Recycling: You Can Take it With You

On-the-Go Recycling is Easier than Ever!

Summer is here, and it's time to soak up the sun and enjoy the great outdoors. But, just because you're on the go doesn't mean you have to leave your recycling habits at home. Whether you're enjoying refreshments at a picnic in the park or your son's soccer game, look around for the nearest recycling container for your empty bottles and cans. Several communities in the area offer public recycling containers in addition to the familiar trash cans. In Menlo Park, for example, about 60 containers can be found on playing fields and parks, including the recently renovated Burgess Park at Civic Center, Bayfront Park, as well as downtown city streets and some bus stops. Foster City has transformed a number of garbage containers into recycling containers by purchasing domed lids mode of recycled content. About 50 "silver bullet" containers are at parks, including Sea Cloud, Leo J. Ryan Memorial, Edgewater and Boothbay.

Burlingame takes recycling all the way to the finish line: not only do they have recycling containers at eight of their parks, but at Village Park, they use picnic benches made from recycled plastic. "We were able to purchase the benches and containers with the help of a grant from the SBWMA," explains Parks Supervisor Bob Disco.

Please pitch in and support your community's efforts to make recycling on the go easy for your family.

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Style is in the Bag

If exclusive creations are part of your fashion "Do's," look no further than Spare Change Designs in San Francisco. Founder Roxane Schlumberger told us how she recycles everyday materials into fashionable purses and wallets.

What inspired you to start making these bags?

Working as a photographer, I always had great images that I couldn't use for projects. One day I decided to sew a bunch together and make a bag. Pretty soon everyone was asking me to craft one for them too.

Where do you get the materials?

If I see a brochure, show-card, something in a magazine, or even a take-out menu left on my gate, I may use it. Much of what's printed for one-time use is just too neat to throw away. I coat the paper so it's water and tear proof. I also work with remnants of fabric and leather, snippets of plastic, or whatever else I find. I may make this newsletter into a wallet. You never know!

What is the best thing about your bags?

Each of my bags is one-of-a-kind and has its own story. Often customers bring in their own materials — photos of friends, grandkids or pets, ticket stubs from an event. It's great to see those personal items take on a new life.

For more information, visit www.sparechangedesigns.com.

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Allied Waste Auto Bill Pay

Great news for those who want or need the convenience of automatic bill pay: Allied Waste now lets you pay your bill automatically. To sign up, visit the Allied Waste home page, then click "Pay your bill with Auto Pay."

A notification of the new service will also appear on your bill and you can sign up using a paper form if you prefer. But online enrollment is fast, easy, and saves paper.

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Billing Schedule Changes

Staggered Delivery Eases Customer Service

Allied Waste is changing its billing schedule to improve its customer service. If you are billed directly, this means you may receive your bills in a different month than you are used to. For some SBWMA member communities, the Rethink Waste newsletter is distributed along with Allied Waste's bill. In communities that are billed for garbage service by their city, Rethink Waste is mailed directly to the home. With the new billing schedule, not all residents will receive Rethink Waste at the same time. The SBWMA will do its best to present any time-sensitive information in Rethink Waste so that all residents can receive ample notice of events. However, we also encourage you to check out our new calendar section on our website at RethinkWaste.org for timely events, like compost giveaways, community-wide garage sales, book sales and more.

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What's in a Rate?

We all pay part of our hard-earned money to various companies that provide basic services so we can live comfortably in our urban environment. It seems logical to pay money for the benefits of electricity — after all, electricity is made from oil (and sometimes wind and sun), and the company has miles of wires to maintain. But why do we pay to throw our trash away?

Actually, "away" is a series of places, all requiring manpower, land and energy. Dealing with the waste of a highly populated area like San Mateo County requires much more than collecting the trash. The garbage company has to fuel and staff its vehicles, but it also must pay to put the garbage in the landfill. And the trucks you see do not go directly to the landfill. They go to the San Carlos Transfer Station where their loads are transferred onto large semi-trailers and then driven 15 miles to the landfill. Both the Transfer Station and the Recycling Center, which are owned by the SBWMA, require staff, energy and equipment to operate and maintain.

Another portion of your bill covers collection, sorting and distribution of recyclables, yard trimmings processing, and administration. Some money is used to develop new programs that can reduce landfill disposal.

