7/26/2010

Block foam, electronics to be collected on Saturday, Aug. 7

Contact

Jim Mansfield, Clark County Environmental Services Phone: (360) 397-2121 ext. 4016 Elsie Deatherage, Vancouver Solid Waste Services Phone: (360) 619-4122

Vancouver, WA – Clark County residents can recycle block foam for free from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center, 3510 S.E. 164th Ave.

Residents also can drop off computers and other electronic devices for free recycling. No televisions, computer monitors or microwave ovens will be accepted.

For a list of free e-waste disposal sites that will accept old TVs, go to RecyclingA-Z.com. E-waste will be collected by Empower Up, a nonprofit organization that recycles electronics and offers free computer training. Empower Up prefers working electronic equipment that is no more than five years old. However, nonfunctioning and obsolete equipment will be accepted. More information is available at www.empowerupnow.org.

Recycling block foam packaging, or Styrofoam®, from electronics and other purchases saves space in your garbage cart and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Total Reclaim, a Portland recycling business, grinds and melts Styrofoam® into ingots, reducing the foam's volume by roughly 98 percent. The ingots are shipped to other processors and turned into pellets. The pellets, which have the same quality as new plastic, are used to manufacture picture frames, office products and other items.

Block foam can be any color, but it must be clean and bagged or boxed. No plastic-wrapped yellow urethane foam or spongy polypropylene foam, no hot tub covers, no packing peanuts, and no foam with cardboard, tape or metal attached will be accepted. Only Washington-licensed cars may participate. All participants must remain on site until staff has examined and accepted the material. Unacceptable foam will be returned.

Also, businesses can bring in small loads of foam ─ no bigger than what will fit into a passenger or cargo van ─ at no charge. Larger business loads should be taken to Total Reclaim’s site at 5805 N.E. Columbia Blvd., Portland, during the company’s regular weekday business hours.

For more information, contact the City of Vancouver Solid Waste Services at (360) 619-4120 or Clark County Environmental Services at (360) 397-2121 ext. 4352.

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