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Recycling

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What to do with items that can't go in the Recycling Bin...

Bicycles

  • A non-governmental, nonprofit, advocacy organization, promoting sustainable transport and international understanding. Major areas of activity are non-motorized urban planning, economic development, bike safety education, responsible travel and bicycle tourism, and cross-cultural, educational programs. International Bicycle Fund
  • RECYCLE A BICYCLE

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  • A carbon monoxide detector is one of the most important items in any home, so it's important to replace old detectors when they no longer function properly. But what do you do with the old detector? According to a representative of First Alert, there are no hazardous materials in carbon monoxide detectors, and therefore they can be disposed of in your regular trash.

Cell Phones

  • Cell Phones can now be dropped off for recycling at the Niagara County Landfill & Recycling Office.

Coats

  • One Warm Coat accepts gently used coats. Visit the website to clocate a coat drive near you or start one yourself. www.onewarmcoat.org

Cooking Oils

  • Call Darling International @ 716-895-0655 for disposal of cooking oils.

Craft, school, office supplies

  • yarn, paper-towel tubes, ribbon, knitting needles, buttons, pens, pencils, rubber bands, used calendars, or CD jewel cases can be donated to SCRAP, which creatively reuses these materials through various art workshops. www.scrapaction.org

Electronics

 

  • Electronics can be taken to the Niagara County Landfill & Recycling Center for FREE.
  • Electronics include: power supplies, rechargeable batteries, telephones, pagers, laptops, power cables, printers, medical equipment, copy machines, fax machines, scanners, portable devices, ink/toner cartridges, remote controls, modems, cameras, projectors, televisions, cell phones, radios, VCRs, DVD players, monitors, mice, computers, keyboards, microwaves,  and game gear.
  • Electronics Recycling Facts:

                

  • To manufacture one computer and monitor, it takes 530 pounds of fossil fuels, 48 pounds of chemicals, and 1.5 tons of water.
  • 81% of a desktop computer’s energy use is in making the computer, not using it.
  • The EPA estimates that 29.9 million desktops and 12 million laptops were discarded in 2007. That’s more than 112,000 computers discarded per day.
  • In a 2006 report, the International Association of Electronics Recyclers projects that with the current growth and obsolescence rates of the various categories of consumer electronics, the U.S. now scraps approximately 400 million units a year.
  • Only 13.6% of the consumer electronic products generated into the municipal waste stream (stuff that people tossed out) were “recovered” for recycling in 2007. This compares to the overall 33.4% recovery rate of all categories of municipal waste in 2007.
  • Recycling metals from e-waste uses a fraction of the energy needed to mine new metals.
  • Compared to disposal, computer reuse creates 296 more jobs for every 10,000 tons of material disposed of each year.
  • If the 100 million cell phones that could have been recycled in 2006 had been recycled, we would have saved enough electricity to power approximately 194,0002U.S. households for one year.
  • Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and PCBs are found in electronics and can be harmful and dangerous to our environment if not properly disposed

 

Eyeglasses

  • Call your local Lions Club. Also, LensCrafters and Pearle Vision collect glasses chain-wide.
  • www.lionsclubs.org

Flower Pots/Containers

  • Your local nursery would be most appreciative of returned items such as these.

Freecycle

  • A place to give or receive what you have and don't need or what you need and don't have - a free cycle of giving which keeps stuff out of landfills. www.freecycle.org

Furniture

  • The National Furniture Bank Association will give your couch to anyone who needs a hand up, including domestic violence victims. www.help1up.org

 

Garden Seeds

  • WinterSown accepts donations of seeds. The seeds are used to help further its winter-seed-sowing educational efforts. WinterSown will accept saved seeds as well as packaged seeds. www.wintersown.org

 

Hypodermic Needles (SHARPS)

  • Needles should be removed from the syringe, and then placed in a plastic container designed for this exact purpose, and available at most pharmacies.  If you cannot obtain a container, an alternate method would be to place the needles and syringes in a hard-cased container (plastic or metal). An old metal coffee can, with a lid, would be suitable for this purpose.  This will protect anyone who may come in contact with your garbage, and therefore stand the risk of possible injury from the from the needles.  The container must be secured, taping the lid is advised, and clearly marked “SHARPS”.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RECYCLE THESE ITEMS. For more information go to:  www.safeneedledisposal.org OR http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/sldwaste/sharps.htm

  • Community Sharps Collection Program - Residents of the community may dispose of needles, syringes, and lancets used in private residence at numerous locations throughout Niagara County. Click on the link for a list of locations and times that sharps can be dropped off:  Directory of Community Sharps Collection Sites

THESE ITEMS MUST BE PLACED IN RIGID, SHATTERPROOF, AND PUNCTURE RESISTANT CONTAINERS (laundry & detergent bottles)

THE FOLLOWING CONTAINERS SHOULD NOT BE USED:

Plastic milk jugs, Plastic soda bottles, Paper or Cardboard containers, Coffee containers

PLEASE:

  1. Tape shut the top of Container
  2. Remove product label, if possible
  3. Add person's name or address & phone number

Motor Oil

  • Take used motor oil to a service station or to a retail outlet that sells motor oil.  State law requires most service stations and retailers to accept, FREE OF CHARGE, up to five (5) gallons of motor oil per person, per day.

Musical Instruments

  • From piccolos to guitars, Operation Happy Note sends secondhand instruments to soldiers deployed overseas. www.operationhappynote.com

Napkins/Paper Towels

  • These are perfect in your compost pile.  Be sure to tear them into smaller pieces.

