There's a good chance that brand-new item you returned went to a landfill

• US shoppers returned $816 billion in goods last year, according to the National Retail Federation.
• No matter where returns come in, the store or warehouse, they can still end up in a landfill.
• Sending in returns right away can help keep usable goods out the trash, according to experts.

Shoppers are returning more goods than ever, and some of those products end up rotting in landfills — even when they're in like-new condition.