Why rate increases now?

Each year, the SBWMA evaluates the rate requests by Allied Waste, and sends those recommendations to the city and town councils for approval in the beginning of the new year. Therefore, the increased cost of provided services are reflected in the spring bills. The SBWMA continues to add new services and expand on existing ones. Some changes coming this year are the new residential service days to provide improved customer response on the routes, and new and cleaner collection trucks.

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Construction Debris Recycling Fee Lowered

Builders and contractors now have no excuse not to recycle leftover wood, concrete, bricks, drywall and other waste. These scraps of material, known as construction and demolition (C&D) debris, can be brought to the San Carlos Transfer Station and recycled for a reduced fee of $20/yard for mixed loads.

The SBWMA worked together with Allied Waste to lower the fee as a way to encourage recycling. C&D debris is about 28% of all garbage that goes into California landfills. Recycling this bulky, heavy waste is a great way to help prevent the need for new landfills in the Bay Area.

For more information on C&D recycling options, call RecycleWorks at 1 (888) 442-2666 or see www.RecycleWorks.org.

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Depending on Where You Live
Your Collection Day May Change

In February 2006, Allied Waste began implementing new collection routes for its trucks, designed to reduce transportation and maintenance costs, and to increase convenience for customers requesting special pickups.

Visit Allied Waste's web site to view your garbage and recycling collection schedule.

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Recycle Your Junk Mail
Better Yet, Stop It

Unsolicited junk mail is a waste. It is a waste of natural resources and for businesses it's a waste of money. Your business can take action to stop this waste, both in the amount of unsolicited mail you receive and send.

You can take action to stop this waste and it is much easier than you think. Go online or call to obtain the FREE Stop Junk Mail Kit.

• Online at
  www.StopJunkMail.org
• Call, toll-free,
  1-888-442-2666

And, if you send out direct mail, be sure that it is going to those who want it. Give recipients an easy way to contact you and request to be taken off your list. It will save you money and save natural resources.

BayROC Junkmail Campaign

For a more local perspective, BayROC — the Bay Area Recycling and Outreach Coalition — is continuing their annual campaign to stop junk mail. They have created a resource that educators can use in their classrooms to help young people learn about how they can stem the tide of junk mail. To view these resources, click the links below:

• Cover Letter for Service Learning Project PDF (92k)
• Service Learning Project PDF (128k)

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Firefighters Fight Waste

What do you do with the food scraps, stale leftovers, paper plates, paper cups, wooden coffee stir sticks and used napkins from 11 firefighters eating two meals a day, 365 days a year? If the firefighters are from Foster City — a town that takes its commitment to reduce waste seriously — you don't have to send it to the landfill. Since September 2005, what used to fill the firehouse dumpster is now made into compost.

After breaks and meals, Foster City firefighters drop food scraps and food-soiled paper into the special composting container provided by Allied Waste. Allied picks up the materials and adds them to the mix of commercial compostables from local restaurants. The final destination is the Newby Island composting facility in Milpitas, where the food is mixed with yard trimmings and composted on a large scale.

In preparation for these planet-friendly changes, Battalion Chief Jim Comisky reviewed the supplies in the station and replaced styrofoam cups and plastic stir sticks with paper and wood so they could be composted. "We have the opportunity to control waste at the fire station," he said. "We've already been recycling all of our bottles and cans and paper. Food scraps were the next logical step. Once the guys got used to it, they embraced it."

Types of items accepted in the Business Composting Collection program include fruit and vegetable trimmings, meat, bones, coffee grounds, dairy products, waxed cardboard and any food-contaminated paper. The program also accepts floral and garden trimmings, so florists and landscapers can compost, too!

Allied Waste, (650) 592-2411. Do you own a business that generates compostables? If so, you may be able to save money by composting. An Allied Waste recycling coordinator can show you how.

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BFI is Now Allied Waste

Shifting from its strategy of maintaining separate local business identities, Allied Waste — which purchased BFI in 1999 — announced during the summer that it will now be known solely as Allied Waste. The trasition to this new identity will be complete in December. So in January 2006, look for a new logo and name on your bill and on the collection equipment.

Read the letter to the SBWMA board (PDF).

For more information, please visit www.alliedwastesanmateocounty.com or call (650) 592-2411.

