The Green Pages

For regular trash and recycling info, see our page: District Guide to Recycling and Trash.

Hazardous Waste Collections: For many items listed below, our recommendation is to take them to a hazardous waste collection. We urge you to do so. The District's Hazardous Waste Program sponsors several such collections each year.

Aerosol Containers Agricultural Plastic Ammunition Animals Antifreeze/Coolant Appliances Asbestos Aseptic Food Containers Ashes Asphalt Asphalt Shingles Automobiles Ballasts Batteries - Auto Batteries - Household Books Boxboard Cans Cardboard Catalogs Cell phones Christmas Trees Clothes Coal Ash Computer Disks Computers Construction Materials Dead Animals Dry Cleaning Bags, Hangers

Egg Cartons Electronics Explosives Film Canisters Fire Extinguishers Fluorescent Lights Food Freon Furniture Gasoline Glass Grocery Bags Junk Mail Kerosene Lead Paint Chips Leaves, Grass, etc. Light Ballasts Magazines Mercury-Containing Devices Metal Mixed Paper Motor Oil Needles Newspaper Office Paper Oil Filters Oily Soil Packing Peanuts Paint & Similar Products

Pesticides and Herbicides Phone Books Pizza Boxes Plastics Printer Cartridges Propane Tanks Rags Oily Rags Railroad Ties Rendering Scrap Metal Shingles Shoes Shredded Paper Smoke Detectors Styrofoam Syringes Tanks Televisions Textiles Thermometers and Thermostats Tires Toner Cartridges Toys Trash Trees and Brush Wood Ash Wrapping Paper Yard Waste

Aerosol Containers - When containers still have product in them or are still under pressure, most are considered hazardous waste and should be taken to a Hazardous Waste collection.

Aerosol containers are steel cans; therefore, empty aerosol containers can be recycled with other metal cans in most recycling programs.

Agricultural Plastic - (bale wrap, plastic sheet mulch, etc.) Ag plastics should be managed as trash. Burning ag plastics or other types of farm garbage is strictly prohibited. And unfortunately, agricultural plastic is not recyclable at this time.

Ammunition - Ammunition cannot be brought to a Household Hazardous Waste collection. If the ammo is in useable condition, try to find someone who might use it--your police department, a gun shop, or a friend. If the ammo is old, wet, or corroded, your police department should be able to take it or advise you on how to dispose of it.

Animals - See Dead Animals

Antifreeze/Coolant - Coolant from vehicles (antifreeze), is a hazardous waste and needs to be taken to a Hazardous Waste collection or to the Hartford Recycling Center. You might also want to check with your local auto service station to see if they will take antifreeze.

Appliances - Non-Profit COVER Home Repair in White River Junction accepts donations of clean, working, large appliances as space allows for redistribution to needy members of the community: http://www.coverhomerepair.org. Small appliances, in good working order, can be taken to the Good Buy Store at the Hartford Recycling Center or to the LISTEN Centers (see ReUse page). Or owners can sell them through the want ads.

If no longer serviceable, appliances can be brought to the District's scrap metal collections (Schedule of Events), or to recycling centers that accept them in their scrap metal pile. Although appliances are usually taken at no charge, there almost always is a fee for the removal of CFC's (Freon) from refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, and A/C units. Appliances without Freon can be taken to the Hartford Recycling Center. For appliances with Freon, use the GUVSWD scrap metal events or call Ever Green Recycling in Wilder (295-7506) to see if you can take it there.

Asbestos - Removal of asbestos in any form, friable or non-friable, creates concerns because the material can cause respiratory damage if inhaled. Friable asbestos (soft and fibrous such as pipe insulation) is the most hazardous. Non-friable asbestos (often found in siding and roof shingles and floor tiles of certain vintage) is less hazardous as it is less likely to break into airborne particles.

If you have asbestos wastes, look in the yellow pages under "Asbestos Abatement & Removal" and "Asbestos Consulting & Testing." Or call the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources at 802-241-3800 for further information.

Some forms of asbestos, such as tiles and roofing, do not need to be removed by a professional asbestos removal company, but disposal of these materials is still very strict and only some landfills are permitted to accept such wastes. Asbestos tiles, siding and roofing must be removed damp, specially wrapped in plastic and taken directly to a landfill which accepts the materials (or to a District household hazardous waste collection with pre-approval).

