Showing posts with label recycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recycling. Show all posts

Recology CleanScapes announces Christmas and New Year’s Holiday collection schedule

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Recology Cleanscapes serves Shoreline
Recology Cleanscapes provides garbage, recycling and organics collection service to the residents and businesses in the City of Shoreline. 

Recology does not provide collection service on Tuesday, December 25 or Tuesday, January 1 due to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. 

During the holiday weeks, customers who normally receive service on Tuesdays will be collected on Wednesday. Customers who normally receive collection on Wednesday will be collected on Thursday. Customers who normally receive collection on Thursday will be collected on Friday, and customers who normally receive collection on Friday will be collected on Saturday.

For more information about holiday collection schedules, visit recology.com/shoreline.

Tips for a More Sustainable Holiday
  • The US EPA estimates between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the amount of trash produced in the United States increases by an estimated 25%—that’s about one million extra tons of garbage each week. With a bit of proactive planning, you can waste less, save money and incorporate sustainable behaviors into your holiday traditions. Try some of our suggestions below for a more sustainable holiday season:
  • Reduce present packaging and waste by giving gifts of experience.
  • If you do want to decorate a present or package, reuse the trimmings (bows, tissue paper, bags) from last year.
  • Recycle right this holiday season by keeping recyclables empty, clean, and dry. Remember that most shiny or glittery wrapping paper is not-recyclable. Try using newspaper, cloth wrapping alternatives, or reusable bags! 

Visit recology.com/shoreline for more information about collection schedules, service updates, and tips for reducing waste at home, work and school.

Recology Cleanscapes is a subsidiary of Recology, an employee-owned company that sees a world without waste, where resources are used and re-used in a sustainable ecosystem that strives for their best and highest use. 




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Forget recycling - reduce instead

Sunday, December 9, 2018

From "How to wrap gifts with textiles"
Here's a hint from Recology to reduce non-recyclable items going into the landfill.

Christmas (and other occasion) Packaging

Bright, shiny wrapping paper is appealing for a moment, but produces unnecessary waste and serves as a prime example of one-time use.

Instead of non-recyclable wrapping paper, try using the Sunday comics or non-shiny paper that can be recycled or composted.

Cloth wrapping is also a beautiful, reusable and eco-friendly way to wrap presents. Tie it all together with some leftover yarn or string to keep pesky tape out of the picture.

The internet and Instagram are full of ideas about fabric wrapped gifts.



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Recycling fraud - electronics shipped to Hong Kong for eight years

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Typical flat screen monitor
The owners and Chief Executive Officers of Total Reclaim, the Northwest’s largest recycler of electronic waste, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.

CRAIG LORCH, 61, of Seattle, and JEFF ZIRKLE, 55, of Bonney Lake, Washington, admitted that they collected millions of dollars from public agencies and other organizations by falsely telling them that Total Reclaim would recycle used electronics products domestically in an environmentally-safe manner.

In fact, the defendants secretly shipped millions of pounds of mercury-containing flat screen monitors to Hong Kong, where the monitors were dismantled in a manner that risked serious health consequences to workers, and damage to the environment.

The two men face up to five years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on February 1, 2019. LORCH and ZIRKLE have also agreed to pay restitution of up to $1.1 million.

“These defendants held their company out as one of the good guys, signing agreements promising they would keep hazardous materials out of the environment. But even as they made that pledge, they secretly shipped millions of flat screen monitors to Hong Kong where disposal practices endangered workers and the environment,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.
“Their actions were driven by greed and a total disregard for the promises they had made. As a result customers unknowingly ended up harming the environment rather than protecting it as they intended.”

Total Reclaim is the largest e-waste recycler in the northwestern United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeanne M. Proctor of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division.

“During an eight-year period, the company exported to Hong Kong millions of pounds of electronic products containing mercury, while fraudulently reporting to customers and state agencies that they were being appropriately recycled.”

According to records filed in the case, Total Reclaim promoted itself as a responsible electronics recycler. Total Reclaim’s website stated that “our commitment to environmental responsibility is at the core of everything Total Reclaim does.”

Total Reclaim signed a public pledge in which it promised not to “allow the export of hazardous E-waste we handle to be exported” to developing countries, where workers are known to disassemble electronics, which contain dangerous materials such as mercury, without safety precautions.