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SBC Phone Books Include Recycling Guide

Recycling information just became even easier to find! Check out the June edition of the Central San Mateo SBC phone book and the November Redwood City SBC phone book for the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Guide. The Guide has helpful information on how to recycle almost anything - from curbside recyclables to electronics. This handy reference tool also includes sections on household hazardous waste and reuse options. And, a handy business recycling section means you can reduce waste at work, too.

View the Recycling Guide online (1.4MB PDF)

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Your Donations at
Work and Play

Your possessions keep working and playing long after you pass them on to one of these nonprofits.

New Homes for Unwanted Appliances

A welcome presence in the community since 1989, Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP) projects that this year they will repair 65 homes and 15 community facilities with the help of more than 4,000 volunteers. Through the many RTP team-building projects, local corporations provide volunteer power to paint and repair a home or facility, and install donated and refurbished appliances. RTP gets a lot of the materials they use in clients' homes and facilities through their construction materials recycling program.

"Rebuilding Together Peninsula needs good, energy-efficient appliances that are less than four years old," says Program Manager Hank Nourse. "Call us when you're remodeling and we'll come pick up." He adds that quality appliances really make life easier for the low-income families that receive them.

Rebuilding Together Peninsula, (650) 366-6597
Will pick up large appliances less than 4 years old, in good working order. Small fixtures can be dropped off.
2201 Bay Road, Door #6, Redwood City
www.rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org

Rebuilding Bikes for Kids

"Don't throw away that kids' bike, even if it's damaged or has a missing part," says Major Taylor Cycling Club (MTCC) Coordinator Ken Kratz. "We want it. We'll fix it up so a child will get a lot enjoyment from it."

When you bring a reparable (not rusted) kids' bike to the MTCC, older kids restore it with help from adult volunteers, and the Club gives it to another child who needs a bike. They'll even take some bikes just for parts. When they get a really spiffy adult bike, MTCC sells it and uses the cash to buy repair tools. They also promote bicycle transportation and recreation as ways of making life more fun and the planet healthier.

Major Taylor Cycling Club, (408) 246-8149
Accepts donations of kids' bikes and parts. Free community bicycle repair clinic on the first and third Saturdays of the month, 11 am - 3 pm.
www.mtcc.us

Who was Major Taylor you ask? Visit www.mtcc.us to find out!

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City of San Mateo LEEDs The Way

Ten SBWMA communities have ordinances or other policies requiring recycling of construction & demolition debris or "C&D." In San Mateo, for example, the City passed an ordinance in 2001 requiring all construction or demolition projects over $50,000 in size to have a recycling plan before issuing permits.

Though local C&D ordinances themselves may not be able to compete with the latest best-selling spy thriller, their results are definitely exciting.

The City is practicing what it preaches with its new Main Library. Expected to open in the summer of 2006, the new building has been designed to achieve Silver Certification within the internationally recognized LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system. Activities so far point to success, with 99% of the materials resulting from demolition of the old building being recycled. One creative reuse of the demo materials was 17,000 cubic yards of soil going to help develop the new Shoreline Park. Out of a whopping 6,397 tons of material, only 54 tons was disposed of as trash!

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Hammering Out Waste

City Recycles 99% of Debris From Old Library Demolition

The big thing in recycling these days isn't cans and bottles. All the exciting action is in "C&D." No, that doesn't stand for cardboard and dairy containers. C&D is the recycling industry nickname for construction and demolition debris. It refers to all the stuff that comes out of a building project, whether it's a new structure going up or an old one coming down. This kind of material makes up about 22% of all the garbage landfilled in California.

The kinds of materials that typically come out of a construction or demolition project include steel, plate glass, brick, concrete, asphalt, pipe, wallboard and lumber. Although these aren't the kinds of materials you can put in your curbside bin, they are recyclable and sometimes reusable. There are recyclers of these materials in the area, and they're more than happy to take them from you. In some cases they'll even pay you (as is often the case with scrap metals). In other cases you may have to pay, but it usually will be less than you would pay to dispose of them in the landfill.

For more information about C&D recycling in your area, see the Recycling Guide in the SBC phone books or visit www.RecycleWorks.org and click on "Construction."

