Here are ways to recycle beyond the curbside:
Aseptic Packages: just a fraction of U.S. households - approximately 12 million - can recycle them through curbside or drop-off programs, according to the Aseptic Packaging Council. It's a hassle, but you can ship clean, compact aseptic packaging for recycling to:
BRING Recycling,
Reuse Warehouse & Business Office,
86641 Franklin Boulevard,
Eugene, OR 97405
(541)746-3023.
Autos, Trucks, Trailers, Boats, Jet-Skis, Motorcycles, RVs: Even if your vehicle doesn't run, lots of NGOs want it. Numerous vehicle donation programs will gladly accept most towable vehicles. Pickup is free. Some sell the vehicles directly to raise money; others contract with someone to run the donation program for a fee.
Batteries, Cell Phones, Pagers, PDAs: Across the country, Batteries Plus stores accept all batteries for recycling (800-677-8278, www.batteriesplus.com). RadioShack and Office Depot accept batteries from wireless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, cordless power tools, digital cameras and radio-controlled toys at no charge. These are Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and Small Sealed Lead Acid (Pb) batteries weighing less than two pounds. To find other nearby recyclers, try Earth911.org, Rbrc.com or 877-2-RECYCLE.
Drop appliances off at Staples or go to CollectiveGood.com, where you'll choose a charity to benefit before shipping them to:
CollectiveGood,
4508 Bibb Boulevard, Suite B-10,
Tucker, GA 30084.
Call to Protect: www.DonateaPhone.com: gives phones to domestic violence agencies.
The nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. recycles phones and gives a portion of proceeds to charity; for drop-off sites near you, go to Call2Recycle.org or call 877-2-RECYCLE. Alternatively, get cash, $2 to $100-plus, for newer-model cell phones from CellForCash.com (800-503-8026). It is now illegal in California to toss cell phones in the trash.
Books: You can sell books to used bookstores or online at such sites as Amazon.com. Or donate them to libraries, thrift stores or the International Book Project (888-999-2665, www.intlbookproject.org). Some curbside recycling programs, including New York City's, accept soft-cover books.
Car Batteries, Motor Oil, Oil Filters, Antifreeze: Many auto-parts stores and service centers that sell these items will take your old ones for recycling. Go to Earth911.org to find a location near you. Nearly 40 states have laws ensuring consumers can return old car batteries; to view your state's status, go to BatteryCouncil.org.
Carpet and Padding: Having access to a carpet recycling network is likeliest in California, but it should be easier starting next year. If you're in the commercial sector, calling your mill rep, who can work with you to get your carpet recycled for a fee. Find potential contacts and locations of carpet reclamers at CarpetRecovery.org.
Eyeglasses: Drop them off at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, BJ's Optical, the optical stores at Sears or Target, or your local Lions Club. Refurbished glasses are delivered to developing countries.
Fluorescent Lights: For a list of companies that say they recycle the spent bulbs, go to Lamprecycle.org.
Miscellany (Crayons, Art Supplies, Wine Corks, Fabric): Many states have material exchanges where odd stuff is collected and made available to the public for use. Outdated calendars, office paper that is used on one side, wallpaper, flooring samples, crayons and other stuff is gladly accepted. To see if there's a materials exchange near you, search Google for "materials exchange".
Paint: Some nonprofit organizations welcome usable paint; to check locally, go to Earth911.org. Empty dried-out paint cans without lids are accepted as part of the regular curbside recycling pickup program in such places as New York City. Check your program.
Packaging Peanuts: Most UPS Stores accept clean foam peanuts; find nearby stores via 800-789-4623. Alternatively, search LooseFillPackaging.com or call the Peanut Hotline at 800-828-2214.
Printer Cartridges: refill inkjet cartridges a few times through providers as Printpal.com (888-772-1361), CarrotInk.com (877-322-7768), and Walgreens stores. Take exhausted cartridges to OfficeMax or Office Depot, which will trade you certain models for a free ream of recycled paper. Staples trades them for a $3-off store coupon. Freerecycle.com promises to pay up to $3.60 apiece for nearly 80 types of ink cartridges.
Priority Mail (Tyvek) Envelopes: Tyvek-brand envelopes, such as those used by Fed-Ex and for U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, can be shipped back to Tyvek for recycling. If you have fewer than 25, turn one of them inside out, then stuff it with the rest. Ship to:
Terry Fife,
Tyvek(r) Recycling Specialist,
5401 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Spot 197, Room 231,
Richmond, VA 23234,
(866)338-9835.
Records: Sell your old records to an independent music store or at Gemm.com, the self-described "world's largest music marketplace," or donate them to a thrift store.
Smoke Detectors: They last only 10 years and contain radioactive Americium 241, so send dead ones back to the manufacturer. Send First Alert, BRK and Family Guard Smoke Detectors to:
BRK Brands,
25 Spur Drive,
El Paso, TX 79906,
(800)323-9005;
www. firstalert.com.
On the front of the package, write "For Disposal." Up to five smoke alarms are accepted for free.
Ship American Sensors and Dicon Smoke Detectors by surface mail to:
Dicon Inc.,
20 Steelcase Road West, Unit #3,
Markham, Ontario L3R 1B2,
Canada,
(800) 387-4219.
On the front of the package, write "For Recycling, $0 Value."
Videotapes, Floppy Disks, Zip Disks, DVDs, CDs, Jewel Cases: Ship them to Missouri via media mail, where disabled employees of the nonprofit Alternative Community Training erase and repackage donated media for resale under the GreenDisk label. Download a donor form from ACTRecycling.org. Send items to:
Alternative Community Training,
2200 Burlington,
Columbia, MO 65202,
(800) 359-4607.
Or you can ship your stuff directly to GreenDisk through its Technotrash Pack-IT service (800-305-DISK, ). For $5.95, you can ship up to 20 pounds.
Wire Hangers: many dry cleaners will be happy for you to return them.
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FROM E Magazine, a SustainableBusiness.com Content Partner