Oil Base Paint (clean up with paint thinner)

  • Please dispose of oil base paints by making an appointment with us for Household Hazardous Waste Collection by calling 434-6568..

Oxygen Tanks

     The company provided in the link below will accept home oxygen tanks as well as portable thanks and industrial size tanks up to 135 lb.  There is a fee for processing and also shipping cost.

Paint

Paint IS NOT ACCEPTABLE for disposal in a liquid state. Cans must be empty or contain dried paint only. Disposal of paint still in liquid form, should be processed using the following methods (approved and recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

 Latex Paint (Water Soluble-clean up with water)

  • Find a pail or corrugated cardboard box and line it with a heavy plastic bag.
  • Pour kitty litter into the plastic bag.
  • Pour the paint into the plastic bag containing the kitty litter, adding more litter as needed, depending on the amount of paint.
  • Leave the lid off the paint can and let any remaining paint dry.
  • Once the paint is dry, you can put it out with your regular trash for pick up.  It is important that you leave the lid off the paint can so that the laborers can see the paint is dry and contains no liquids.
  • Also:  Niagara County Landfill & Recycling has a PAINT EXCHANGE PROGRAM for water base latex paint.  If you have water base latex paint, in the original labeled, non-rusted container, that contains a minimum of 1/2 can of useable paint, you may bring it to our Paint Exchange Program.  The Paint Exchange Program was designed to allow people to bring in usable paint for FREE, so that other's in need of paint may take it for use at NO CHARGE! This program runs during summer season-April 15-November 15 only.

Pizza Boxes

  • Because of the food contamination commonly present in pizza boxes, they cannot be recycled.  Dispose of them with your regular trash.

Plastic Grocery Bags

  • Local markets have bins for recycling these items.

Polystyrene Packing & Peanuts, Re-use

  • Many packing, shipping, and moving stores will take used peanuts. For a partial list of local collection sites, try the Plastic Lossefill Council at 1-800-828-2214.
  • RECYCLETECH   accepts syrofoam products that are white & crumbly in nature.

Propane Tanks

  • Propane tanks from gas grills (20 lb.) can be disposed of at the Niagara County Landfill & Recycling Center for $2.50 Each.
  • 1lb propane tanks can be disposed of at no charge at WENDT'S PROPANE & OIL SERVICE, 5910 Ward Rd., Sanborn, NY 14132  Phone: 731-9826 or 731-3015

Random "Stuff"

  • Got something you don't know what to do with, but you are sure someone would want it? Excess Access matches your items with local nonprofit wish lists. www.excessaccess.com

 

Refrigerators/Freezers/Air Conditioners

  • These items are accepted at the Niagara County Landfill & Recycling Center for a fee of $21.50 Each.  Freon removal is not necessary as it is done at the Recycling Center.

 

Sewing Machines or Computers

  • Consider giving them to the Filipino's Children Fund. A simple sewing machine can be a way for a disadvantaged person to earn a living. For more information, contact Ross Inciong at ross@fcfinc.org. You can also visit the website: www.fcfinc.org

Shoes

Sneakers

  • Nike accepts old sneakers which are then recycled and used for the rubber in a running track to the fabric cushion underneath an indoor or outdoor basketball court, Nike Grind – a raw material made from recycled athletic shoes and Nike manufacturing scrap – can be used in all types of sports surfaces.  NIKE REUSE A SHOE

Skirts, Blazers, Blouses

  • www.dressforsuccess.org provides professional apparel to disadvantaged women to help them dress for job interviews.

Smoke Detectors - Proper Disposal

  • Most smoke detectors contain a small amount of Americium 241, a radioactive material. On the wall, a smoke detector is safe but if broken open in a landfill, it can pose a health threat. All detectors that have radioactive components must be labeled as such. The companies that manufacture detectors accept returned units for disposal as hazardous waste.

  • The majority of smoke detectors sold in the United States are made by First Alert. They will recycle them if you return them at your expense and pay $1.00 for a disposal fee.  In order to use their system, you must call them at 1-800-323-9005 and set up an account to pay either by credit card or check.  

  • Most other smoke detectors are made by a Canadian company called American Sensors. Call them at 1-800-387-4219.

  • Carbon monoxide detectors do not contain any hazardous materials so they can be safely thrown away. 
  • SmokeDetectorDisposalInfo

Sneakers

  • Old sneakers can to go the Nike-sponsored Reuse-a-Shoe (the used kicks don't have to be Nikes). The rubber is used to create play surfaces for kids around the world. www.letmeplay.com

Stuffed Animals

  • www.stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org is a wonderful place to consider! It will accept your gently used stuffed animals, then clean, repair, and distribute them to children in need.

Unwanted Household Goods (small appliances, tableware, clothing, furniture, toys, sports equipment, etc...)

  • Your unwanted household items can have a life again if you donate them to charity. Organizations such as Goodwill Industries will take your donations, sort and sometimes repair them, and resell them in thrift shops nationwide. Goodwill provides jobs and job training for tens of thousands of people who would otherwise have trouble finding work. In 1994 alone, Goodwill assisted 25,000 people finding placement in the private sector, helping many people get off public assistance.
  • Non-stick, metal cookware and utensils can be refinished. One provider is The Fry Pan Man.

VIDEO TAPES, GAME CARTRIDGES, CD'S AND OTHER TECHNO TRASH

  • Now there is one place to responsibly and securely dispose of all your computer-related waste, spent supplies and obsolete accessories.  GreenDisk handles all your technotrash disposal needs from a CD to a PC and just about everything in between.
  • www.greendisk.com

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