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Are you thinking about cleaning out the garage, storage shed, or basement?

Here are some tips for safely getting rid of unwanted items around your house. Many are considered household hazardous waste, and should never be dumped on the ground or near a body of water, or poured down a sink, toilet, or storm drain. Always check the product label first for disposal options and guidelines.

Contact the site listed or visit the website for specific instructions related to recycling. Some stores have daily item limits, fees associated with some items or a purchase requirement, but most listed offer free recycling.

Visit earth911.com for a convenient search tool, or call 1-800-Cleanup to find recycling locations for a range of products.

Contact N.C. Cooperative Extension, Davie County Center, at 336-753-6100 for additional questions. The information below is also available on the Extension website at davie.ces.ncsu.edu.

• Davie County Solid Waste: auto and rechargeable batteries, used motor oil, scrap metal, tires, appliances, quarterly electronics recycling (336-998-6467).

• Forsyth County 3RC EnviroStation: Thanks to a new contract with Davie County, Davie residents can now take many of the items listed below to 3RC for disposal at no cost.  3RC accepts a variety of other items including antifreeze, mercury thermometers, paint thinner, paints, etc.  Davie residents will need to show proof of residence.  Visit the website for a complete list of accepted items and guidelines for drop off (336-784-4300).

• Auto fluids, filters and batteries: Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, O’Reilly’s, Walmart Tire and Lube, Tractor Supply.

• Batteries: Lowe’s Home Improvement and Davie County Solid Waste (rechargeable only), Home Depot (lead acid and rechargeable), Batteries Plus Bulbs (all types).

• Cell phones and electronics: Staples, Best Buy, Davie County Solid Waste quarterly electronics collections, kiosk inside Walmart (cell phones only).

• Cleaning products: Try to use up cleaning and other products according to the label directions to avoid disposal, or give the product to someone else to use.

• Light bulbs: Home Depot (CFL bulbs only), Lowe’s Home Improvement (all types except fluorescent), Batteries Plus Bulbs (all types).

• Electronics: Staples, Best Buy, Davie County Solid Waste quarterly electronics collections.

• Ink cartridges: Staples, Best Buy.

• Latex paint: Open paint can and allow paint to dry up in the sun. If there is too much excess paint in the can to dry out alone, add kitty litter or sand and then allow to dry out in the sun. The paint bucket can be placed in the trash once all paint has dried up.

• Medication: CVS and Walgreens offer medication drop boxes in the pharmacy area. Do not flush medicine down the toilet unless specifically directed to by the product label. Seal in a plastic bag, add an undesirable substance, such as dirt or cat litter and throw away in household trash.

• Pesticides: Use up according to label directions, or give to someone else to use. Otherwise, save for Pesticide Collection Event held every odd year spring in Davie County at the Masonic Picnic Grounds. Contact Cooperative Extension for details.

• Plastic Grocery Bags: Return to collection bin at stores.

• Plastic Plant Pots: Home Depot.

• Scrap Metal: R&R Metals Recycling, Davie County Solid Waste.

• Yard Waste: Home compost, Wallace Farm in Advance for Davie County residents, compost site at Rich Park for Town of Mocksville residents only.

• Make donations: Don’t throw useable items away; donate them instead. Just HOPE, Storehouse for Jesus, Habitat for Humanity Restore, and Goodwill are local options. This saves landfill space and helps a good cause.

Recommendations for the use of services in this article are for the convenience of the reader.  The use of store names and services does not imply endorsement by N.C. Cooperative Extension nor discrimination against similar services not mentioned, said Colleen Church, Davie Extension director.