12 Items Now Banned From Throwing in the Garbage in South Dakota

Spring cleaning in South Dakota typically ends with a full trash can and a satisfied homeowner. But before you drag that can to the curb, you might want to the curb, you might want to double check what's actually inside.

It turns out that some of the most common household items are actually illegal to toss in the garbage, or even take to the local landfill. To keep yourself on the right side of the law, take a look at this list of the 12 items you definitely can't throw away in the Mount Rushmore State.

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Batteries

While standard alkaline batteries are often accepted in local landfills (like the ones in your TV remote), lead-acid batteries (the kind found in cars, motorcycles, and lawnmowers) are banned. While we're at it, it's also generally prohibited to throw away laptop or cell phone batteries.

Appliances

Large appliances (like refrigerators and air conditioners) have been banned from South Dakota landfills since the 1990s. The main reason? Freon, which can be extremely damaging to the environment.

Motor Oil

Just a single gallon of used motor oil can contaminate millions of gallons of freshwater. That's why South Dakota has strict rules against just dumping it in your garbage.

Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Light bulbs (like the one shown in the picture above) seem pretty harmless, but many contain a very small amount of mercury vapor. Because of this, the state of South Dakota prohibits them from being tossed into the regular waste bin. If you want to know how to get rid of them safely, check your local community's regulations online. For example, the City of Sioux Falls suggests taking it to a local hardware store that offers a recycling program.

Lawn Chemicals

In South Dakota, lawn chemicals are classified as hazardous waste because of their extremely high toxicity. Dumping them in your garbage (or worse, down the drain) poses a big threat to local water quality, along with wildlife. Taking these to a local designated hazardous waste drop-off site is the way to go with these.

Needles

Medical needles and lancets are a big-time safety concern for sanitation workers across the state of South Dakota. Tossing these into a garbage can or recycling bin is a big no-no. Your best bet is to place them in a proper heavy-duty container that is clearly labeled.

Paint

Take a look at the label before you toss that half-empty can of paint into the trash. In South Dakota, oil-based paints, stains, and even varnishes are considered hazardous waste because they're flammable and toxic.

Matresses

We've all seen it: An old bed sitting next to a dumpster. But, technically, that's not legal in the vast majority of the state. In Sioux Falls, for example, the city separates mattresses and box springs for recycling to save space and to recover materials like wood and steel.

Medications

No, you can't just flush those unused medications down the toilet. The best way to get rid of unused pills is through a "Drug Take Back" program. In South Dakota, the next "Drug Take Back" day is actually coming up soon, on April 26. Check out this website for the exact details in your local community.

Tires

In South Dakota, tires must be shredded or sliced before disposal. In Sioux Falls, you can do this for free, Monday through Sunday, from 7:30 AM to 5 PM.

Thermometers

If you still have one of those old-school thermometers with the silver liquid inside, do not, under any circumstances, throw it away in your garbage can. Mercury is extremely toxic and should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and taken to a household hazardous waste facility.

Cars and Trucks

This one seems obvious, and it's not like you can just throw your old pickup truck into the dumpster anyway. That being said, cars and trucks are packed with several hazardous materials that are banned. Your best bet is to take that old junker to a local salvage yard.

There are several hazardous waste facilities located within South Dakota, like this one in Sioux Falls. And when it comes to throwing something away, the "rule of thumb" goes: If you're not sure, call your local city (or county) government.