could be hurting yourself, others, and the earth. And we don't want to hurt the earth, right?

According to an article on WCYY, there are a list of up to 10 items you are not allowed to dispose of in the state of Maine and these specific items are referred to as, household hazardous materials.

The EPA considers some leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic as household hazardous waste. Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients and require special care when you dispose of them, Environmental Protection Agency

This makes sense to me but how do I know that what I am throwing away is hazardous?

Cell phones, I had no idea that a cell phone was an item you can not just throw in the bin. Clink clink, you hear the handcuffs? Just come take me away now boys because this is something I have already done.

Why does a cell phone have to be properly thrown away? Well, because of the battery. Now that makes sense. If the battery is old, it could possibly ignite and cause a fire.


Eirik Solheim via Unsplash
Eirik Solheim via Unsplash
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Furthermore, I've learned that because of the phones toxic chemicals, it could do terrible things with leaching into groundwater and poisoning our oceans. So if you care about the world, recycle your iPhone 5.

Next, we have televisions. I don't even think I can count the amount of times I have been driving down the road on trash day and have noticed flat screens and TVs tossed into the trash along with the other garbage.


John Cameron via Unsplash
John Cameron via Unsplash
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Most homes have more than one TV and you're bound to upgrade and toss one of them. But because of the leaded glass and mercury, throwing them out in a regular fashion is very harmful to the environment. I always bring my TVs to the dump/transfer station in Lewiston.

Lastly, leftover paint. I just renovated an 88 year old home in Lewiston and guys, I bought A LOT of paint. I'm talking thousands of dollars worth because I painted the entire interior of the house. Thankfully I did know you need to dry paint before disposing it because I would have really gone to the slammer if I threw millions of pounds of paint out.


Jonny Gios via Unsplash
Jonny Gios via Unsplash
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Good Housekeeping tells us, that because old paint can possibly become hazardous, since it has materials that can leak into the ground, it can cause physical injury, environmental issues, and contaminate septic tanks. In order to throw it out you'll have to dry it, first so that crap can't leak into the earth.

Food for thought, if it's got chemicals or a battery, look it up!

Sometimes we all just need little reminders. We deal with so much each day and our brains can only hold so much. A lot of us are doing Marie Kondo type cleaning and decluttering of our homes and lives and wanted to send out a reminder. If you'd like to check out the entire list of items that are illegal to throw away in the garbage, click here. 

10 Things You Aren't Allowed to Throw Away in Maine

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