Check with private landfills to make prior arrangements for asbestos disposal. The closest landfill to GUVSWD that accepts non-friable asbestos is the Moretown Landfill in Moretown, VT (802-244-1100 ext. 231). The Moretown facility requires material to be damp, double-bagged in 6 mil plastic bags or duct-taped sheet plastic, with at least 24-hour notice, only on Tuesdays, at $160 per ton with a $75 minimum, and it must be labeled with the name, address, and phone number of the hauler, the remover, and the owner.

Aseptic Food Containers - Aseptic food containers are plastic laminated, brick-shaped boxes such as kids' juice boxes, soy-milk cartons, Parmalat boxes, and soup broth boxes. Although aseptic packaging cannot be recycled at recycling centers in this area at this time, they are still a good environmental alternative due to having light weight and avoiding refrigeration during transport.

Ashes - Ashes, wood or coal, can go in the trash if they are cold and bagged. There is a tremendous fire hazard in trash trucks and the landfill, so every precaution must be taken that the ash is stone cold. Wetting ashes down before disposal is strongly recommended. In small quantities, ashes from raw lumber and clean wood can make a good amendment to compost.

Asphalt - Asphalt can be taken to Pike Industries, West Lebanon, NH to be turned into RAP, "recycled asphalt product." Call first: 603-298-8554.

Asphalt Shingles - Asphalt shingles can be taken to the Hartford Recycling Center in their construction and demolition waste pile.

Automobiles - Junk cars can be recycled and many wrecker services will collect them, often at no charge to you. Make sure that the wrecker manages the hazardous automotive fluids correctly (gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, battery, etc.). Look in the Yellow Pages under "Towing-Automotive."

Ballasts - See Light Ballasts

Batteries - Since many people have questions about batteries, we include this list on how to best handle different types. For more detail about each type, scroll down the page.

Household Batteries

Regular Alkaline Batteries: (AAA, AA, C, D, 9-Volt)
Go in trash. The mercury in these batteries was removed in the mid-1990's. Note: The squat batteries used in cameras are usually Lithium, not alkaline, and should go to a HHW collection.

Rechargeable batteries: Should be recycled through:

A retailer participating in the RBRC (http://www.rbrc.org) take-back program (they also take cell phones at these locations): Best Buy; Home Depot; Sears; Radio Shack; US Cellular; Staples.

Brought in to the District offices for recycling, or

Taken to HHW collection.

Button Batteries:
Button-sized batteries should be taken to an HHW collection.

Automobile Batteries

1. When buying the new battery, ask your service station or car parts store to take the old one back. Often you can receive a discount on the new one for the "core" of the old one.
2. AutoZone (298-8200) and Advance Auto Parts (298-7036) in West Lebanon take car batteries from the public.
3. The Hartford Recycling Center also takes them, for a small fee (one punch),
4. Or they can be brought to an HHW collection.

Further Details - For those with inquiring minds

Regular alkaline batteries:
These used to be hazardous due to mercury content. Mercury, if released into the environment, can contaminate lakes and streams, the plants and animals who live there, and eventually people who eat the fish. In 1996, U.S. Congress enacted the "Battery Act," which among other things banned the use of mercury in these batteries. So what it comes down to is that batteries manufactured and sold before 1996 probably have mercury in them and should be taken to a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event. Those made after that can simply be tossed into the trash.

Please Note: No batteries should be thrown into trash which will be incinerated due to the potential for heavy metals going up the stack. Most municipalities which incinerate their trash have an active battery recycling program. Trash from GUVSWD residents is sent to a landfill, not incinerated, that is why we recommend trashing them here. Plymouth, Windsor, Springfield, Westminster, and towns in between send their trash to an incinerator, so please recycle batteries if you live there.

Rechargeable Batteries:
All rechargeable batteries seem to have something in them that makes them hazardous, and valuable as a recyclable, usually heavy metals. Therefore, all rechargeable batteries should be recycled or taken to a HHW event. The most popular rechargeable batteries are Nickel-Cadmium, known as Ni-Cd (pronounced ni'-cad). Another common type is Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH). Rechargeables are used for power tools, cell phones, laptops, flashlights, and many other household items. Most retailers that sell rechargeables also take old ones back free of charge and send them to a not-for-profit group called the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (http://www.rbrc.org) who reclaims the metals in them. They can also be taken to HHW events.

Button Batteries:
Button batteries are found in small items such as hearing aids, watches, and toys and are about the size of--you guessed it--a button. Button batteries can be alkaline, silver, mercury-oxide, or other cell-type. It is best to take any button batteries to an HHW event for collection as all of them contain some sort of hazardous material. Alkaline button batteries contain mercury even though their larger cousins do not.

