Five things to "Waste" in the Name of Safety

Those trying to live a waste-free lifestyle do not want to throw away things that seem perfectly usable, but when it comes to being safe, there are some things that need to be replaced periodically due to potential hazards or hidden dangers. Here's a list of some of those things, how often they need to be replaced, and why:

1. Bicycle Helmets

Bicycle helmets should be replaced after three to eight years, depending on usage and environmental conditions. Your helmet may look fine, but microscopic deterioration of the foam occurs over time and with certain uses, making it potentially less protective in an bicycle accident. 

I know it's tough, but if you own a regular, commercial bicycle helmet, it needs to be thrown into the regular garbage within eight years of use; it's not likely to be something that can be recycled. There are some alternative bicycle helmets coming on the market now that may have different replacement schedules or may by recyclable.

2. Fire extinguishers

Household fire extinguishers should be replace every 12 years. The proper functioning of the extinguisher cannot be guaranteed for longer, despite the gauge saying that the extinguisher is full. To throw away a household fire extinguisher, pull out the pin and let it depressurize before disposing. I suspect that fire extinguishers are not considered to be recyclable even though they are metal.

I should say, there is some good news with fire extinguishers. You can actually buy one that is refillable if there is a business in your area that sells and refills fire extinguishers. These companies usually sell and refill fire extinguishers to other businesses, but may also provide services to the public.

3. Spare tires

Luckily, cars are changing so that this is not as much of an issue, but if you have a car with one of those small donut spare tires, you should replace it every ten years . Talk to your auto mechanic or tire shop about getting a new spare and having them dispose of your old one.

For vehicles that have the space, you can buy five full-sized tires and rotate them in a way that wears out all five evenly. Talk to your tire shop about this. Also as I mentioned before, new vehicles are changing. Auto/tire companies are eliminating spare tires by improving the design of tires, giving you more of an ability to drive on a punctured tire until you can get it replaced.

4. Health and Beauty Products

If you look on the label of your health and beauty products you may see a little symbol that looks like a jar and a lid with number on it like "12 months". This is how long your product is guaranteed to be fresh for once you open it. I say heed this warning; this is how long the preservative in the product is expected to be effective. It's often hard to detect when health and beauty products have started to become overrun with microbes, so don't take a chance and give yourself an infection.

5. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced sooner at six years. These devices simply lose their effectiveness after some time. The batteries should be properly disposed of and if the plastic has a recycle symbol, it may be recyclable.