On the Green.....On the TV!

Thanks for joining me On The Green! If you watched my green segment this morning, thank you for viewing and I hope you can find some more valuable green info here on my blog.

Today kicked off Good Morning Northwest's Televised version of On The Green. Gail Everett with the City of Richland will join me twice a month to discuss new green ideas and ways to incorporate them (simply) into your lifestyle.
Thanks to Gail, the City of Richland has a FANTASTIC environmental education web page where you can find all of the following information and much much much more.
That website is: http://www.ci.richland.wa.us/RICHLAND/enviro/index.cfm?PageNum=1


Lets recap some good recycling information.
Starting with the basics. You don't have to have a bunch of fancy bins, or collectors to recycle. Cardboard boxes, paper bags, plastic bins, just about anything works. I uses paper grocery bags at work to separate my recyclables.If you don't have recycling/garbage service to your house, there are several drop boxes around the Tri Cities where you can drop off your recycling.

What are the drop boxes? Maybe you have seen BIG HUGE GREEN bins in empty parking lots or on street corners. They look like big garbage dumpsters, but they are strictly for recycling. (yay!)

What can you drop off? This info has been provided by the City of Richland.

♦ Scrap Paper: Includes phone books, white, colored, copy, fax and computer paper, junk mail, cards, envelopes, file folders, egg cartons, tin can labels, paper bags and pressboard (cereal, cracker and shoe boxes, paper core tubes, etc.).

♦ Glass Jars and Bottles: Rinse and separate clear and colored glass.
Labels do not have to be removed. Please no light bulbs, Pyrex,
drinking glasses or window glass. Please rinse to remove any food residue.
♦ Tin and Aluminum: Rinse and flatten if possible. Rinse aluminum
foil and pie tins. Breath mint and gum tins are recyclable as well as lids from cans and jars. No scrap metal.

♦ Cardboard: Only flattened corrugated cardboard and brown paper bags.
No packaging material (bubble wrap, peanuts or preformed Styrofoam).

♦ Plastics: Rinse and flatten plastic bottles marked with
a #1 or 2 on the bottom. These are typically beverage containers (milk, pop, water). Labels do not have to be removed. Rings and lids are acceptable, but no Styrofoam.

♦ Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs: Place loosely in bin.
No junk mail or scrap paper in this bin (see above).


Where are some of these drop box locations? Here are the locations in Richland.
More in the other areas to come.
In South Richland, near ACE Hardware, 103 Keene; corner of Queensgate and Keene; Wal-Mark Parking Lot, 2801 Duportail; 1300 block of Lee Blvd. (west of Fran Rish Stadium); 1300 block of Jadwin (behind Texaco Station); 7-Eleven on George Washington Way in North Richland; Battelle complex, 7th and ‘W’ Avenue, and at the Horn Rapids Landfill, 3120 Twin Bridges Road.


While most of us know you can recycle the basic cardboard, glass, aluminum.... here are a few other items you can recycle... some may surprise you!

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF RICHLAND
♦Batteries, Household Type: Used C, D, AA, AAA can be taken to the Benton County Moderate Risk Waste Facility, (3102 Twin Bridges Road) at the Horn Rapids Landfill. This is a non-regulated waste and although discouraged, can be placed in the trash. There is also a container at city hall.

♦Batteries, Rechargeable: Used rechargeable batteries (those found in portable phones, cell phones, lab top computers, hand tools, pagers, 2-way radios) can be placed in the container located in Richland City Hall, or taken to the Moderate Risk Waste Facility at the landfill. The battery terminals should be taped with duct or electricians tape, or placed separately in a plastic bag.

♦Batteries, Small Equipment or Vehicle Type: Take to the Benton County Moderate Risk Waste Facility or contact a local business and inquire about their return or recycle policy.

♦Computer Disks (CDs): Beside recycling, unneeded CDs are great for a variety of craft projects (www.make-stuff.com/recycling/cd.html.)
• DVDS, CDS AND JEWEL CASES. You can trade CDs at www.zunafish.com. Wanna let it go and not worry about it ending up in a landfill? Send those discs to www.greendisk.com for recycling.
• America Online accepts unwanted AOL CDs only, see www.NoMoreAOLCDs.com or mail to America Online, Attn: Mail Room, 22000 AOL Way, Dulles, VA, 20166.
• GreenDisk accepts CDs for recycling. There is a 30-cent charge per pound to cover labor costs ($6.95 minimum). Mail to: GreenDisk, 2200 Burlington, Columbia, MO, 65202. For more information on GreenDisk’s computer and accessory recycling program, visit www.greendisk.com/