Auto Batteries:
Car batteries are known as "wet-cell" lead-acid as they contain liquid sulfuric acid. Due to both the acid and the lead, car batteries are considered hazardous. That, and because they contain so much lead which is easily reclaimed, they should be recycled.

Books - Several locations in the Upper Valley take used books for resale (see Reuse Options). Or check with your local library and your local used bookstore in the yellow pages under "Books-Used." Unfortunately, most recycling centers do not accept books. If they are not in reusable condition, check our Schedule of Events for book collections near you.

Boxboard - Boxboard is a type of carton which is gray or brown when ripped. Examples of recyclable boxboard are cereal boxes (remove bags on the inside), pasta boxes (remove plastic windows), cracker boxes and tubes from toilet paper and paper towels. Boxboard can usually be recycled with your regular recycling program.

EXCEPTIONS: Containers used in your refrigerator or freezer (like six-pack and soda boxes, or frozen food boxes) are not recyclable, due to the "wet-strength" additive which keeps the box from falling apart. Also, boxes which are white inside when ripped cannot be recycled with boxboard.

Cans - Metal food and beverage cans can be recycled. All recycling programs require that the cans be rinsed. Labels no longer need to be removed. Check your regular recycling program to see how to sort your cans for recycling.

Empty aerosol cans and empty, dry paint cans are recycled as scrap metal. They can be recycled at the Hartford Recycling Center and through some recycling centers in their scrap metal pile.

Cardboard - Corrugated cardboard can be recycled with your regular recycling program. Most programs require that you flatten the cardboard (i.e. break down the boxes). "Asian cardboard," distinctively yellowish in color and made in the Orient, is usually unacceptable (because the cardboard fibers are very short and downgrade the quality of the other cardboard when recycled.)

Cellular phones - Cell phones can be reused or recycled through national programs. Several programs give a percentage of proceeds to charities.

• Collective Good, http://www.collectivegood.com (770) 856-9021
• Wireless Foundation, http://www.wirelessfoundation.org
• Charitable Recycling, http://www.charitablerecycling.com

• Verizon HopeLine, Verizon Wireless retail stores, 1-800-426-2790
• Retailers who participate in the RBRC program.
• The GUV offices in North Hartland during business hours
• A GUV electronics collection Schedule of Events.

Christmas Trees - Christmas trees make excellent habitat for birds and other wildlife if left outside after the holidays. If you have land enough, leave your tree out to decay naturally over time. If you know anyone with goats, talk to them--goats love to eat Christmas trees!

As an alternative some towns provide disposal where they chip the trees into "Merry Mulch." Ask your town representative. Thge Hartford Recycling Center takes trees for free from Christmas till the end of January.

Clothes - Reusable clothes should be given a second chance. Several consignment and thrift shops exist locally. Check the Reuse Options guide for current listings. Also, GUVSWD sometimes holds special collections for clothing, which also accept warm, ripped and outdated clothing, textiles and shoes (must be clean and dry). See the Schedule of Events for this year's collection near you.

Coal Ash- See "Ashes"

Computers - Please see our page on Recycling Computers for information on local programs and other details.

Computer Disks - GreenDisk in Columbia Missouri takes CDs, diskettes, DVDs, ink cartridges, cell phones, videotapes, pagers, PDAs, and all of your "byte-sized" technotrash for recycling. They refurbish or recycle what you send them. There may be a fee involved. Go to http://www.greendisk.com or call them at 1-800-305-3475. Computer disks are not recyclable through the computer recycling program. If not recycling your disks through GreenDisk, disks go in the trash.

Construction & Demolition Materials - Waste materials generated during the construction or demolition of buildings are called "Construction & Demolition" waste or "C&D." Reuse, Recycle, or Dispose of C&D:

Reuse. If you have items that might be of value, please contact someone listed here to see if they might be interested.

• COVER, WRJ, (802) 296-7241 http://www.coverhomerepair.org
• Vermont Salvage Exchange, WRJ, (802) 295-7616,
• Upper Valley Materials Exchange, through ValleyNet: http://www.valley.net/uvme/index.html
• VT Business Materials Exchange (VBMX), (800) 895-1930, http://www.vbmx.org
• Freecycle, a national web exchange, http://www.freecycle.org

Recycling. C&D waste can be recycled. Ask your contractor or waste hauler to use a recycler rather than a landfill. The Agency of Natural Resources maintains a web site that lists many other avenues for recycling, visit http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/wastediv/recycling/candd.htm .

