With the new year comes a complete cleanout of your house. Out with the old as you start fresh. You have items you love, but they’re getting older. 

Every year, the holidays increase household waste by about 25%. It accounts for almost 25 million extra tons according to EPA reports. This waste includes food, wrapping paper, boxes, and other packaging materials.

With the influx of gifts and new items, many households start going through older goods and deciding what to do next. Is it better to repair an item or recycle things? Do you donate things or throw them away? The answer comes down to the material’s lifespan.

The Three Rs of a Circular Economy

A circular economy relies on the “Three Rs:” Reduce, Reuse (Repair), and Recycle. 

Reduce your purchases to things you need and will use regularly. Don’t purchase that trending plastic kitchen gadget that you’ll use once or twice before deciding it takes up too much room. Only buy things you need and will use often. If you must purchase something new, look for items made with recycled materials.

Reuse as much as you can. This means repairing items or finding new life for something that’s damaged or broken. Your TV stopped working, but it just needs a new backlight. Instead of disposing of it, you could buy the $30 repair kit.

When you cannot reuse an item, make sure it’s properly recycled. Retailers like Best Buy, Goodwill, and Staples take a small amount of used electronics for proper recycling. Your local recycling facility may also accept electronics. Laws vary by state, but most have ways to recycle appliances and other electronics. Manufacturer takeback programs also help you recycle electronic devices.

Repairing items is ideal, but it’s not always practical. Energy efficiency, product safety, and material deterioration shape your final decision. How that fits into your lifestyle depends on what you’re planning to dispose of.

Consider the Items You Own

You need to weigh the safety, current degradation, and energy efficiency of any item you’re considering repairing. An item may function, but is it functioning as expected and without risk to you and others in your household?

An example of this is your favorite coffee maker. It’s easy to use and produces an enjoyable cup of coffee, but the power cord is frayed. You could repair the coffee maker by replacing the cord, but is that the best option?

It uses more electricity than a newer, more efficient one would. There’s no insulation over the boiler, so it takes longer to heat the water. Plus, its warming plate stays on indefinitely. If you forget to turn the coffeemaker off, you risk starting a fire.

When deciding whether to repair or replace household goods, always consider those aspects. As the saying goes, “When in doubt, throw it out.” But don’t throw it out immediately. Research the item and how it’s recycled.

1. Electronics and Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a key consideration for certain electronic items. Large appliances are the most important because they are energy hogs. If your appliance is older than 15 or 20 years, a rule of thumb is to replace it rather than repair it. Many older appliances use up to 4x more energy than newer models, and replacing them is better for the environment.

Another rule is to look at the estimated repair cost. If you must spend more than half the cost of a new appliance on repairs, it’s better to buy a new one.

Small electronics are often worth repairing if they are less than 5 years old. Instead of buying a new laptop, fix the screen or replace the battery. You can add storage or RAM. New charging cables are easily acquired.

Eventually, handheld electronics and computers become too slow or outdated, with no security patches or updates to make them worth keeping. When productivity is negatively impacted, it’s better to upgrade to new equipment. Make sure you recycle the components to prevent toxins like lead and mercury from entering the environment.

2. Plastics and Microplastic Prevention

Plastics degrade over time when exposed to sunlight, heat, or cold. This degradation releases microplastics into the environment, where they can be ingested or inhaled. It’s not safe. Studies have found microplastics in the brain, blood vessels, reproductive organs, and lungs. They’ve also been found in blood clots in the arteries.

Polyester is a fabric, but it’s also a plastic fabric. Microplastics come from it as it wears out. Choosing to avoid polyester and embrace natural fibers like cotton, leather, or wool helps. If you do have to dispose of worn polyester, see if someone will take it for fabric scraps.

Stop buying reusable plastic containers. Switch to glass and look for brands that offer replaceable lids or lifetime warranties on the lids and containers. Most have replacement lids that you can recycle with local municipality recycling facilities. You might not be able to put them in your curbside container, but you can recycle them at drop-off facilities.

The problem with plastic recycling is that the materials can be reused only a few times before the bonds weaken. At this point, most plastics end up in landfills. There, it can take centuries for them to break down, while they release more microplastics into the environment.

A Checklist for Judging Repairability

You have a box of items you’re considering repairing. What next? How do you finalize your decision? Ask yourself these questions. If there’s a problem that can’t be easily bypassed, it’s better to recycle.

• Are the parts you need readily available? If you can’t find replacement parts and have to have them custom-made or 3D-printed, recycling is better.
• Is the case glued shut or fastened with easily removable screws? Glued cases are likely to break if you attempt a repair without equipment such as heat guns and new adhesive.
• Is it a high-grade, recyclable plastic or a low-grade single-use one? If it’s single-use, you cannot recycle it, so repair it if possible.
• How much does it cost to repair the item? If the cost of parts and labor are more than 50% of a new item, it’s worth replacing it and recycling the broken one.

The general rule of thumb is:

• Repair clothing that’s not overly worn or stained
• Repair electronics if they’re less than 5 years old
• Repair metal items
• Repair quality wood furniture

Where to Go With Your Recyclables

When you cannot repair an item, don’t automatically throw it away. Many items are recyclable, even if they’re not something you can place in your curbside container. Knowing where to go with your recyclable items is key to protecting the environment and supporting the circular economy.

Recycle Nation offers a handy guide that allows you to look up specific items. Enter your ZIP code and the item you want to recycle. A list of locations, including the organization’s contact information and hours, appears. Use that to recycle as much as possible.