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EcoDesign Tour and NCRA Meeting

Rethink Waste is hosting the June 16, 2005, meeting of the Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA). The events will being with a tour of Eco Design Resources showroom, featuring beautiful environmental products for the home and family. Eco Design Resources is building a step toward a sustainable future and empowering people with education and resources so they can make informed decisions. Recycled-content and alternative indoor building materials are featured. The tour will begin at 5:30pm. Eco Design Resources, 635 Quarry Road #A, San Carlos, CA 94070, (650) 591-1123.

The NCRA meeting will be held from 7pm - 10pm in the San Carlos Library Community Room, 610 Elm St, San Carlos, CA 94070. For details, please contact Debby Kramer - dkramer@rethinkwaste.org, (650) 802-4349.

www.ncrarecycles.org

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Low Waste Party Planning Means More Fun, Less Waste!

Last year Belmont resident Krista Kuehnhackl volunteered to organize her neighborhood's annual block party.

"I was excited about getting to know my neighbors," Krista says, "but I was worried about all the trash that would go to the landfill if I didn't plan well enough."

She made sure all the food was served on compostable plates, napkins, utensils, and cups. Krista invited San Mateo County staffer Sandy Padilla to provide in-person advice about issues ranging from non-toxic pest management to solar power. Other "green" activities included recycled art projects for the kids.

When all was said and done, Krista and her 250 neighbors had collected 250 gallons of cans, bottles, cardboard, and paper for recycling, and 80 gallons for composting. Less than 30 gallons of waste went into the trash! After the party, she put all the compostables in her own bin along with her garden clippings. And it didn't end there — after the party, several people later signed up for a composting workshop held at Krista's home!

Compostable disposables available at Green Earth Office supply: www.greenearthofficesupply.com or (800) 327-8449.

To get a discount compost bin, go to www.RecycleWorks.org or call (888) 442-2666.

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Prepare Your Garden for Spring with Free Compost (April 2005)

Compost Give Away Saturday, May 7th, 2005!

It’s springtime, and that means gardening. Back by popular demand, RethinkWaste and Allied Waste are teaming up with its member communities to give away compost on Saturday, May 7th, 2005. The compost is made from yard trimmings collected at the curb from communities every other week, and composted at a nearby composting facility. Residents in the communities of Atherton, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Fair Oaks, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, and San Mateo may take up to 1 cubic yard of compost (about six full garbage cans) at no charge at select locations as long as supply lasts. Bring shovels, gloves, containers, and proof of residency.

Compost is the result of nature decomposing organic materials into a dark, nutrient-rich soil. The compost is ideally used as an amendment to enrich soil for lawns, gardens, ornamental plants, trees, and potted plants. By applying compost to landscaping and mixing it with soil, people put organic resources into the soil, providing a non-chemical alternative to fertilizers. Not only is curbside yard trimming collection available to residents for large-scale composting, but backyard and worm composting are additional options. Free home composting workshops and reduced-priced bins are available through RecycleWorks, a program of the County of San Mateo.

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Donate Used Sporting Goods (April 2005)

RecycleWorks is collecting gently used sporting goods including soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, snow boots, snow shoes and clean sleeping bags in good condition. These items will be donated to several local nonprofits for reuse. For a complete list of accepted items and drop-off dates and locations, visit www.RecycleWorks.org.

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From Salvage Yard to Secret Garden (Jan 2005)

Whole House Building Supply is a gold mine for homes and businesses alike.

In the market for 2,500 bricks offered at a “brick-bottom” price? Whole House Building Supply’s got ‘em. How about some redwood siding, French doors or a gazebo? Got those too! Whole House Building Supply does just what it says it does: salvaging nearly every part of a home or commercial building that would otherwise be demolished and disposed of as waste. As a non-profit, they also take donated building materials from the public. Donors get a receipt for a charitable deduction come tax time. The profits benefit the East Palo Alto Council of Tenants.

You can find lots of fantastic items by going to one of Whole House’s demolition sales, held on-site almost every weekend. You bring your own tools to the sale and take out what you want. If you’d rather have someone else do this work for you, you can visit the Whole House salvage yard on Pulgas Road.

“I totally love that place!” says Tammy Alsterlind of Redwood City about the yard. “It’s like a gold mine.” Tammy has found lots of interesting items there, including doors and windows she and her husband, Kevin, have used to create an enchanting indoor/outdoor effect in their “secret garden.” The Alsterlinds recently won Redwood City’s annual Mayor’s Beautification Award for the lovely environment they’ve created in their yard.