A recent addition to construction debris recycling options in the area is Hammond Grinding & Recycling Inc., (603) 523-4353.

Disposal. Disposal of C&D is available at the Hartford Recycling Center for fees similar to regular trash. Please be sure to properly separate trash from C&D waste.

Dead Animals - When a pet or farm animal passes away there are several ways legally to handle them. According to the Vermont Department of Health you may bury the animal on your property as long as you take some precautions. The animal should be buried at least 100 feet from a water source and should be at least 2 feet underground and covered with 10 pounds of lime to discourage other animals from digging it up.

Many veterinarians also provide a service for the disposal of animals and rendering companies will sometimes accept large animals. Your local game warden will pick up a deer or moose.

Dry Cleaning Bags & Hangers - Some dry cleaners will take back dry cleaning bags and hangers for recycling and/or reuse. Ask your dry cleaners! Large quantities of hangers can also be recycled as scrap metal through your regular recycling outlets.

Egg Cartons - If a neighbor has chickens, they might appreciate extra cartons. They also make great craft supplies. Egg cartons that are made of paper can usually be recycled with mixed paper at your recycling center. Ones made of foam or clear plastic are not recyclable and go in the trash.

Electronics - Small working electrical appliances can be donated to thrift shops. Electronics, computers, and TVs can be recycled through the District's computer recycling programs.

Explosives - Explosives we might see in Vermont include dynamite for ditching or stumping around farms. Over time, the nitroglycerin leaches out of the TNT and becomes unstable. Contacting the state police is necessary, and they might contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Exposives (ATF) or their explosives disposal team. People should not be carrying around old dynamite.

Film Canisters - Some photo shops will take back film canisters for reuse or recycling when they accept your film for development. Ask at your local photo developer. They are NOT recyclable with your plastic bottles.

Fire Extinguishers - Fire extinguishers are not accepted at our household hazardous waste events. Fire extinguishers should be refilled or repressurized when possible (unfortunately, many household fire extinguishers sold today are not refillable). In the event that you cannot refill your common "ABC" compressed air, dry powder extinguisher, it should be de-pressurized and dismantled before disposal. Release the product into a trash receptacle then remove the valve by unscrewing from the canister. The metal canister, once de-pressurized and empty, can be recycled as scrap metal. The powder and valve can go in the regular trash.

Very old fire extinguishers (often brass or copper) can contain extremely hazardous substances. Please contact your local fire department for disposal options.

Fluorescent Lights - Using fluorescent lighting is a great way to reduce energy consumption, thereby reducing mercury emissions from power plants -- making them a good choice for your wallet and the environment. But putting fluorescents in the trash is illegal in Vermont. This is because when the bulbs are broken the mercury vapor in them is released into the atmosphere, comes down in rain, and contaminates our water resources. Because of mercury contamination, the state has issued warnings about eating fish from our lakes and rivers. To properly dispose of your fluorescents, compact fluorescents, and HID light bulbs:

• Use GUVSWD's Lamp Recycling Program to recycle your bulbs. Residents and businesses in member towns may bring their old fluorescent light bulbs to our offices in North Hartland during business hours to recycle them at no charge.
• Bring them to one of the hazardous waste collections.
• True Value Hardware has teamed up with the State of Vermont in 2006 to offer free recycling for Vermont residents of up to six fluorescent and other mercury-containing bulbs per visit. Contact Welches Woodstock Hardware for details 457-2443.

Food - First consider donating unwanted food to your town office's food shelf, or a local food bank who provides meals to the needy:

• The Haven in White River Junction accepts non-perishable foods anytime. Perishables and extra food from catered events and the like are welcomed as well--just let the staff approve it first. 713 Hartford Ave (Rte 5 between WRJ and Wilder), next to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, contact Barbara Henzel, 295-6500.
• LISTEN, Inc.in Lebanon accepts both non-perishable and perishable food, as well as non-food grocery items such as paper products. 60 Hanover St, Lebanon, contact Carol Deppmeyer, 603-448-4553.

Freon - Freon (a brand name we use to mean all refrigerants) is found in air conditioners, dehumidifyers, and refrigeration units. By law, freon and other chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) cannot be released to the atmosphere but must be removed with special equipment. This is because the gases destroy the ozone in the atmosphere, leaving the Earth prone to higher levels of solar radiation. Please take your old refrigerator/freezer or air conditioner to one of our scrap metal collections, where the Freon will be properly removed. BE CAREFUL not to puncture the tubes of the appliance and emit the gases into the atmosphere. Alternatively, you may be able to take Freon-containing appliances to Ever Green Recycling on "A" Street in Wilder at no charge (295-7506).

