There are a few non-standard items that can be recycled or reused instead of thrown away. The following is a list that is also available as a brochure (PDF); cooking grease and medications are not listed on this brochure.
Batteries (household)/Cell Phones
Visit www.rbrc.org and type in your zip code to find a local recycler of household batteries and cell phones. Typically, most hardware stores, Radio Shack’s and Wal-Mart’s recycle them; Lowe's stores now also accept them. Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) and others are often found in cameras, power tools and more. Alkaline batteries (AA-D) are non-hazardous and can be placed in your garbage.
Clothing
Some thrift stores accept clothing to be sold again and some recycling programs accept clothing to be made into scraps or rags for other countries. Check you local phone book or online for area thrift stores. Check with your local recycling program or hauler for acceptance of clothing for recycling.
Cooking Grease
The North Dakota Department of Health encourages recycling of waste greases and cooking oils. To assist in this effort, the department maintains a list of companies that pickup and/or recycle such wastes as a service to interested parties and the general public. The list can be found online at www.ndhealth.gov/wm (see "publications"). You can also ask a nearby restaurant if you can put your used grease/oil into their grease "dumpster".
While some states have several biodiesel fuel production facilities, there may not be anywhere to take your oil in your area. However, here are a few ways to reuse your cooking oil from http://Earth911.com:
-
Use leftover lard, tallow, or animal shortening (all essentially the same substance) to make your own suet for feeding wild birds.
-
Replace toxic lighter fluid with used cooking oil.
-
Put some of the oil on newspaper at the bottom of a chimney for faster lighting of the coals, fireplace or grill.
-
You can filter out food particles and fry with the oil once again, but make sure that your cooking temperature is at least 190 degrees Celsius.
|
Construction and Demolition Materials
Whether you are constructing a building, remodeling or tearing down an existing one, there are bound to be “leftovers”. Construction and demolition materials are made up of: concrete, wood, drywall, asphalt, metal, bricks and other items. One opportunity for reuse is through deconstruction. If parts of a building are salvageable, such as doors, windows, wood flooring and other parts, efforts can be made to remove and sell or give away the working or reusable items. Deconstruction can create jobs and saves usable materials from heading to landfills. Many cities, counties and companies stockpile concrete and asphalt for recycling. Larger pieces of wood (branches) can be given away for firewood or ground up for wood chips to be used in landscaping. Visit www.ndhealth.gov/wm (see “publications”) for a list of concrete recyclers and wood grinding operations. The NDSWRA conducted educational workshops on construction and demolition through an EPA grant in 2006-2007; see the details here.
|
|
 |
| If you are interested in “building green”, visit www.epa.gov/greenbuilding to learn more. “Green, or sustainable, building is the practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition.or sustainable building.” (U.S.EPA) Funding is available at national, state and local levels for non-profits, homeowners, industries and more. |
Electronics
With advances in technology, computers and televisions become outdated fast. There are several locations in North Dakota that accept these items for recycling (charges may apply). If equipment is still working, consider donating items to a non-profit. See more information on holding recycling events, the “E-rase Your E-waste” brochure and more at our Electronics Recycling link.
Fluorescent Bulbs
Fluorescent bulbs, including compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), contain mercury vapor and should be recycled. To find locations in North Dakota that handle or recycle these items, visit the Electronics Recycling and HHW Companies link. The ND Department of Health also has several brochures for home and businesses at www.ndhealth.gov/wm (see "publications"). Lowe's stores now accept CFL bulbs from residents.
HHW/Paint
Household hazardous waste (HHW) such as chemicals, paint, automotive fluids and more should be managed properly. Some larger cities have annual collection events (Minot and Beulah) or permanent facilities (Fargo, Bismarck, Minot) for these materials. Always store HHW and paint in well ventilated areas and make sure all items are labeled. A separate brochure on HHW and paint is now available. For more information on HHW, holding a collection event, links to alternative cleaning sources and more, visit our Household Hazardous Waste page.
Medications
More and more communities, pharmacies and police stations are taking an active approach to collecting and disposing of leftover medications. The ND Department of Health recommends that these not be flushed down your toilet or placed down your drain. If you have already checked with your local pharmacy or police station, the NDDH recommends that you remove the medicine from the container, mix it with an undesirable substance such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds, conceal or remove personal and prescription information from the container, wrap the items (medicine and container) in newspaper and dispose of in your household garbage (away from pets or children). Educate others in your office or city by printing out or forwarding the NDDH flyer (PDF).
Motor Oil
Since motor oil is prohibited from disposal in solid waste landfills (including household garbage), check with oil change shops or your local landfill to see if they have a used oil tank. Some businesses also collect used oil to use as a fuel source. Never pour used motor oil down your household drain or on the street.
Plastic Bags
Check with your local grocery store or large chain retail stores (such as Wal-Mart) to see if they have a bin near their entrances for recycling plastic bags. Lowe's stores now accept plastic bags for recycling. You can also check with local second hand (thrift) stores to see if they accept clean, dry plastic bags for reuse. Some cities and countries are considering banning plastic bags from use. Consider bringing your own bags when you make purchases. Recycled plastic bags can be made into fencing and decking material, new bags and more.
Propane Tanks
Many stores that sell propane, such as the Blue Rhino Propane Cylinders, will take your empty cylinder when you purchase a full cylinder. Even if you have an obsolete cylinder that can't be refilled, many stores will still exchange it for you. You can also consult your local propane supplier or landfill.
Scrap Metal/Appliance/Lead Batteries
Scrap metal, metal appliances (stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc.) and lead batteries are prohibited from disposal. The best way to handle your old or non-functioning appliance is to have the company that delivers or installs your new appliance take the old one back for recycling. On our scrap metal and appliance recycling pages, you can find an automotive and scrap metal recycling directory (lists) of recyclers that accept appliances, scrap metal and lead batteries in North Dakota and from surrounding states. Enough steel is thrown out to continuously supply the nation’s automakers. Illegal dumping of metals can cause groundwater pollution, air pollution, impacts on wildlife and exposure to chemicals. Remember, some appliances contain refrigerants (Freon) that need to be removed before recycling can occur.
Tires
Your local tire change/sales store or MSW landfill may accept used tires for a fee, but may not recycle them. If not, encourage them to recycle their used tires. Some MSW landfills recycle tires; visit www.ndhealth.gov/wm (see "publications") for a list. Tires can be ground into “mulch” for playgrounds
or landscaping or used as a tire derived fuel (TDF).
Wood (see Construction/Demolition Materials above)