Total Reclaim signed agreements with customers, such as the City of Seattle, in which the customers agreed to pay Total Reclaim to recycle electronics in accordance with these standards. Total Reclaim was also the biggest participant in the “E-Cycle Washington” program. E-Cycle Washington allows consumers to drop off used electronics at stations such as Goodwill Industries, and pays companies like Total Reclaim to recycle to those electronics according to Washington Department of Ecology standards.

In 2008, contrary to its promises to the public, Total Reclaim began secretly exporting flat screen monitors to Hong Kong to avoid the cost of safely recycling the monitors in the United States. 

Flat screen monitors are known to contain mercury, which can cause organ damage, mental impairment, and other serious health consequences to people exposed to the material. 

LORCH and ZIRKLE caused at least 8.3 million pounds of monitors to be shipped to Hong Kong between 2008 and 2015. 

To prevent customers and auditors from learning of the practice, LORCH and ZIRKLE falsified documents, made false statements to customers, and stored the monitors at an undisclosed facility while they awaited shipping.

Defendants’ fraud was discovered in 2014 by a non-governmental organization known as the Basel Action Network (“BAN”). BAN, which studies the export of electronic waste, placed electronic trackers on flat screen monitors and deposited them for recycling. 

The trackers showed that the monitors were collected by Total Reclaim and then exported to Hong Kong. 

When BAN representatives followed the tracking devices to Hong Kong, they discovered that the monitors were being dismantled by laborers who smashed the monitors apart without any precautions to protect the workers or the environment.

After BAN notified LORCH and ZIRKLE of its findings, LORCH and ZIRKLE tried to cover up their fraud by altering hundreds of shipping records.

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson.



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The Evergreen School recognized for sustainability

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Fifth graders from The Evergreen School,
Mayor Will Hall, and Evergreen Sustainability
Coordinator Janet Charnley at Shoreline City Council


Four fifth-grade students from The Evergreen School, accompanied by Sustainability Coordinator Janet Charnley, attended the Shoreline City Council meeting on Monday night to receive an America Recycles Day proclamation recognizing the school.

Will Hall, Mayor of Shoreline, read the proclamation and presented it to the students in recognition of Evergreen's efforts towards sustainability in recent years.

[From the proclamation:]

The proclamation recognizes November 15, 2018, as America Recycles Day in the City of Shoreline, calling on residents and businesses to celebrate this 21st anniversary of America Recycles Day throughout the month, and noting the significant contribution that everyone in our community contributes to conserve resources and protect our environment by reducing waste, recycling and reusing materials, and purchasing items made from recycled materials.

The Evergreen School is one example of the success that students and staff can achieve by improving recycling and reducing waste at their school. They have an outstanding environmental record of participating in the King County Green schools program since 2002 and achieved Platinum Level, the Washington Green Schools' highest certification. They also participated in Recology’s Zero Waste program in 2018, achieving a recycling rate of 58 percent, and have reduced garbage volume by 50 percent. 
  


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Donate items to Goodwill and help Shorewood Marching Band

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Volunteers will unload your car
at Shorewood
Photo courtesy Shorewood Band


Saturday September 22, 2018 from 10am-1pm there will be a Goodwill Drop Off site at the Shorewood High School parking lot to benefit the Shorewood Marching Band.

17300 Fremont Ave N, in front of the school.

Volunteers will be on hand to help unload your car.

Shorewood Marching band will receive money for each 24ft truck filled, you’ll receive a receipt as always. 

Funds will help purchase new uniforms. Thank you for your support!

Donation guidelines:
  • Clothing or any textiles (including well-worn items which can be repurposed)
  • Books, Toys, Small home appliances, Sports equipment
  • Electronics – Broken can be turned in for recycle!
  • Furniture (small, no larger than an end table) will be accepted


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Recycling information night Sept 26


Recycling Information Event 

Want to know what goes where? 
Want to know about the newest cutting-edge recycling technologies? 
Want to know what happens to our waste in King County? 

