I am sometimes guilty of not throwing enough stuff away as the phrase "pack rat" has been used to describe me. However, I'm safer than most in Missouri as there is a long list of things you can't legally throw away without facing consequences if you're caught.
I was always taught to throw away my trash. That's a good idea with the exception of like a billion items that are actually against the law to throw away in Wisconsin. Toss these things and you'll face consequences.
The recycling bin in our kitchen is full of things everyday things that, apparently, can not be recycled. You might want to check out this list and if the same thing is happening to you.