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MORE LOCAL RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES 
by JANE BOGNER
SUNDAY, July 25, 2004

Not a week goes by without someone asking us where they can recycle computers, televisions, cell phones and the like. The good news is that people are ready to recycle instead of throwing these items into the garbage. The bad news is that the California Integrated Waste Management Board has yet to finalize a plan to place a deposit on these items and make their recycling more convenient. In the mean time, Hewlett-Packard and Dell Computers have felt the public pressure and have started short-term computer recycling programs.

Now through Labor Day, consumers can bring their unwanted PCS to the nearest Office Depot for free recycling. There is a limit of one electronic item per day and the list of accepted electronics includes the following: personal computers, mice, keyboards, hand helds/PDAs, monitors, flat panel displays, laser and inkjet printers, scanners, All-in-Ones, digital cameras, fax machines, desktop copiers, cell phones, Televisions (27” and smaller only, no consoles), and TV/VCR combos (27” and smaller).

Office Depot has teamed up with Hewlett-Packard for this service. They will ship them to HP’s recycling plants where they’ll be processed into material that will be used to make new products. Unfortunately there are no Office Depots in Solano county. The nearest ones are in Napa (211 Soscol) or Concord (1631 Challenge Dr). Visit www.officedeport.com/recycle for more details.

Dell has a free recycling program for everyone who buys a new Dell PC. Dell includes shipping labels in each box, so consumers can return their old computer free of charge. Go to www.dell.com and click on the Home Office page for more information.

Vallejo residents can call Vallejo Garbage Service to arrange for a pick up of televisions, computer monitors and other items. Call 552-3110 for the fee schedule. Napa Garbage Service (8220 Levitin Way, American Canyon) accepts televisions, computer monitors and other items. Call 255-5200 for a current list and fee schedule.

OTHER RECYCLING PROGRAMS

Pacific Gas and Electric has again teamed up with JACO Environmental to offer free refrigerator and freezer recycling. Not only will they pick up these items but will pay you a $35 bonus. Call PG&E at 800 299-7573 or www.appliancerecycling.com for more details. 

The Napa-Vallejo Reuse and Recycling Center is now open. It is right inside the gates at the Devlin Road Transfer Station in American Canyon. They have recycling drop off bins for aluminum, #1 and #2 plastic bottles, cardboard, mixed paper and scrap metal. They accept reusable items such as file cabinets, desks, doors, windows, tools, lawn and garden items. You can browse the yard and pick up items for very low prices. They accept used motor oil, sell recycled paint, and give away items in their Household Hazardous Waste reuse shed. The Reuse and Recycling Center is open daily from 8:30am to 3:30pm and can be reached at 258-9018

ON-LINE MATERIAL EXCHANGES

Log onto www.NapaMax.org to search for reusable items or list an item that you want to get rid of but is perfectly usable. Kevin Miller, Napa’s Recycling/Reuse Coordinator, has designed the site to alert users when someone is interested in their items via email or cell phone. 

CalMAX is now sending out email updates twice a month for new listings on their site. Go to www.ciwmb.ca.gov/calmax/ListSubscribe.asp to sign up or to www.calmax.org to search all the listings. Two more web sites to keep handy for current recycling information are www.VALCORErecycling.org and www.recycle-guide.com, the Solano County recycling web site.

VALCORE Recycling Vice President Jane Bogner's "A Sorted Affair" is published every other week in the Times-Herald, Community Outlook Section. For recycling information call Genie Kaggerud, VALCORE Recycling manager at 645-8258 or visit www.VALCORErecycling.org.

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