Visit Whole House Building Supply online at www.driftwoodsalvage.com, or browse the yard at 1955 Pulgas Road, East Palo Alto. Call for hours: (650) 328-8731.

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SBWMA: Investing in the Community

We manage contracts and facilities to keep your community clean.

Like many local government waste authorities, the SBWMA manages the contracts of the recycling and garbage company (in your case, Allied Waste). Unlike other waste authorities, however, the SBWMA actually owns some of the facilities used to manage trash and process recyclables—purchasing them from BFI in 2000. While the SBWMA owns the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center, Allied Waste manages and operates them.

Dianne Dryer, Environmental Programs Coordinator for Menlo Park and an SBWMA Board Member, remembers Board discussions about the purchase. “Since the Board has a representative from each community, the decision was a democratic one,” Dryer says. “It’s very advantageous to SBWMA communities to own the facilities because we have control over the recycling processes. We can design sorting and processing systems for many kinds of materials to focus on recycling and reuse, rather than landfill disposal.”

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Don't Let Your Great Literature Become "Trashy"! (Jan 2005)

Consider Buying, Selling & Donating Used Books

The computer revolution hasn’t diminished the love many feel for the printed page. But what can you do with all those novels, children’s stories and coffee table books you’ve grown tired of or don’t have room for anymore? Fortunately a very good system exists for buying, selling and donating used books.

Local charitable organizations accept donations of usable books.

• Friends of the Library—check your local library’s Friends group for information.
• Goodwill, 1-888-4-GOODWILL
• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, (650) 321-0389
• Family Connections (children’s books) (650) 592-4862

For a complete list, download RecycleWorks’ Reuse guide at www.RecycleWorks.org or call 1 (888) 442-2666.

Local used bookstores may buy your books.

• Books Unlimited, San Mateo, (650) 574-5377
• Wessex Used Books & Records, Menlo Park, (650) 321-1333
• Feldman Books, Menlo Park, (650) 326-5300

Try the phone directory or do an online search for other stores.

Recycling is available for worn or outdated books.

Hard- and soft-cover books that don’t have any value—such as outdated software manuals or textbooks, or those that are just too worn—can be recycled at the San Carlos Recycling Center. You may want to try to donate or sell before resorting recycling. (Remember: reuse has more environmental benefit than recycling.)

Buy used books.

And lastly, if you’re in the mood to add to your own library, consider browsing for books at one of the stores listed above, or attend the next sale at your local library. In doing so, you’ll be helping to “close the loop”!

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Allied Waste Service Bulletin (Jan 2005)

The Shoreway Recycling & Disposal Center accepts only cash and business checks as a form of payment.

Phone System Expands Customer Service Options

Call (650) 592-2411 and automatically do the following:

• Get information on recycling programs
• Hear hours of service or get directions to the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center
• Schedule an on-call clean up
• Order replacement recycling bins
• Access holiday schedules
• Leave a voice mail after hours

Tips for a Quicker Customer Service Call During Phone System Upgrade

Please listen for a voice prompt before making your selection. Pushing a selection too soon may result in disconnection. Do not push “0;” this will only lead to a longer hold time during peak calling hours.

Ahora le podemos conectar directamente con un representante de Atención al Público que hable español.

Emails and Spam Blockers

Some of Allied Waste's email responses to customers who use spam blockers have been returned as undeliverable. If you have not received an answer to an emailed question, please call Customer Service at (650) 592-2411. For future email inquiries, please include a phone number, so Allied Waste can contact you if needed.

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Let the Trash Count-Down Begin (Jan 2005)

Top Ten Tips to Reduce Waste in the New Year

Letterman has his Top Ten, and so do we — in this case, a list of resolutions to reduce waste in 2005:

1. Recycle one type of material I didn’t last year. (You can go to www.RecycleWorks.org for ideas.)
2. Compost my food scraps. (More info. at www.RecycleWorks.org/compost.)
3. Send e-cards instead of paper cards whenever possible.
4. Bring a reusable thermos mug with me for take-out coffee. (Find a great one at www.circleoflife.org/store.)
5. Buy a few canvas shopping totes. (Many grocery stores sell them very inexpensively.)
6. Remember to bring the canvas totes with me when I shop. (And make sure you get the 5-cent/bag credit most grocers offer.)
7. Rent or borrow things, like camping gear, that I really don’t need to own.
8. Avoid over-packaged products.
9. Look for products that are recyclable and have recycled content.
    