Furniture - Local thrift stores and rummage sales are a great outlet for your used furniture. See our Reuse Options for opportunities. If the furniture is beyond reuse, many local trash services can take them for a fee, or it can be taken to a "Big Trash" collection held by the District, or to the Hartford Recycling Center for disposal.

Gasoline - Waste gasoline is hazardous and highly flammable--please take it to a hazardous waste collection for proper disposal. DO NOT dump it on the ground, where it can get into the water supply: "if you dump it, you drink it."

Glass - Glass food and beverage containers can be recycled with your regular recycling program. Most programs require that you rinse the containers and recycle metal lids along with tin cans, and throw away plastic caps. Labels do not need to be removed.

In most cases, you cannot recycle light bulbs, window glass, china, crystal, ceramics, mirrors or drinking glasses with food and beverage glass. These items contaminate regular recycled glass in very small amounts. The Hartford Recycling Center no longer accepts these materials for recycling, but they do accept them as trash. Norwich and Thetford residents may be able to accept this material for recycling starting in 2006, ask your attendant.

Grocery Bags -
Reduce. If you accumulate a lot of paper or plastic grocery bags, consider switching to reusable sacks. They are easier to handle and stronger.

Reuse. The Upper Valley Co-op, many village stores, and thrift stores such as SEVCA and LISTEN, accept clean brown bags or plastic bags for reuse.

Recycle. Brown paper bags can be recycled with cardboard in your regular recycling program. Some grocery stores accept plastic grocery bags for recycling. Look in the front of the store for a collection container. Be sure to put only plastic grocery bags into the collection container.

Junk Mail - Unwanted mail, white and colored office paper, envelopes, and cards (paper portions only, no plastic sleeves, sample CDs, etc.) can be recycled as mixed paper with your regular recycling program.

Or learn how to get rid of junk mail.

Kerosene - Kerosene is flammable, and is considered a hazardous waste and must be disposed of at a hazardous waste collection.

Lead Paint Chips - Lead paint chips are considered hazardous waste and should be disposed of at a hazardous waste collection.

Leaves, Grass, and Other Yard Wastes - The best management technique is the oldest--make a pile and let them decompose into rich organic humus. Leaves are an excellent addition to kitchen scrap Compost Bins. If you do not have a place to deal with them on your property, yard wastes are accepted at the Hartford Recycling Center free of charge (tree and brush material should be separated and there is a fee for it). Also see our page on Composting Your Garbage.

Light Ballasts - Light Ballasts are the heavy black boxes found in some fluorescent light bulb fixtures. They can be recycled with scrap metal or thrown in the trash if they say "No PCBs" somewhere on them. Older ballasts contain capacitors whose oil contains the hazardous polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). If a ballast is unmarked, bring it to a hazardous waste collection so the PCBs will not be released into the environment.

Magazines & Catalogs - If you have a magazine subscription, consider passing the magazine on to someone who wants it when you are done. Maybe a friend, your local library or school, or doctor's office. To dispose of them, please recycle them at your regular recycling program.

Or learn how to get rid of junk mail.

Mercury-Containing Devices - See our Mercury page.

Metal - Scrap metal is recycled at no charge at the Hartford Recycling Center (except Freon-containing appliances, see Freon). Residents who use the Bridgewater, Norwich, or Thetford recycling services (and Woodstock Recycling & Refuse customers) can recycle scrap metal at those facilities respectively.

Several Saturdays each year, GUVSWD sets up scrap metal collections in different towns. See Schedule of Events.

Large items like junk cars or large farm equipment cannot be taken at such events nor at the normal scrap metal piles, please see Automobiles or give us a call for more options.

Mixed Paper - White and colored office paper, envelopes, unwanted mail, and cards (paper portions only, no plastic sleeves, sample CDs, etc.) can be recycled as mixed paper with your regular recycling program. If you want to reduce the junk mail you receive, learn how to get rid of junk mail.

Motor Oil - When used oil is dumped on the ground or poured down the drain, it becomes a serious pollutant of our ground and surface waters. Remember, if you dump it, you drink it! See also Oil Filters.

Residents can take their used motor oil (no other automotive fluids) to the places listed below or to a hazardous waste or special oil collection event (see Schedule of Events). Please follow the requirements listed below, and call first to be sure they have room.

