It's finally time for that home renovation that you've been dreaming about for a while. There are many exciting things that are about to happen, but planning ahead of time for every aspect of the journey is a necessity. If you’re already doing your renovation with sustainable materials, you may be wondering how else you can be environmentally friendly and eco-conscious for this project. When it comes to getting rid of the old stuff that you’re going to be tearing out, there are five ways you can recycle and do your part during your re-build.

Donate Old Appliances

If you're doing a kitchen or a laundry room renovation, then you're likely going to be updating your appliances. If you're not interested in trying to go through the process of selling them, you should consider donating them. There are many second-hand stores that would greatly appreciate your donation. Additionally, many charitable organizations focus on providing housing for people in desperate situations, like refugees, victims of domestic abuse, and people transitioning from homelessness. Realize that these donations can actually be tax-deductible if you get a receipt from the nonprofit organization you donate them to.

Keep Your Building Waste Materials In Separate Piles

Before you can really go about recycling your waste building materials, you need to have them organized. These materials can include the old materials that you removed during your renovation and the excess of new materials that were used to build. Sort out your items into piles such as metals, ceramics, pipes, drywall, and textiles.

Get On-Site Dumpers Or Pickup Service

There's a couple of options when it comes to disposing of your recyclables. You can opt for transporting them to your local recycling center yourself. You can have your building contractor take care of the recycling. Or, if you are doing the renovation yourself and don’t have the means for transporting the recycling, you can get a dumpster rental delivered to your home that is specifically designed just for recyclable products. Either way, it's best to have your method of recycling sorted out ahead of time.

Contact Local Organizations Ahead Of Time

There are countless local organizations that deal with recycling residential building materials. Some of the most common are the Freecycle Network and Habitat For Humanity. It's best to contact some of your local organizations before undergoing your renovation to determine what recyclables they'll take and if they can pick them up or not.

Consider Using The Materials In Other Areas Of Your Home

The final tip is to consider if any of the waste materials from your home renovation can be used in other areas of your home. Many homeowners right now are using old materials from their home to integrate a beautifully unique landscape. Things like old tires and old tubes are being converted into potting areas for flowers. This requires a bit of creativity and a knack for design, but the possibilities are endless when you look around you.

A home renovation can produce lots of waste materials. Many of these materials can be easily recycled by you or a neighboring organization. It's best to consider the five tips above to ensure that you do your part to reduce your carbon footprint.