   And finally…
    
10. Buy less stuff!

For more ideas, go to

• Co-op America's Marketplace Guide at www.coopamerica.org/individual/marketplace and
• The ULS Report at www.cygnus-group.com/use-less-stuff.

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Send Kids to School with a Waste-Free Lunch (Oct 2004)

How to reduce waste and save money at your child's school

Disposable packaging from school lunches creates one-half pound of waste per person per day. That's about 175 pounds per day from a 350-student school! With nearly 100 schools in the SBWMA area alone, this trash can add up fast. By switching to reusable packaging for lunches, you'll not only reduce waste, but you can save up to $250 per year. Your child's school could also save money by reducing trash collection costs.

To pack a reusable lunch:

• Use a reusable lunch box (the younger kids love them!) or a reusable sack. There are padded, Velcro®-close options available, suitable for appearance-conscious older kids.
• Include a cloth napkin and reusable silverware.
• Keep beverages in a Thermos or reusable bottle.
• Put snacks and other food in reusable containers such as Tupperware™, or reused cottage cheese, margarine or yogurt containers.

For more tips and tools, visit www.wastefreelunches.org.

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SBWMA Develops Eco-Friendly Display (Oct 2004)

Uses creativity and recycled materials to make collapsible education tool

While shopping for a portable information display, the SBWMA found that existing products are not environmentally friendly. So, in keeping with its mission of innovation and waste reduction, the SBWMA decided to create its own display using as much recyclable, reused and recycled-content material as possible.

The result: a recycled aluminum display exemplifying creative reuse, using bowling balls for "feet," and a hubcap to stabilize the base. Belmont, Foster City, Redwood City, San Carlos and San Mateo will each purchase a copy of the display.

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Compost Givewaway (August 2004)

Back by popular demand, RethinkWaste is teaming up with its member communities to give away compost on Saturday, October 9, 2004. The compost is made from yard trimmings collected at the curb from communities every other week, and composted at a nearby composting facility. Residents in the communities of Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Fair Oaks, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, and San Mateo may take up to 1 cubic yard of compost (about six full garbage cans) at no charge at select locations as long as supply lasts. Proof of residency is required.

• Atherton: Holbrook-Palmer Park - 150 Watkins Ave, 8 am - 5 pm
• Belmont: City Hall Parking Lot, 8 am - 12 pm
• Burlingame: Burlingame High School Parking Lot, 8 am - 12 pm
• East Palo Alto: YMCA Pool Parking Lot - 2160 Euclid Ave, 8 am - 12 pm
• Fair Oaks: Flood Park - 215 Bay Rd, 8 am - 12 pm
• Foster City: Civic Center Drive - South of City Hall, 8 am - 2 pm
• Menlo Park: Bayfront Park Entrance, 9 am - 5 pm
• Redwood City: Corporation Yard - 1400 Broadway, 8 am - 12 pm
• San Carlos: Highlands Park - Melendy Drive & Aberdeen Dr, 8 am - 12 pm
• San Mateo: Anchor Rd at 3rd Ave, 8 am - 12 pm

Compost is the result of nature decomposing organic materials into a dark, nutrient-rich soil. The compost is ideally used as an amendment to enrich soil for lawns, gardens, ornamental plants, trees, and potted plants. By applying compost to landscaping and mixing it with soil, people put organic resources into the soil, providing a non-chemical alternative to fertilizers.

Not only is curbside yard trimming collection available to residents for large-scale composting, but backyard and worm composting are additional options. Free home composting workshops and reduced-priced bins are available through RecycleWorks, a program of the County of San Mateo.

About SBWMA/RethinkWaste: The South Bayside Waste Management Authority/RethinkWaste is a regional agency, formed in 1982 to help local communities manage and reduce waste. To learn more about SBWMA/RethinkWaste, see RethinkWaste.org.

