There has been a huge shift in the way many people think about the planet and how they live.

With the rise in awareness surrounding climate change and things like plastic pollution, many consumers are changing their habits in an attempt to live more sustainably. In fact, a survey carried out in 2020 found that over 75 percent of consumers looked for more sustainable options when shopping.

While thinking about what you buy is so important, considering what you throw away is just as crucial for protecting the environment.

Only a third of waste is recycled by the average household in countries like the US. While this is partly due to the number of products that are sold that are still not recyclable, a major factor in why so much is thrown away is consumers not knowing what they can recycle.

Here are three items you probably didn’t know you could recycle.

Technology

Your devices are probably an important part of your life. The world is very reliant on technology and the benefits it provides.

However, so much of this technology is thrown out necessarily when it can be recycled. Things like smartphones and laptops are made out of valuable materials, and there are many companies out there that will happily accept your old devices for them to be taken apart and reused or recycled where possible.

When your technology starts to show signs that it may need to be upgraded, it’s great to know that you won’t have to contribute to e-waste when it comes to your old items.

Just like when looking for a new laptop, you would start by searching for something like Lenovo 15″ Laptops, when you’re looking for recycling options, you can find somewhere to send your old tech in just a few minutes online.

Clothes

The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters, and it’s been widely documented in the past few years.

One of the best ways to fight against this is to buy less clothing and shop second-hand where possible. When you do need to get rid of your old clothing, though, you can recycle it.

Companies use old clothing to make a wide variety of new products and give them a second life. While your first aim should be to throw out as little clothing as possible, knowing you can recycle anything from your shirts to your jeans is a great boost if you’re trying to live more sustainably.

Plastic bags

When watching any piece of news or documentary about the dangers of plastic pollution, plastic bags are often detailed as one of the biggest culprits.

This is because in many areas, due to the materials that bags are made out of, you can’t recycle them in your normal recycling bin. However, as the main distributors of these bags, many supermarkets in a number of countries have opened up areas for customers to recycle their old plastic bags.

The old bags given by customers are either made into new ones to be used again or sent to other companies that require soft plastic.