Waste Management provides eco-friendly tips to help residents clear out their attics, closets and garages during spring cleaning.

•Sort the waste properly. Much of what is no longer needed can often be recycled. Items like old clothes, cellphones and even computers can be donated for another person’s use.

Some items can’t be reused and cannot be put with the regular trash. This trash, called household hazardous waste, includes batteries, paint, oil, medications and electronic waste such as cellphones and televisions which should be properly disposed of at drop-off locations. Check with the Waste Management office for a full list of items.

•Dispose of waste properly. Make sure trash ends up in the right place. Illegal dumping costs taxpayers millions every year, and causes many health and economic problems, including providing breeding grounds for pests and lowering home values.

Dispose of liquids properly, which means keeping them out of storm drains. Pouring improper liquids down storm drains pollutes rivers, streams and oceans.

•Take advantage of free collection days and cost-effective drop-off centers. Each community holds various events throughout the year.

For dates and locations, go to www.KeepingVenturaCountyClean.

•Use services like bulky item pick-up for large items or rent a dumpster. Waste Management also offers roll-off containers for large clean ups and insta bins for small projects. For more information about bulky items, call Waste Management at (805) 522-9400.

For more information about general disposal or recycling needs, call Lisa Hemenway at (805) 581-1746.