♦Cell Phones: There are several ways to sell, donate or recycle unneeded cell phones.
• Bring them to the Benton County Moderate Risk Waste Facility, who donates them to the local Domestic Violence Services. You may call them directly at 582-9841.
• Drop them off at participating schools in our area - call your favorite school to see if they are collecting for fundraising events.
• Sell them to companies like: www.cellforcash.com or www.oldcellphone.com
• Link to www.donateaphone.com or send the phone, charger and accessories to:
Call to Protect, 2555 Bishop Circle West, Dexter MI 48130-1563


Computers: Contact the manufacturer listed on your equipment to see what take-back programs they offer. A home page is a good place to start looking. For businesses with more than one to recycle, contact the Moderate Risk Waste Facility (942-7387) for a list of recyclers.
RECA Foundation in Kennewick (543-2910) is accepting Pentium II and higher computers for community redistribution to low income households. Columbia Basin College may accept them too. Call 547-0511 x2397.
Dell computers will also accept computers for free or for a small pick up charge. Visit www.dell4me.com/recycling for information.

♦Foam Packing Peanuts: Save and reuse for mailing or take to a local mailing service for reuse (call first). Most mailing centers will accept it back from the public (depends on current stockpile). The Mailing Center in Richland will also give it away, (free) if available. Another idea for reuse is to place a layer of Styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of a pot before adding soil. It aids draining and makes the pot lighter.
The Mailing Center, 302 Torbett Street, Richland WA (509) 943-0693


♦Greeting Cards: Unwanted greeting cards (any occasion) can be recycled in scrap paper recycling containers or given to the Richland Seniors Association that creatively refurbishes the cards and resells them for a fraction of the cost. Drop off cards and take a peek at their new selection.
Richland Community Center - Senior Coordinator, 500 Amon Park Drive, (509) 942-7529
Laser Jet Cartridges: Empty printer cartridges can be recycled by sending them to the manufacturer using the prepaid sticker that accompanies new printer cartridges, or pick up a free mailing envelope at City Hall, Public Library, the Moderate Risk Waste Facility, local office supply stores or the Post Office. The following schools also collect and recycle them as a fundraising drive:
• Christ the King School, 1122 Long St., Richland, 946-6158
• Hanford High School, 450 Hanford St., Richland, 371-2600
• Jason Lee Elementary, 1702 Van Giesen St., Richland, 942-2555
• Jefferson Elementary School, 1525 Hunt St., Richland, 967-6250
• Liberty Christian School, 2200 Williams Blvd., Richland, 946-0602
• Marcus Whitman Elementary, 1704 Gray St., Richland, 967-6300
• River's Edge Alternative School, 975 Gillespie St., Richland, 942-295
• Wiley Elementary, 2820 S. Highland Blvd, West Richland, 967-4141
• Vista Elementary School, 1701 N. Young St., Kennewick, 734-3590
• Kiwanis Clubs, visit your favorite club or see www.kiwanis.org


♦Pallets: Request the vendor to pick them up during the next delivery, recycle at the landfill, or contact a local pallet business. Tri-City Pallets, 545-6424; Cascade Pallets, 546-2638; Pallet Services Inc., 543-3637.


♦Plastic Shopping Bags: Collection containers for plastic bags, produce bags, newspaper sleeves and dry cleaning bags are in place in the entrance of major grocery stores in Richland.
Prescription Eye Glasses: Used prescription eyeglasses can be donated to non-profit organizations like the Lions Club or Kiwanis Club for humanitarian needs. Containers are set up in various optometrists’ office, Safeway, Costco and the Richland Community Center.
Albertson’s
1320 Lee Boulevard
Albertson’s
130 W. Gage Boulevard
Fred Meyer
101 Wellsian Way
Safeway
1803 George Washington Way
Wal-Mart
2801 Duportail
WinCo
101 Columbia Point Drive


♦Propane Tanks: Propane tanks can be recycled, free of charge, by taking them to the Moderate Risk Waste Facility. Amerigas Propane located at 204 N. Fruitland Street in Kennewick, (582-8888) or Oxarc,716 S. Oregon Avenue in Pasco, (547-2494) will accept them for a charge if over 5 gallons.


♦Tires: Horn Rapids Landfill & Northwest Tire Recycling, 967-3952 will accept them.
Wood: Wood waste, including pallets and yard debris, can be taken to the Horn Rapids Landfill. The wood is chipped and available to the public for free. For more information, contact 942-7498.


♦Free Advertising for Inexpensive Items: There are two options for giving away or selling unneeded items at no cost. The Tri-City Herald’s “Freebies” column, printed on Mondays and Tuesdays, is available for items $50 or less. Pick up a form at 333 Canal Drive in Kennewick. Log onto www.2good2toss.