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How to Sell More Used Stuff (June 2004)

Most of us have held a garage sale, hoping to find new owners for things we're tired of or no longer have room for. There's nothing more disappointing, though, when nobody comes to your sale and you're left with most of the stuff you started with. If you're planning a garage sale soon (especially if you live on a cul de sac or another street with low foot and car traffic), your best bet is to place an ad a week or two before your sale. Or try craigslist (www.craigslist.com), which is free and is read by thousands of Bay Area residents every day. Even better is to team with a few of your neighbors to put on a joint sale, making a visit to your block a more attractive prospect for potential customers ... and more fun for you!

Another great way to get more bang for your garage sale buck is to join one of the community-wide sales organized by some local cities. For more, visit RecycleWork's page on community garage sales.

Once your sale is underway, remember to take pictures and send us copies. You and your neighbors may see yourselves in a future issue of RethinkWaste.

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Drop-Off Recycling Expands Possibilities (June 2004)

Cell phones, antifreeze, and much more!

There's more to recycling than your curbside container. The Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center at 333 Shoreway Road in San Carlos accepts many materials you might not have realized can be recycled. It also offers cash for California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers, such as aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles. Look for CRV labeling on the containers. The Shoreway RDC, owned by the SBWMA and operated by Allied Waste, accepts all kinds of items including:
 

Dirt, concrete & asphalt ($) Latex paint Computer monitors and TVs ($) (Read more) Scrap metal ($) (see below) Household batteries (Read more) Used motor oil & filters Antifreeze Clean wood ($) Tires ($)		Electronics* (computers, copiers, VCRs, stereos, etc. Read more) Large appliances ($) (water heaters, refrigerators, washers, dryers) Clean carpet and carpet padding ($) Fluorescent lighting tubes no ballasts (Read more) Cell phones (Read more) Mattresses ($) (Read more) Yard trimmings ($)
($) Fee is charged; * Fee for some items

One of the newest additions is the scrap metal recycling drop-off box. Anything metal is okay, from old pots and pans to toasters, pipes, and bicycle frames. You can even put the large aluminum tray that held the potato salad from your last summer party in the scrap metal box (once the tray is empty and rinsed well, of course)!

If you have questions about the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center, please call Allied Waste at (650) 592-2411. For more information on CRVs, visit www.consrv.ca.gov.

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Pictured here with their Acterra Business Environmental Award are (l to r): Gary Cheso, Allied Waste, Regina Wheeler, City of Menlo Park, Debby Kramer, SBWMA and Roxanne Murray, Allied Waste

Recycling Program Wins Award (June 2004)

Part of the SBWMA's mission is to help its member communities meet state-mandated waste reduction goals. By developing innovative programs, the SBWMA helps people reduce, reuse and recycle. Acterra, a local environmental organization, honored the SBWMA with a 2004 Business Environmental Award for its program for multi-unit buildings (apartments and condominiums).

By taking a personal, site-specific approach to overcoming recycling obstacles, such as space constraints and high turnover of residents and property managers, the program now has over 150 complexes (11,000 units) reducing waste. One such complex, a 182-unit community that had never recycled, is now recycling 42% of its total waste and saving $1,500 per month in garbage bills.

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Mattresses Accepted for Recycling at the Shoreway Recycling Center (May 2004)

Did you know the Shoreway Recycling Center in San Carlos takes old mattresses and box springs for recycling? They do, and they'll even take old futons and couch cushions. These bulky items can fill up a landfill fast. In 2003, over 5,000 mattresses were sent to the dump from SBWMA cities alone! This year will be different. SBWMA and Allied Waste recently entered into a contract with a St. Vincent de Paul subsidiary, DR3, to take mattresses and either recycle them or sell them to others for reconditioning. About one-third of the mattresses are good enough to be sent to companies, such as Estate Corporation in Oakland, to be made into new mattresses. Those mattresses not suitable for reconditioning still contain recyclable materials, from foam and metals to wood fiber and textiles.
 
Revenue from the operation will support St. Vincent de Paul's charitable programs — including three shelters right here in San Mateo County.
 
The drop-off fee for mattresses brought to the Transfer Station is $12-14, depending on size. Cash only. There is no limit to the number of mattresses you can bring in, although Allied Waste does ask that you let them know before hauling in a large number. Badly soiled or water-logged mattresses will not be accepted. Call the Transfer Station at (650) 592-0255 for more information.

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