Rubber Bands Put in Garbage Put in Garbage Rubber bands cannot be recycled curbside. When they are unusable, put them in the garbage. Ways to Reuse Save for Reuse Save rubber bands in a jar or junk drawer to use around the house. You can create a rubber band ball to neatly store bands until they are needed. There are countless practical uses for rubber bands — here are a few ideas to try. Rubber Band Crafts If you have kids or just love to craft, there are a lot of activities you can do with rubber bands. Check out these ideas for inspiration.