RECYCLING TIPS

Recycling is one of the easiest ways to care for your environment - it's picked up right at your curb! Following are recycling guidelines for local waste programs. If your waste program is not listed, please let us know so we can add them (info@buckscountyalive.com).

Recycled items can be placed together loosley in your recycling bin, bucket or any other container marked "recycle". Paper should be put into a separate container. They ask that you remove lids from bottles and remove tape and staples from paper products. The following items can be recycled:

• plastic - #1-7
• aluminum cans (rinsed)
• steel/tin food and beverage cans (rinsed)
• aluminum foil (rinsed and balled up)
• glass - clear, brown, green (rinsed, lids removed)
• cardboard (flattened) - including cereal boxes, pizza boxes, etc.
• corrugated boxes (small amounts)
• newspapers, phone books, magazines, paperback books (remove staples and any plastic wrap)
• junk mail, computer paper, envelopes, color paper, etc (can all be placed together loosely in brown paper bag)
• wrapping paper (remove tape - can be mixed in with junk mail, etc.)

They do not accept plastic bags. These should be taken to your local grocery store for recycling. Also, no motor oil bottles, hazardous chemical containers, plastic toys or sporting goods, electronics or batteries (take to county hazardous waste recycling), cds or dvds, foam egg cartons, ice cream cartons, light bulbs, hangers, yard waste or garden tools.

Bottles, cans, and plastic may be mixed together in the recycle bin. All items must be empty, free of food residue, and no lids. The newspaper should be placed in a brown paper bag or bundled and tied with string and then placed next to the recycle bin. Do not over fill as the wind will distribute the papers around your neighborhood.

• plastic - #1-7
• cans (rinsed) - aluminum, tin, and bi-metal cans. DO NOT recycle foil trays, scrap aluminum, or aluminum foil
• glass - clear, brown, green (rinsed, lids removed) - DO NOT recycle dishes, light bulbs, drinking glasses, pyrex, ceramics or window glass
• cardboard - bundle into stacks no bigger than 10 inches thick by 2 feet by 2 feet. DO NOT recycle any cartons which have a foil layer. Do not include any Styrofoam.
• newspapers, phone books, magazines, paperback books, junk mail, computer paper, envelopes, color paper, glossy paper (remove staples and any plastic wrap, these can all be bundled together in a brown paper bag)

Ches-Mont Disposal does NOT accept aluminum foil or wrapping paper. For hazardous waste recycling, click here.

Ches-Mont Disposal participates in RecycleBank, a program that allows you to earn points for your recyclables.

• Hazardous Waste - Bucks County offers several opportunities throughout the year to recycle your hazardous waste.
• Plastic Lids/Caps - the waste companies listed above do not accept plastic lids (they are made from a different type of plastic). However, you can still recycle those lids!
  • Aveda Salons or Stores - Aveda recycles plastic caps to be used to make caps for their products. They'll accept: Twist caps on threaded neck bottles (shampoo, soda, milk, water, etc.); Flip caps on tubes and food product bottles (condiments, etc.); Jar lids (peanut butter, pickles, etc.); Laundry detergent lid.
    They do not accept: Pharmaceutical lids; Metal lids ; Plastic pumps or sprayers ; Bendable or breakable lids
  • Preserve, in partnership with Stonyfield Farms and Organic Valley - you can mail your caps or drop them off at Whole Foods (multiple locations, including Jenkintown and North Wales)
• Electronics - All Office Depot, Staples, and Best Buy stores accept larger electronics like desktop computers for recycling for a small fee (usually $10) and smaller ones like cell phones and PDAs for free. Goodwill stores accept used computer equipment (some locations also accept televisions) for free.
• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs can be recycled at Home Depot or Ikea

If you need to find a recycling center, visit www.earth911.com.

Don't forget about local thrift shops to donate items to instead of sending them to landfills!