Recycling 201: Hard to Recycle Items Courtesy of HomeLink Magazine
Tires The U.S. currently generates approximately 300 million new scrap tires every year
Why Recycle Tires? Conserves landfill space Prevents the spread of disease from mosquitoes and rodents Reduces energy that would be used to create new tires Creates less toxic chemical emissions Provides new tires Decreases illegal dumping practices When tires are burned they give off harmful emissions and an oil run off that is incredibly dangerous. Tire emissions from burning tires omit harmful agents such as lead and arsenic into the air.
Where in Steamboat?* Bob s Conoco Big O Doc s Auto Westside Auto Twin Enviro/ Milner Landfill * Fees are involved and vary by location
What do they become? Bottom of sandals Backfill for walls and bridges Stall mats Roof pads Fuel Rubber-modified asphalt for roads and athletic tracks Shower tiles Playground cover Commercial flooring Carpet padding Speed bumps The best thing about recycling tires is that they can be retreaded. This means that the old tread is buffed away and a new tread is put on the tire so it can be used again on an automobile
And don t forget your bike tires and tubes.
Electronics The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 40 million computers become obsolete and are discarded every year, but only 15 percent of these computers are recycled.
Why Recycle Electronics? Conserves natural resources Valuable material can be recovered from old electronics. For example, precious metals are used in computer circuit boards and other electronic components, and of course glass and plastics are used for TV and computer monitors. Supports the community Donating your old electronics supports schools, low-income families, and non-profit agencies by providing them with refurbished computers, cell phones, and other electronics. Individuals are helped by being able to access technology that they could not otherwise afford. Check with these groups first to make sure your equipment meets their needs.
Why Recycle Electronics? Most electronics contain hazardous or toxic materials such as lead and mercury which can cause an environmental problem if discarded in the trash. Examples: Computer monitors and televisions contain significant amounts of lead (an average of four pounds of lead each) Printed circuit boards contain hazardous metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium and mercury, with significant variation depending on the board Batteries in electronic and electrical products may contain lead, mercury and cadmium Mercury-containing components like switches and relays are found in some electronic and electrical products, including the popular flat screen monitors
Recyclable Electronics DVD Player TV VCR Cell Phones Monitors CPUs Laptops Printers Keyboards Phones Copy Machines Fax Machines Scanners Servers Computer Towers Projectors Stereos Mice All accompanying cords, wires & chargers
Where to E-cycle Donate working electronics to local non-profits for re-use Cell Phones FREE at Ace Hardware, Egg & I, and City Hall G&S Mountain Recyclers 846-1243 www.mountainrecyclers.com Twin Enviro G&S takes most stuff (or take directly to Denver) Staples goes to TechTurn All Electronics (no Alkaline Batteries) (no Freon appliances) Dell FREE Waste Management Sony, LG, Goldstar, and Zenith are FREE
Batteries
Why not landfill em? Rechargeable batteries used in power tools, cell phones and other devices may contain potentially hazardous metals such as cadmium, nickel and lead. Button cell batteries used in watches, hearing aids and small consumer electronic devices may contain mercury and silver. Zinc and manganese are metals common in alkaline batteries such as AAA, AA, C, D, and 9 volts. Batteries may produce the following potential problems or hazards: Pollute the lakes and streams as the metals vaporize into the air when burned. Contribute to heavy metals that potentially may leach from solid waste landfills Expose the environment and water to lead and acid. Contain strong corrosive acids May cause burns or danger to eyes and skin
Acceptable Batteries Nickel metal hydride Nickel cadmium Alkaline Nickel-iron Silver oxide Lithium ion and mercury-free zinc carbon (Carbonaire) Sealed lead acid This list includes but is not limited to: Car Batteries Household Batteries (AAA, AA, D, etc.) Laptop Batteries Cell phone Batteries Hearing Aid Batteries
Where? Auto Batteries Axis Steel in Craig Bob s Conoco (no charge) NAPA Auto (no charge) Twin Enviro Westside Auto Household Batteries City Hall (free) Routt County Environmental Health Ace (rechargeable only) City Market (free) Hayden Merchantile Radio Shack (free) Twin Enviro WM has boxes to send to Lamptracker www.wmlamptracker.com direct order boxes
Appliances According to The Steel Recycling Institute's 2008 recycling rates, major appliances recycling rates remained stable at 90 percent. The release noted that, "these steel recycling rates accomplish much more than simply saving landfill space For every ton of steel recycled, 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved."
Why? Keeps harmful chemicals such as CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and mercury, out the atmosphere and landfills It recovers useful resources for reuse, such as steel, plastic, glass, and oil It saves energy and virgin materials
Acceptable Where? Refrigerator Freezer Dishwasher Clothes Washer/Dryer Stove/Ovens Microwaves Air Conditioner Hot Water Heaters Sinks & Disposals Typically picked up when buy new unit - All appliances in town go to Twin Enviro/Milner Landfill Twin Enviro With or without Freon Home ReSource Working appliances for resale/donation WM NO Freon
Light bulbs Incandescent bulbs are NOT recyclable and belong in the trash replace with CFLs or other energy efficient bulbs. CFLs and Fluorescent tubes contain small amounts of mercury that is not exposed to the environment unless the lamp is broken. The release of mercury is most likely to occur when the lamp is thrown in a garbage truck or a dumpster. These bulbs should be recycled.
Where to recycle light bulbs? CFLs Yampa Valley Electric (send to Lamptracker) Lamptracker Direct Light Works of Steamboat (send to Veolia Environmental Services) Fluorescent tubes Lamptracker - www.wmlamptracker.com Light Works of Steamboat YVR looking to purchase bulb crusher Twin Enviro NO (likes them out of landfill) Home ReSource takes new bulbs in boxes for resale
Plastic Bags and Wrappings
Bag-2-Bag program by Hilex City Mkt, Safeway, Walmart Make sure bags are clean and empty. Receipts, debris and other objects contaminate the plastic as it is being recycled. newspaper bags grocery bags produce bags zip lock bags (remove hard components) bread bags dry cleaning bags toilet paper, napkin, and paper towel wraps cereal and crackers box liners (with crumbs shaken out) retail bags (remove hard plastic or string handles) diaper wrap (packaging) case wrap (ex. snacks, water bottles) mattress bags furniture wrap electronic wrap ALL clean bags labeled #2 (HDPE) or #4 (LLDPE)
Unacceptable Plastics Food packaging Produce packaging Plastic food wrap Bags that have direct contact with food PETE trays Plastic bottles Other plastics
Polystyrene (aka. Styrofoam) Even though many foam containers and packing materials are stamped with a they are NOT collected by most local recycling collections, the Yampa Valley included Food containers must go in trash Solid Packing Materials Earth911.org Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers www.epspackaging.org Peanuts and Other Loose Fill UPS Store PostNet
The End Questions? Courtesy of HomeLink Magazine