Briarcrest Neighborhood Association and Shoreline United Methodist Church are co-sponsoring a recycling information night with a presentation by Recology Cleanscapes

Wednesday, September 26th from 7:00 to 8:00 PM

The event will be held in the Briarcrest neighborhood at: 

Shoreline United Methodist Church 


Representatives from Recology Cleanscapes Education/Outreach will be present to answer the above questions. In addition, they will provide information about the ZERO WASTE goal, local trash and recycling disposal, and their new retail space where they now offer in-person service and a location to drop-off “hard-to-recycle" items.

We hope you can join us! 



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Lake Forest Park City Council moves toward a plastic ban ordinance

Saturday, August 11, 2018

By Donna Hawkey

Lake Forest Park Vice-Chair and City Councilmember Tom French has been the lead for proposed City Ordinance 1181 that intends to “restrict the use and sale of single-use plastic bags and non-compostable food service containers, utensils, and straws within the City of Lake Forest Park.”

At the City Council’s August 9, 2018 business meeting, Councilmember French thanked all the residents who have worked so hard to help bring this new proposed City ordinance to reality, and especially the on-going years of support from LFP resident Jean Robbins and Councilmember Mark Phillips.

Ordinance 1181 will undergo minor revisions as per suggestions from other Councilmembers, and on September 13, 2018, a Public Hearing will be set with the revised Ordinance for consideration of a Council vote at that same meeting. City Councilmembers previously discussed a plastics restriction during their May 21st Council Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting.

Councilmember French stated that he has been compiling and analyzing information on plastic data from many resources. He spoke of his personal experiences as a scuba diver where he witnessed sea turtles eating plastic, and he stated, that even in remote areas where no humans are living, plastic waste is found.

Plastic bags can take 500 years to degrade in a landfill, never breaking down entirely, instead becoming microplastics that continue to pollute. When plastics break up in the water, they release chemicals that can become toxic such as bisphenol A (BPA) which can enter the food chain or even possible water supplies. Microfibers from the plastics are now found everywhere on the planet, and we may even be consuming them in our food and our drinking water according to scientists.

Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation President Julian Andersen read a prepared statement which included, “Lake Forest Park prides itself in its environmental sensitivity. This ordinance is consistent with our community culture; we believe it is supported by the majority of citizens.”

A representative from the Town Center fishing store “The Avid Angler” showed City Council their store compostable paper bags and also suggested that there be more recyclable containers placed throughout the Town Center.

A former Shorecrest High School student stated that the young generation “will inherit this planet so this is for our future.”

According to the Smithsonian Magazine, July 2017, “Humans have produced nine billion tons of plastic and counting. Over half of that material was created in the last decade.”

Waste Management reports that only 1 percent of plastic bags are returned for recycling.

These bags are a constant problem for all recyclers. They fly off the conveyer belts and get stuck in the equipment, creating costly stalls in their operations.

Plastic bags should not be put in blue recycle containers. In LFP, the bags can be recycled at Albertson’s plastic bag recycling bins.

Donna Hawkey can be reached at dhawkey@comcast.net



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Zero Waste Lunch Training Saturday at Recology store

Tuesday, August 7, 2018



Learn how you can save money and reduce waste in your daily lunch routine! Hear from a team of Waste Zero Specialists on strategies for eliminating single-use plastics and ditching disposable packaging! August 11, 2018 from 12 - 3pm at The Recology Store Shoreline, 15235 Aurora Ave N
Shoreline 98133.



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Shoreline Recyclables pick-up scheduled for Monday will be collected Tuesday this week only

Monday, July 16, 2018

Due to an incident at the Recology Cleanscapes truck yard earlier today, the recycling trucks were not sent out to collect recyclable materials.

If you were scheduled for recycling pick-up Monday, July 16, leave your carts out and Recology will collect recyclables Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

If you have questions, contact Recology at 206-763-4444 or shoreline@recology.com.



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Free electronics recycling at NW SolarFest July 28

Friday, July 13, 2018



FREE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING @ NW SolarFest July 28th 10 - 5
  • Items that will be accepted:
  • TVs and Monitors - LCD and plasma
  • Computers and Laptops
  • Servers and Networking Equipment
  • All Printers, Fax Machines, Copiers, and Scanners
  • AV Equipment (DVD/VHS/Stereo units)
  • UPS battery backups
  • Telecom Equipment & Cell Phones
  • DVDs and CDs
  • Keyboards and Mice
  • Parts, peripherals, cables, etc.
  • Microwaves too!

