How do you dispose of hair straightners?

Answer 1

Here in my country (Ireland) you are not allowed to throw anything electrical into the household rubbish. It has to be taken to the dump and disposed of accordingly. You can also bring it to the store where you will buy a new one and they are obliged to get rid of it for you. We pay a levy on everything electrical so that's why the store has to take it to bin it.

Here in the US, I was trying to recycle my old hair straightener. I had if for about 10 years, and even though it still worked, it was gross and needed to go. I spent a lot of time searching many websites, including my town, this one, Clean Earth Program, Earth 911, www.theredwhiteandgreen.com, and others, searching for a way not NOT just dump it in the trash.

I learned that although many towns and countries do recycle anything with electric plugs, my town doesn't. I would have gladly mailed the darn thing to someone who'd dismember it and reuse the parts, but there wasn't even a website where I can mail it to that would recycle it in a 'green' way. I was very disappointed and decided to try contacting CONAIR, the manufacturer of my straightener. What was there to loose?

To my pleasant surprise, they didn't just write back, but they said they'll accept it! I'd still have to pay postage but I was happy to hear something positive!

Later, I found out from a friend in the town next to mine, that HER town does recycle "household goods with electric plugs."

So yay! I found a place that takes it and I didn't need postage. It really does suck that 2 towns in the same county (Nassau Co), have such dramatic recycling rules!

BUT the moral of the story is…. if you don't know where to recycle try contacting the manufacturer/ brand/ etc. You never know what may come of it!

Hope this helps all you good-doers out there