WHAT DO I DO WITH....? |
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| All of us struggle from time to time with the question of what to do with certain unwanted items. In some cases, you may think the item may be too large to take to the transfer station. In other cases, we think it may be hazardous. And then there's the stuff that is just too good to put in the landfill. Isn't there some way to ensure that it gets reused or recycled?
Whatever the reason, SWAC has created this section of our website to help you figure out what to do with your unwanted stuff. . You may also want to consider trying the Vermont Business Materials Exchange, Freecycle, or ReNew Salvage. If you can't find an item listed, please contact us. We'll be glad to help! AEROSOL CANS: Empty aerosol cans are accepted for recycling at all SWAC transfer stations and recycling centers. Just remove the cap, and recycle it along with other bottles and cans. AMMUNITION: Ammunition, such as bullets and shotgun shells, is not accepted at any SWAC facilitity. Unwanted ammunition should be discharged safely or taken to a local gun shop. For dipsosal of large quantities of ammunition, please contact the Vermont State Police at (802) 872-4680. ANIMALS (dead): There are several ways to dispose of dead animals. Bury or compost the animal on your property. For details, contact the State of Vermont Solid Waste Management Program at (802) 241-3888. Take the animal to a rendering company (only for large animals) or a veterinarian. Contact your local game warden (for road-killed animals). Double bag the animal and bring it to a SWAC Transfer Station or to a privately-operated transfer station. NOTE: Farmers needing to dispose of large quantities of dead animals should contact the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources: (802) 241-3465. ANTIFREEZE: Antifreeze is accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events and at the Rutland County Solid Waste Management District on Gleason Road in Rutland. No fee for SWAC residents. APPLIANCES: Appliances are banned from landfill disposal in Vermont. Scrap metal businesses accept appliances. Most towns accept appliances at either town transfer stations or special events throughout the year. There may be a fee associated with removing freeon from appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, ice makers, and dehumidifiers. There may also be a fee for disposal of other appliances such as washing machines, dryers, furnaces, stoves, microwaves, hot water heaters, and dishwashers. Please contact your town office for information specific to your town. ASBESTOS: Asbestos waste is not accepted at any of the transfer stations or recycling centers. Asbestos waste may be properly disposed of in a certified landfill in accordance with V.S.A., Title 18, Chapter 26, as well as federal rules and regulations. Information regarding removal of asbestos may be obtained through the Department of Health (toll-free in-state) at 800-439-8500 or 802-863-7220 as well as at http://www.healthyvermonters.info/hp/asbestos/leadasbestos.shtml. Information regarding asbestos transportation and disposal can be obtained by contacting the Department of Environmental Conservation, Waste Management Division at 802-241-3888. Currently, non-friable asbestos waste can be accepted at the Rutland County Solid Waste District (RCSWD). Contact RCSWD at 802-775-7209 for specific information. Non-friable asbestos can also be disposed through the following privately operated landfills in Vermont: Waste USA in Coventry - (802) 334-8300 WSI Landfill in Moretown - (802) 244-1100 Friable asbestos (crumbly, easily becomes airborne) must be managed by an asbestos abatement contractor. You can obtain a list of abatement contractors from the Vermont Department of Health at the numbers given above or at the following website: http://www.healthyvermonters.info/hp/asbestos/asbestoscontractor.shtml#commercial. BATTERIES: Batteries are accepted for Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events and at the Rutland County Solid Waste District Hazardous Waste Depot. No fee for SWAC residents. NOTE: Regular alkaline batteries and dead lithium batteries are not considered hazardous. They may be safely discarded as trash. The only batteries that must be brought in (because they are hazardous) are: lead acid batteries (car batteries) button cell batteries (watch batteries) rechargeable batteries usable lithium batteries (dead lithium batteries are not hazardous. Car batteries are not accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Collection events but can be brought in to the Rutland County Hazardous Waste Depot on Gleason Road in Rutland