Talking About Green

DID YOU KNOW:

• that office paper with a few staples or paper clips in your recycling bin is now OK? Today’s sophisticated sorting equipment can deal with them.
• that it’s OK to leave your newpapers out in the recycling bin in the rain? A top layer of damp papers doesn’t ruin the whole bunch
• that shredded paper does NOT belong in your recycling bin UNLESS it’s inside an empty cereal or cracker box–NOT inside a plastic bag? Plastic bags are NOT WANTED in those bins at all because they clog the sorting machines! Better yet, spread it under your mulch where it will soon become compost.
• that you can find out how, what, and where to recycle in your area by visiting http://www.earth911.org/

CURBSIDE PICKUP (in many Yorktown & James City neighborhoods):

Newspapers, magazines, cardboard, junk mail, catalogs, phone books, computer paper & paper bags; glass bottles; aluminum & steel cans; #1 and 2 plastic bottles with necks (no lids).
Call Virginia Peninsula Public Service Authority 259-9850, to find out if weekly curbside pickup is available in your area, or to request a bin.

Genesis Computer Repair and Sales in Yorktown will pick up personal and business computers and monitors as long as they’re working and less than 6 years old—at no charge.Contact Lisa, Tues.-Fri. at 757-833-6262.

DROP OFF:

Plastic Bags (grocery, shopping, newspaper & dry-cleaning):
Collection bins at most groceries; do NOT put these in curbside recycling bins

Athletic Shoes (even if really worn; no cleats):
Nike Factory Store, Prime Outlets

Batteries (standard, button, & rechargeable):
Staples & Radio Shack

Cell Phones:
Verizon, Office Depot, Staples; Avalon for Women, 312 Waller Mill Rd., Williamsburg

Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs:
Home Depot

Computers & Other Electronics: As of February 15, 2009, Best Buy stores will offer e-waste recycling. Consumers may drop off two items, per household daily, free of charge. A $10 recycling fee will be charged per unit for items with screens such as televisions, monitors and laptop computers. Consumers will receive a $10 gift card in exchange for that recycling fee.

Office Depot; and Special County Household Collection Days—James City: Feb. 14 & Oct. 10, 2009; York: March15 , July 11, & Sept. 12, 2009

Fats, Oils, Greases (“FOG”); Tires (small charge); “White Goods” (AC, dishwasher, refrigerators, washers, dryers):
3 James City “Convenience Centers”: 1204 Jolly Pond Road from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., 7 days a week; 107 Tewning Road – Mon. 8 a.m.- Noon.; Tues.- Sat.: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Closed – Sunday; and 185 Industrial Boulevard, Toano (Hankins Industrial Park) – 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., 7 days a week.

“Household Chemicals” such as oils, gasoline, paints, stains, sealers, thinners, solvents, transmission & brake fluids’ insecticide, weed killers, fertilizers, pool chemicals, oven & drain cleaners, metal polishes, floor waxes, charcoal fluid, and auto batteries, fluorescent/CFL bulbs:
Household Chemical Collection Days: Feb. 14, April 11, June 13, Aug.8, & Oct.10, 2009; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tewning Road (off Ironbound Road)

Motor Oil:
Williamsburg’s Advance Auto Parts, 454 Merrimac Trail, & Jamestown Road Shell, 1301 Jamestown Road

Packaging “peanuts” & bubble wrap:
Williamsburg Parcel Plus, Mailstop, and UPS stores

Printer ink cartridges:
Office Depot & Staples

TVs:
ARC, 2520 58th St., Hampton; 757-896-8463; M-F; 9 a.m.– 3:30 p.m. $10/small TV; $15 if larger than 27”. ALSO see Best Buy info above (under Computers & Other Electronics)

Wire hangers:
Most dry cleaners

GIVE AWAY and keep out of the landfill:

“Gently used” furniture, clothing, appliances, toys, computers, TVs, etc.:
Freecycle Network at http://my.freecycle.org/ (1200 members in Williamsburg; 830 in Yorktown); or Salvation Army, 151 Kristiansand Dr., Suite 109 (off Richmond Rd.); DAV & Samaritan House pick-ups

MAIL BACK:

#5 plastic containers, such as yogurt & sour cream containers and.Brita pitcher filters. Clean & dry!
Mail to: Gimme 5, 823 NYS Rte 13, Cortland NY 13045. Info: 888-354-7296

Corks (natural or synthetic):
Mail to: TerraCycle, ATTN: Cork Brigade, 121 New York Ave., Trenton, NJ 08638

GPS devices, MP3s, cell phones, digital cameras & camcorders, car audio head units, notebook computers, game media and game consoles:
Online Trade-In Programs. Find if it’s acceptable & print out prepaid shipping label. After product is received, you will send you a gift certificate.

• Radio Shack’s program: www.RadioShack.com/tradein
• Best Buy’s program: http://www.bestbuytradein.com/
• Dell’s program: http://dell.eztradein.com/dell

Small electronics (cell phones, MP3s, pagers, Palm Pilot, PDAs, digital cameras, and inkjet cartridges):
Recycle For Breast Cancer provides prepaid shipping labels, envelopes or collection materials based on the condition, quantity, and weight of the items you have. http://www.recycleforbreastcancer.com/