Sorry, we are unable to accept CRT TVs and monitors, as well as alkaline batteries as part of this free collection event.

HOSTING LOCATION

TIME: 10 am – 5 pm
DATE: July 28, 2018
COLLECTION AREA
Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline 98133

If you have any questions about this event contact:
  • NW SolarFest, 206-306-9233, info@shorelinesolar.org - or
  • 206-582-7100 option 1, events@3rtechnology.com



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Keep your recycling clean

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Recycle cart with clean items
Graphic courtesy Recology
Did you know that 60% of the recyclable materials collected in the U.S. go to China to be recycled into new products?

Historically, China accepted up to 5% non-recyclable contaminants (garbage or food waste) in bales of recyclable materials.

Starting in March 2018, however, the Chinese government is enforcing a policy called National Sword, which severely restricts the import of recyclable plastics and paper.

China will only accept bales containing less than 1% contamination and will return any shipments that fail to meet that standard. 
This is a BIG change and has had a huge impact on recycling markets around the globe.

What can you do?
  • Keep your recycling clean and free of contaminants (food waste and garbage).
  • Food containers, like pasta sauce jars or yogurt cups should be empty and dry. Use dish water to swish, or a used napkin to wipe them out (napkins are compostable).
  • Do not place recyclables in black plastic bags. They will not be opened at our sorting facility. This means they will be sent to the landfill as garbage.
  • Single plastic bags, film plastics, candy wrappers, and plastic utensils belong in the garbage.
  • Greasy pizza boxes and other food-soiled paper should be placed in your compost cart.

Avoid hopeful or wishful recycling. Visit the websites, email, or give your recycling company a call! When in doubt, check it out!

Note: now that it's really summer - yard waste bins are being picked up every week.

This article is from Recology Cleanscapes but applies just as well to Republic and all other recycling collectors.

Shoreline Recology contact info: Customer Service: 206-763-4444; Email: shoreline@recology.com




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Starting in July LFP residents can recycle almost everything at the curb

Wednesday, June 20, 2018


The City of Lake Forest Park just renegotiated its contract with Republic Services, resulting in a huge list of items which now can be put at the curb.

Starting this July, residents may add these items at the curb. Please note any special preparation or need to call-in to schedule a separate pick-up.

Republic Services Residential: 206-682-9730

Recyclable Item
Curb
Call-in
Handling Instructions
Limitations
Small appliances – Microwave ovens, toaster ovens
X
Call to request pick-up at least three days before regular collection day
Single family only.
Electronics – Computer equipment, VCRs, DVD players, audio equipment, televisions, cell phones and other equipment containing circuit boards
X
Call to request pick-up at least three days before regular collection day
Scrap electronics that are no bigger than 2 feet by 2 feet per unit in size and less than 60 pounds per unit. Single family only.
Fluorescent Tubes and Bulbs
X
Wrap tubes in newspaper and secure with tape. Mark “Fluorescent Tubes”. Place bulbs in a sealed bag. Place next to recycling cart.
Limit: Two (2) tubes per collection, ten (10) tubes per year. No tubes longer than 4 feet. Single family only.
Household Batteries – All alkaline, button, and rechargeable batteries
X
Place rechargeable and non- rechargeable batteries in separate, sealed clear bags. Place on top of recycling Cart.
Single family only.
Motor Oil
X
Place in screw-top plastic jugs, labeled with the Customer’s address and placed next to the Customer’s Recycling Cart.
Up to three (3) gallons of motor oil per week that is free from contaminants
Rigid Plastics – All five-gallon buckets, PVC pipes, laundry baskets, plastic lawn furniture, plastic toys, coolers, and Nalgene bottles
X
X Large Items
Place items in or next to recycling Cart. One dimension of object must be less than 2”.
Call at least three days before regular collection day to collect large (i.e. all dimensions greater than 2”). Single family only.
Scrap Metal – All ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal, including lids > 3” free of wood, rubber, and other contaminants
X
X Large Items
Small items: Place in recycling Container or secure (e.g. bundle or box) next to recycling Container.
Small items: Less than 2’ x 2’ and 35 lbs. Less than 5% non-metal parts. Large items: Larger than 2’ x 2’. Call to request
Recyclable Item
Curb
Call-in
Handling Instructions
Limitations
Large items: Call to request pickup at least 24 hours before regular service day.
pick-up. Single family only
StyrofoamTM Blocks – Clean expanded polystyrene (blocks, sheets, cups, and take-out containers) and expanded polyethylene foam (sheets and blocks)
X
Request a pick-up three days before collection day. Contain blocks in a clear or white sealed plastic bag. Secure from wind.
No packing peanuts, lined or sealed foam, or soft foam. Single family only.
Textiles - Clean usable clothing and linens, paired shoes, boots and socks, sheets, towels, tablecloths, curtains, blankets and bedspreads, stuffed animals, purses, wallets, backpacks & totes, belts, hats and caps, scarves
X
Request a pick-up three days before collection day. Placed in a plastic or paper bag. Label "Clothing” and place bag(s) at the curb next to recycling cart.
Single family only.
Used Cooking Oil
X
X
Seal uncontaminated oil (no large solids) in clean, clear, screw-top plastic jugs. Label jugs with name and address and place next to recycling Cart.
Limit: Three (3) gallons per pick-up and ten (10) gallons per year. Single family only.