• The Hartford Recycling Center, Rte 5 South, White River Jct. 295-5740.
• Advance Auto Parts, 71 Main St, West Leb village. 603-298-7036.
• AutoZone, Rt 12A West Leb. 298-8200.
• Riverside Precision, North Hartland. 295-8055.
• Hook's Auto Repair and Salvage, North Hartland. 295-5142.
• Chuck's Automotive, Thetford. 785-2253.
• Norwich residents can also use the tank at their recycling center.

Usual Requirements:

• The oil must be "clean" (No water, No antifreeze, No other fluids mixed with it).
• No more than 5 gallons at a time.
• One-gallon container maximum size.
• Some would like the container to be see-through, like milk jugs or windshield fluid. (Do NOT use bleach containers, they contaminate the oil.)

Needles - To dispose of syringes safely ask your physician if he or she will take back used syringes for disposal. Also ask your pharmacy if they participate in a needle return program. If neither your physician nor your pharmacy provides a collection system for you, follow the suggestions below:

1. Make a large warning label that says: "USED SYRINGES" and "DO NOT RECYCLE." Put the label on an empty PETE #1 plastic bottle like a soda bottle.
2. Carefully put each of your used syringes into the bottle.
3. When it is full, put heavy tape over the closed bottle cap and dispose of the filled bottle in your household trash. Do NOT put the container in your recycling bin!

Newspaper - Newspaper can be recycled with your regular recycling program. The rule of thumb is, "If it comes with the paper it can go with the paper."

Office Paper - White office paper is sometimes collected separately from other mixed paper because of its high value in the recycling market. Ask at your recycling program to see if it is separated from or included in the mixed paper category. See also shredded paper.

Oil Filters - Oil filters can be recycled after being specially drained. Since most people do not have the time or facilities to properly drain the filter, they should be taken to a GUV hazardous waste or special oil collection for disposal. Since the filters have a lot of oil left in them, please don't throw them in the trash. Some auto repair service stations might be able to take filters. Or call our offices to see what options are currently available (Contact Us).

Oily Soil - Oil contamination of soil often happens under outdoor storage tanks or from leaky heavy equipment such as skidders. A large patch of oil-contaminated soil could be a serious environmental condition. In such cases, we recommend hiring an environmental consultant to assess the site and provide recommendations. For minor spots, landowners can treat the soil themselves, as the oil will degrade with encouragement. Place the soil on a plastic tarp, and add manure (the nitrogen helps speed degradation). Turn the soil to aerate and mix every few months until the soil is clean again.

Paint & Similar Products - Paint and paint products can be hazardous to humans and the environment if disposed of improperly. Follow these guidelines to dispose paint and paint products safely.

Empty Paint Cans -- Empty paint cans are not hazardous waste. Empty, dry metal cans (with less than 1/2 inch of dry paint residue in bottom of can) usually can be recycled as scrap metal. Plastic paint containers, once empty and dry, are trash.

Partially Full Cans -- If there is any paint still in the can, do not put it in the trash and do not dump it down the drain! Septic and sewer systems are not designed to treat any type of paint, oil-based or latex. It also may contaminate your soil and drinking water or pollute streams and rivers. Also, do not put liquid paint in the trash as it can make a terrible mess. First try to find a friend or neighbor who can use the paint, then:

Oil Based paint -- Oil-based paint should always be treated as hazardous waste. Keep the paint tightly sealed, safely stored and take it to the District's next hazardous waste collection.

Latex paint -- We do not take latex paint at our hazardous waste collection events. This is because latex paint can safely be disposed of in regular trash if dry. Here are three ways to harden and dispose of latex paint:

1. Easy and Fast (not cheap): Purchase some waste paint hardener, stir it in, and throw out with your regular trash. The hardener is like the absorbent in diapers and instantly changes latex into a tapioca-like semi-solid that can go in trash. Available at: Aubuchons Online, 1-800-282-4393, http://www.hardwarestore.com (search: "paint hardener").
2. Easy and Cheap (not fast): Just leave the container open in a well ventilated area in warm weather for a long time, until the paint has solidified. Leave the lid off and toss it in the trash.
3. Fast and Cheap (not easy): Add kitty-litter, sawdust, or another absorbent material to the liquid paint, using a one-to-two ratio of kitty-litter to paint. Stir the litter into the paint, let dry a minimum of two days, leave the lid off the can and throw it away.
4. Faster and Cheap (not easy): Line a cardboard box with a plastic bag, pour the paint into the bag and let it dry for awhile until dry. Close up the bag and it can then be thrown away.

