Recycling the basics is in many homes part of the weekly routine of a running household.
The paper, plastic, glass and aluminum bins fill up and every so often you take them to the nearest cluster of igloos or colored dumpsters and you’re reset for the next round.
But it can be tricky knowing what can and can’t be recycled locally when it comes to oddball, non-everyday things.
• If Santa brought you a new laptop, your old computer and accessories can all be dropped into the electronics recycling bins. Same goes for speakers, scanners and LCD televisions (plasma or tube televisions go to the landfill).
• If you are switching out a mattress in your home, those will come to the landfill to a designated trailer just for them. From there, the springs, cages, and cotton materials can be recycled.
• Tossing old runny paint or a color that will never grace your walls again? If it’s water based, dry it out until it makes a solid which can be quickened by mixing with cat litter or gravel. After it is solidified, it can go to the landfill.
• Disposing of something like a boat or ATV? Make sure you funnel out oil, gas, and other liquids before hauling them in. If they are mostly metal, they’ll go in the metal pile while fiberglass boats go into the general landfill pile.
• A free household hazardous waste day occurs once in the spring and once in the fall. This year it is slated to be Saturday April 14 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Queen Anne’s County Public Works Facility. This event is ideal for safely disposing of chemicals from pools, dark rooms, oil based paint, pesticide, propane cylinders and more. Fluorescent tube and lamps as well as mercury thermometers are accepted as well. On these designated days, televisions, limited to four per household, are also accepted. Set aside a special corner in your garage or other area to get ready for this day- you don’t want to procrastinate and miss it! Households are limited to 20 gallons or 250 pounds for the day, with five gallons being the largest container size accepted.
• While mixed motor oil can only be disposed of at the Household hazardous waste day drop off, motor oil that is not mixed can be dropped off year round.
• Tires are accepted to the landfill year round for a recycling fee. After paying the scale fee, car tires are $3 each, heavy duty SUV and Truck tires are $4.50, with rate increasing as the tire size increases.Though there has been special programs in the past for free scrap tire disposal, none are in place at this time.
For more information on asbestos, topsoil and more, visit http://www.menv.com/pages/solidwaste/midshore.html.
Other Drop-Off Spots
Besides the landfill, there’s also a few other avenues for clearing out clutter.
For furniture that’s no longer your style but in good condition or extra usable materials from a home renovation, local ReStore locations accept items to resell with money going toward the Habitat For Humanity program.
If you need to recycle old toner and ink cartridges, Office Depot and Staples both offer recycling services for a reward credit.
Old towels are always welcome at animal shelters to help with their animals, who more than likely don’t care about the design or material.
Several banks and financial institutions also have free public shred days.
Sort through your document stash now and you’ll be all set when one pops up in the area.