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Bike Drive Saturday to benefit Bike Works

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

On Saturday June 2nd, the Shoreline Recology Store will host a bike drive benefitting Bike Works. They invite area residents to drop off their unwanted bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories.

For each bike that you donate, you will receive a raffle ticket for a basket of goodies, including two stainless steel Hydro flask water bottles, a solar power bank, and a variety of other eco-friendly products, valued at $200.

Where will your bicycle go? It could be refurbished by the Bike Works Recycle and Reuse Team to be sold in the Community Bike Shop in Columbia City at an affordable price.

It could be part of Bike Works’ youth or adult bike repair classes, where students learn to overhaul bikes. Or it could be fixed up by one of our regular volunteers. Afterwards, Bike Works staff inspect each bike before giving it away to community members with limited resources.

Watch this video to find out more about Bike Works bikes.

Drop off your bike at the Recology Store Shoreline on Saturday, June 2, 2018 from 11am to 2pm, 15235 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline 98133.



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Photo: Recycled fence

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Photo by Seattle Poppy

Talk about creativity! This Shoreline homeowner on 11th Ave NE has built a fence by recycling bottles. It's practical, beautiful, and provides a home for a lot of glass.

DKH



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Choose to Reuse in Lake Forest Park

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Choose to Reuse - June 9, 2018!

Lake Forest Park residents - start clearing the closets now. You are invited to Choose to Reuse! Where unwanted household items you thought about taking to the dump may now find a new home.

This event is designed to divert goods from the waste stream and make them available to neighbors and non-profits who can use them.

Heard the saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!? Not only can you bring down unwanted household items, but you can pick up items to reuse or re-purpose. You do not have to drop something off to pick something up.

To drop items off, bring your Choose to Reuse postcard or proof of LFP residency. Cutoff for dropping items off is 1:00pm.

ANYONE, from any city, can take items home.

17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park 98155 - City Hall parking lot

Review the list (located here) for acceptable items you can bring to the event. All items must be in good working order. If the item is accepted, someone will then have the opportunity to bring it home to reuse or re purpose.

This event is not a swap meet. Choose to Reuse is hosted by the City to facilitate the exchange of usable items to reduce waste and encourage reuse and re-purpose.

Choose to Reuse Event Facebook Page



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Learn how to recycle at the Echo Lake Neighborhood Assn meeting Tuesday

Sunday, May 13, 2018


Have you ever stood at one of those bins with the different holes for different kinds of recycling or disposal and wondered where to drop your fork? or the cup your coffee came in? or the lid on the cup?

Recycling is confusing. Each disposal company has its own rules, based on the recycling equipment, and its contracts with recyclers. Each city contracts with a disposal company and decides what will be included in the contract.

Some items can't go in the curbside collection but can go to the Recology store, or the transfer station.

The Echo Lake Neighborhood Association will help clear up some of those issues at its meeting on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, from 7-9pm at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, Room 303.