during normal operating hours - Tuesday - Thursday from 8:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. - and the first Saturday of the month (March-October). Area garages may also accept car batteries. BUILDING MATERIALS: ReNew Salvage is a non-profit organization selling used and surplus building materials and offering deconstruction services. Deconstructing a building can divert 75% of the material from the landfill. Contractor and homeowner materials donations are tax-deductible. For more information about their programs, hours, and location, please visit www.renewsalvage.org. CELL PHONES: Cell phones are accepted all SWAC recycling centers/transfer stations in the SWAC towns. COMPUTERS and other electronics : Click here. EXPLOSIVES & FIREWORKS: Unwanted explosives and fireworks (including highway flares) are not accepted at any SWAC facility. For information on proper disposal, please contact the Vermont State Police at (802) 872-4680. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: Some fire extinguishers can be refilled. Contact your retailer or the manufacturer to learn more about this option. Unwanted extinguishers can be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. FLUORESCENT LAMPS: Did you know that a 60-watt incandescent bulb and a 14-watt compact fluorescent bulb provide the same amount of light? However, a fluorescent bulb's life expectancy is approximately 12,000 hours versus an incandescent bulb's 1,000 hours? Fluorescent bulbs use less electricity costing less to run as well as resulting in less air pollution from coal burning power plants. However, fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a highly toxic metal. Did you know that mercury added (labeled) items have been banned from Vermont landfills since 1999. As of July 1, 2007, ALL mercury products (whether labeled or not) will be banned. It is extremely important that these bulbs (and other hazardous products) are disposed of properly. Fluorescent bulbs (and other hazardous products) are collected at the SWAC household hazardous waste collections. Visit Vermont's Mercury Reduction Campaign website (www.mercvt.org) and the Agency of Natural Resources website at http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ead/sbcap/pdf/fs_mercurylamps.pdfWilliams True Value, Bob Williams, Poultney, Vermont, at (802) 287-5791 Noble ACE Hardware, Matt Philo, Rutland, Vermont, at (802)773-2758 Rotella Building Materials, Inc., Virginia Gilman, Rutland, Vermont, at (802) 775-4383. Visit Vermont's Mercury Reduction Campaign website (www.mercvt.org) for more information. Also check out the mercury spills or fluorescent light bulb breakage sheet , the Compact Fluorescent Bulbs fact sheet, and the Mercury Spills fact sheet. MOTOR OIL & FILTERS: Used motor oil and oil filters are accepted at many garages in the area as well as at all Household Hazardous Waste Events. At the events, there is no charge for SWAC residents. PAINT: Unwanted oil-based paint is accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Events. No fee for SWAC residents. NOTE: Small quantities of latex paint (one quart or less) may be solidified and discarded as trash. Remove the lid and allow the paint to dry OR add kitty litter to speed up the process. PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS: Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants (PPCPs) refers, in general, to any product used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons or used by agribusiness to enhance growth or health of livestock. PPCPs comprise a diverse collection of thousands of chemical substances, including prescription and over-the-counter therapeutic drugs, veterinary drugs, fragrances, and cosmetics. Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals are present in our nation's waterbodies. Further research suggests that certain drugs may cause ecological harm. The EPA is investigating this topic and developing strategies to help protect the health of both the environment and the public. PPCPs have probably been present in water and the environment for as long as humans have been using them. The drugs that we take are not entirely absorbed by our bodies, and are excreted and passed into wastewater and surface water. With advances in technology that improved the ability to detect and quantify these chemicals, we can now begin to identify what effects, if any, these chemicals have on human and environmental health. In most cases, unwanted prescription medication should be placed in the trash. There are three exceptions: Head lice shampoo - accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Events. No fee for SWAC residents. Chemotherapy drugs - return