Pesticides and Herbicides - Thanks to grant funding through the Vermont Department of Agriculture, the District is able to take pesticides and herbicides from Vermont residents, farmers, and businesses free of charge. This is part of a program to remove old pesticides and herbicides from barns, basements, store rooms, and garages around the state. Please take your pesticides and herbicides to one of our hazardous waste collection events. If you are a farm or business, please pre-register by contacting us: Contact Us.

Phone Books - Phone books can be recycled with mixed paper in some town programs and at the Hartford Recycling Center. Some towns have collections during the time of year that the new phone books are delivered.

Pizza Boxes - There are two kinds of pizza boxes: ones made of corrugated cardboard, and ones made of boxboard. Both of these types can be recycled if the box does not have significant food waste remaining. If there is cheese stuck all over the bottom, or big greasy stains, the box should be put in the regular household trash.

Plastics - Currently, the following plastic food and beverage containers can be recycled using the regular recycling programs in our region:

1. Plastic bottles marked PET(E) or #1.
2. Translucent milk, cider and water jugs marked HDPE or #2,
3. Colored plastic bottles marked HDPE or #2

Non-recyclable plastics
Just because an item has a recycling symbol on it doesn't mean it's recyclable, unfortunately. There are hundreds of different types of plastics and limited markets to recycle them. Even margarine and yogurt tubs with #2 on them are not currently recyclable. Find out why. In the future, markets for these other plastics may make them recyclable.

Rags - Rags are generally not accepted at rummage sales nor through textiles recycling. Use them well, see if your mechanic wants them, or make a quilt. When too far gone, they can go in regular trash.

Oily rags from home workshops or art studios present a fire hazard as well as a air pollution hazard. Keep them in a fire-safe, closed container, then bring them to a hazardous waste collection.

Railroad Ties - Railroad ties can be disposed of with construction and demolition wastes (see C&D).

Rendering - Oils and fats from large cooking operations can be collected and beneficially reused. Ask the company which supplies you with the oils to recommend a collection agent. Use of vegetable oils for fuel in converted diesel cars is increasing, Contact Us for the latest developments.

Scrap Metal - See Metal.

Shoes - Shoes can be tied in pairs (or rubber-banded together) and go to local thrift shops or our clothing collections with your used clothing.

Shredded Paper - Shredded paper can be recycled with most paper recycling programs, but ask your attendant for direction on how to prepare it for recycling. Most places prefer to have shredded paper brought in plastic bags. Loose shredded paper can gum up the works of sorting machinery. Bagged shredded paper can be pulled off to bypass the machinery and head straight to the mill.

Smoke Detectors - Some smoke detectors contain a small amount of radioactive material called americium 241 (am-er-ish'-ee-um). Look on the back of the unit for the designation Am 241. Home smoke detectors are an exempt radioactive product, and therefore can be disposed as trash in Vermont and New Hampshire.

Americium is an alpha emitter, which does not travel very far, even in air. Just inches from an opened smoke detector source the radiation will dip below normal background levels. And in a landfill, the radiation will be even more contained by the dense materials around it. Nonetheless, do not open the insides of a smoke detector, as that could remove the shielding, possibly exposing you to levels above background. Many major manufacturers suggest you return the old units to them for recycling and disposal. First Alert, BRK Electronics, and Family Guard brand detectors can be returned by calling ahead to process a return: 1-800-323-9005.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors do not use radioactive substances, and can be disposed of in the trash.

Styrofoam -

Food Related - Polystyrene (PS#6) plastic--found under meats, and in clam-shell type packaging--currently has no market for our area. Unfortunately, this means there is no #6 recycling at this time here in the Upper Valley. Rinse (to cut down the smell) and put in your regular trash.

Packing Materials - Styrofoam packing peanuts and packing blocks cannot be recycled, but packing peanuts are collected from residents at the Norwich and Strafford recycling centers. We will also take your packing peanuts here at the GUV offices and give them to local businesses who use them to ship their products.

Tanks -
Propane tanks--Pressurized tanks which are empty or which no longer work (propane, butane, oxygen, etc.) should be returned to the retailer or manufacturer. Some retailers take your used tank when you buy a new one, even if the old one wasn't theirs. For grill tanks, swapping them at a department store or convenience store is a good bet, as they often save you money on a new tank with the new "over-fill protection" valve. If you cannot find an outlet for your empty tank, you may take it to a hazardous waste collection.

