5 Surprising Items You Should Never Throw in the Trash

5 Surprising Items You Should Never Throw in the Trash We’ve all been there – standing over the trash can. Wondering if the item in our hands can actually go in there. As the owners of VanGo Junk Removal on Long Island, we’ve seen just about everything when it comes to improper disposal habits. After a decade in business and over 500 five-star reviews.  We’ve compiled a list of items that should never find their way into your regular trash – some of which might surprise you!

1. Old Electronics and Batteries

Those outdated phones, laptops, and even household batteries contain toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. When improperly disposed of in landfills.  These chemicals can leach into soil and groundwater – a particular concern for Long Island’s sensitive aquifer system.

Better Alternative: Call a professional junk removal service like VanGo that partners with certified electronics recyclers, or take advantage of e-waste collection events frequently held throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

2. Leftover Paint and Related Products

Many Long Island homeowners don’t realize that paint, especially oil-based varieties, contains chemicals harmful to the environment. Even “empty” cans often contain residual product that can cause damage.

Better Alternative: For latex paint, allow it to dry completely (mix with cat litter to speed the process), then dispose of the solid. For oil-based paints, professional handling is required – something our VanGo team manages properly with every cleanup.

3. Certain Household Appliances

That old refrigerator or air conditioner contains refrigerants that are potent greenhouse gases when released into the atmosphere. In fact, one improperly disposed refrigerator can cause the equivalent environmental damage of driving a car for several months!

Better Alternative: Professional junk removal services like ours have the training and connections to ensure these appliances are properly decommissioned and recycled.

4. Yard Waste and Organics

Though naturally derived, when yard waste breaks down in landfills without oxygen, it produces methane – a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Long Island’s beautiful landscapes deserve better!

Better Alternative: Compost what you can, use municipal yard waste collection programs, or include these materials in your next junk removal service.

5. Old Furniture and Mattresses

While not technically hazardous, these bulky items take up enormous landfill space and decompose very slowly. Many contain materials that could be recycled or even materials that shouldn’t be in landfills at all.

Better Alternative: Consider donation if the items are in good condition. For worn or damaged pieces, professional junk removal services like VanGo can often separate components for recycling rather than sending the entire item to a landfill.

Why This Matters on Long Island

Our unique island geography makes proper waste disposal even more critical. With limited landfill space and a sole-source aquifer providing our drinking water, every disposal decision has magnified importance for our community.

Over our ten years serving Long Island communities from Montauk to Great Neck, we’ve seen increased awareness about these issues, but there’s still work to be done.

Next time you’re cleaning out your garage, renovating your home, or just trying to create more space, remember that responsible disposal isn’t just a good practice – it’s essential for preserving the Long Island we love for future generations.

Need help with problematic items or a larger cleanup? VanGo Junk Removal’s experienced team is just a phone call away, ready to ensure your unwanted items find their proper destination – whether that’s recycling, donation, or environmentally sound disposal.