Speakers from Recology will tell us what has changed in the last couple of years, what most people get wrong, what can go in the recycling that usually doesn't, and other recycling lore.

If you need more information, email the ELNA Board or leave a voice mail at 206-486-5712.



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Good Neighbor Giveaway June 2 at Shoreline United Methodist Church

Saturday, May 12, 2018

Good Neighbor Giveaway - just for fun
at Shoreline United Methodist Church
It is said that, “There is no free lunch.” That may be, but some other things are free. Some are valuable as are hugs and smiles. Some are offered to open up something more valuable like friendship or the joy of sharing with neighbors.

Saturday, June 2, 2018 a Good Neighbor Giveaway starts at 9am and continues until 2pm

Its purpose is fun. That’s it, fun. Come one and all and take anything you want up to 10 items. If you choose a coffee mug, it costs a ticket, if your choice is 4 dining room chairs, they cost four of the tickets you are handed when you arrive.

Your new possessions don’t fit? Shoreline United Methodist Church [SUMC] at 14511 25th Ave NE has a “Get and Hold Corral” where your item[s] will be kept open until 1pm for you to come and retrieve.

Say, you don’t want anything? Great! Bring what you want to give away between Wednesday, May 31st and Friday, June 1st, whenever appointment you have. Don’t have an appointment? Call SUMC at 206-363-3040 to set one.

Good Neighbor Giveaway allows SUMC to engage in a neighborhood activity that reveals God’s grace, lets us recycle possessions, rejoices in sharing, builds community and acknowledges the contentment of less.

Contact: Shoreline United Methodist Church 14511 25th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155 206-363-3040.



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LFP recycling event with Kenmore on Saturday May 12

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Event Flyer
New recycling collection event with the City of Kenmore May 12, 2018 at Inglemoor High School will take big and hard to recycle items

The City of Lake Forest Park is excited to announce its partnership with the City of Kenmore for a combined Recycling Collection Event!

Take a look at the Event Flyer to view the full list of what you can and cannot bring. The Recycling Collection Event will take place at Inglemoor High School (15500 Simonds Rd NE Kenmore 98028) Saturday, May 12, 2018, 9:00am to 3:00pm. Please be aware fees do apply for certain items.

Items you can bring:

Tires,* Propane Tanks,* Electronic Equipment, Scrap Metal,* Household Goods and Clothing, Styrofoam, Cardboard, Porcelain Toilets and Sinks,* Lead Acid and Household Batteries, Mattresses,* Confidential Document Shredding (5 box limit), Clean Scrap Wood, Appliances, and Refrigerators and Freezers*.
*Fees apply

Please note: No flat beds or dump trucks allowed. We reserve the right to refuse over-sized, commercial, contaminated, excessive or unacceptable loads.

Click here to view the Flyer for more information!



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Beyond Waste: Recycling with Recology

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Recology, the recycling and waste company for the City of Shoreline, shares the following recycling tips for Earth Month.

Looking for a way to celebrate Earth Month? Take this opportunity to sharpen your recycling skills by following a few simple rules.

Rule #1: No food in the recycle bin.
Recyclables should be clean, empty and dry. But how clean is clean enough? Take a yogurt cup or a peanut butter jar, for example. Give these containers a quick rinse and scrape with a spoon or spatula before tossing in the blue bin. This little bit of extra effort helps prevent food scraps from contaminating the rest of the clean materials you spent time sorting!

Rule #2: Quick tips for identifying recyclable plastic
Don’t let the little numbers on the bottom of plastic materials throw you off. Instead, think about your plastics dimensionally. Most 3D plastics can be thrown into the recycle bin (think: milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, plastic water bottles), while many 2D plastics (think: single plastic shopping bags, chip bags and plastic wrap) go in the garbage.

Rule #3: The 3 inch rule
Recyclables must be at least 3 inches in diameter to be accurately recycled. Items like metal bottle caps, plastic utensils, and shredded papers are not big enough to be accurately identified by machinery at our recycling facility. Instead, shredded paper should be placed in your compost bin, and small container lids* and plastic utensils should be thrown in the garbage.

*ONLY WHEN screwed back on an empty plastic bottle, plastic caps can be recycled!

Questions about what’s recyclable? Visit our website or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!



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