Fuel oil tanks--A fuel oil tank cannot go in the scrap metal pile unless it has been cut in half, a potentially explosive task. The tanks also often have hazardous sludge in them. Best bet is to hire your fuel dealer or a tank removal company, which can be found in the yellow pages under "Environmental Products and Services" or "Tank Cleaning".

Televisions - Televisions can be recycled with the District's computer recycling program. There is a fee to recycle TVs, about the same as trashing them. Otherwise, TVs can be disposed of as trash. They are accepted at the District's "Big Trash" collection days, and at the Hartford Recycling Center as bulky waste, or contact your regular trash service to see if they can take it.

Textiles (Clothing and Linens) - See Clothes.

Thermometers and Thermostats - Thermometers with silver liquid in them, and many thermostats (round in shape or other non-digital ones), contain mercury. Please take them to a hazardous waste collection or to the district offices for proper management. At the District offices we can offer you one free replacement digital fever thermometer per household when you bring in your old one(s). Also see Mercury.

Tires -
The District holds tire collections, see the Schedule of Events. The table below is a list of places which provide tire disposal service (large tires and tires on rims usually cost more).

TIRE DISPOSAL OPTIONS
Sponsor	Location	Cost per tire (2006)
GUVSWD collections 296-3688	Usually in Vershire, Sharon, Woodstock, Thetford	$2.00 and up
Hartford Recycling Center 295-5740	Route 5 South, WRJ	2 coupons ($6.50/$7.20) 3 coupons with rim
Norwich Transfer Station	Norwich Residents Only	$2.50 (no rims)
PTO's Repair 222-4774	191 South Main, Bradford	$3.00
City Tire 603-298-0497	38 Railroad Street, West Lebanon, NH	$3.00
Interstate Tire 603-298-5751	5 Bridge Street, West Lebanon, NH	$2.50
Pete's Tire Barn 291-9216	127 Round House Road, WRJ	$4.00
Tip Top Tire 295-6005	4 Lower Hyde Park, WRJ	$3.00
Tire Warehouse 603-298-8849	Interchage Drive West Lebanon, NH	$2.50
Wilson Tire 603-448-4541	Rte 120 Lebanon, NH	$4.50
Valley Tire 295-3068	Route 5 South, WRJ	$3.50

Toner Cartridges - Ink jet and laser printer cartridges, and typewriter cartridges and ribbons, can be often be re-filled and reused. However, they cannot be recycled with regular plastics, even if there is a matching number on the cartridge. Ink jet cartridge recyclers often give revenues to charitable organizations to encourage recycling.

• "Staples" office supply store sometimes has a bin for free recycling of toner and cartridges.
• Ink jets for charities (contact us for mailing envelopes).
• Black Lightning (West Topsham) 800-252-2599
• Vermont Toner Recharge (Burlington) 802-864-7637
• Ribbon Recyclers (Williston) 802-660-8960

Toner cartridges from photocopiers often cannot be refilled or recycled. These can be safely disposed of in the regular trash.

Toys - Toys which are in usable condition can find a home with a child. Local day care centers often appreciate donations of toys in good repair. Check at day care centers near you. Also, thrift shops will often take toys in good condition, see our Reuse Options page.

If they are not in usable condition, toys can be thrown in the regular trash, taken to the Hartford Recycling Center for disposal, or taken to one of the District's "Big Trash" collection days.

Trash - See our page District Guide to Recycling and Trash to see what options are available in your town.

It is illegal to burn trash in the State of Vermont for very good reasons--click here for more information. It is also illegal to bury trash on your own property, or dump or deposit it anywhere other than a certified disposal facility.

Trees and Brush - If you can find a way to cut trees and brush into small pieces on or very close to the ground, they will decompose in place while providing habitat for many small creatures. When such a solution is not feasible, the Hartford Recycling Center takes tree and brush waste for a fee. Maximum 4-foot length for logs less than 3-feet in diameter and maximum 3-foot lengths for large logs over 3-feet in diameter.

See also, Christmas Trees.

Wood Ash - See Ashes.

Wrapping Paper - Most wrapping paper is recyclable, and can be put with your mixed paper for recycling. However, certain types of wrapping paper are not recyclable. These include Mylar, shiny plastic foil, metallic foil, paper with imbedded heavy glitter or felt. Remove ribbons and bows before recycling.

Yard Waste - See Leaves, Grass, and Yard Waste.

Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste Management District
96 Mill Street, PO Box 58, No. Hartland, VT 05052-0058
Phone (802)296-3688  |  Fax 281-7088  |  E-mail GUVSWD@valley.net