to pharmacy or cancer clinic Anti-neoplastic medicine - return to pharmacy or cancer clinic NOTE: Please do not flush unwanted medication down the drain. It may disrupt your septic system or the water treatment facility. Visit www.epa.gov/ppcp for additional information. PRNTER & TONER CARTRIDGES: The SWAC transfer stations/recycling centers are equipped with collection boxes for injet, dot matrix and laser jet printers. Some printer and toner cartridges can be refilled. To learn more about this option, contact the manufacturer. PROPANE TANKS:Please contact the Rutland County Solid Waste District for disposal options. SCRAP METAL: Scrap metal includes most bicycles, desks, filing cabinets, book shelves, VCRs, grills, lawn furniture, and any item that is at least 80% metal. The type of metal is not important. Scrap metal is accepted for recycling at most of the SWAC transfer stations/recycling centers. Please contact your town office for more specific details. Salvage yards also accept scrap metal.. SMOKE DETECTORS: Most smoke detectors contain radioactive materials and should NOT be disposed of as trash. Smoke detectors are not accepted at any SWAC facility or household hazardous waste event. To properly dispose of these items, send them back to the manufacturer. The name and address is usually found on the back of the unit. First Alert brand smoke detectors may be sent to: First Alert/BRK Attention: Recycling 3920 Enterprise Court Aurora, Illinois 60504 SPORTING GOODS: Used sporting goods in good condition are accepted at some local stores for resale. For a listing look in the Yellow Pages under Sporting Goods. STYROFOAM: Styrofoam is not accepted for recycling at any SWAC facility. Styrofoam should be discarded as trash. Styrofoam packaging peanuts are accepted at no charge at a variety of local businesses for reuse. SYRINGES & NEEDLES: THE PROBLEM: Syringes, lancets, and other sharp items used to treat diabetes, allergies, and other medical symptoms, are called "sharps". Discarding loose sharps into the trash can hurt people. Anyone who handles the trash may be stuck accidentally. Used sharps can transmit germs. Diseases, such as Hepatitis B, can result from someone being accidentally stuck. THE SOLUTION: A safer way to dispose of sharps is to use plastic bottles. The #1 PETE soda bottle is recommended because it is more puncture resistant than most other types of plastic bottles commonly found in the home. The PETE bottles are identified with "1" inside a triangle of arrows. the symbol is usually located on the bottom of the container. Label an empty #1 PETE soda bottle with the warning: "DOT NO RECYCLE!" Pre-made labels may be available at your local pharmacy or doctor's office. If not, you can make your own at home. Store Carefully. Put each of your used sharps into the bottle. Store the bottle out of reach of children. Seal. Put heavy tape over the closed bottle cap when the bottle is full. Dispose of the filled bottle in your household trash. Now your sharps are in a container that protects people from being stuck and is unlikely to break open on its way to the landfill. TELEVISIONS: February 17, 2009 - No TV?! TV stations will stop broadcasting analog signals over the airwaves and switch over to digital signals. This means many old tvs will be obsolete and consumers must either buy a digital set-top converter box or a brand new TV in order to get over the airways reception. Some companies, like SONY, are taking responsibility for their old TVs by implementing responsible recycling programs. But most companies are not following suit. Not only are they not establishing take back programs, they they actively lobby against state legislation that would require them to do so. Encourage manufacturers to take back their tvs: Visit http://takebackmytv.com/cleanup. Just about anyone selling TVs (Best Buy, Wal-Mart, etc.) will or is selling the converter boxes. A good website regarding this issue (analog to digital TV and the coupons) is http://www.dtv.gov. Coupons may be limited. Anyone interested in obtaining coupons (limit of two $40 coupons per housheold) may want to order theirs soon. The coupons expire after 90 days. Another informative site can be found at:http://www.aarp.org/money/wise_consumer/telephones/digital_tv.html. Unwanted televisions can be recycled through the Electronics Collection Program at SWAC recycling facilities/transfer stations. There may be fees associated with recycling or disposal. Contact your town office for further information. |
Solid Waste Alliance Communities(SWAC) |
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| What Do I Do With...? | Living Green | Less-Toxic Alernatives | Can I Burn? |