Recycling - Going Beyond the Brown Bin
Submitted By: Rosalind Kim (rosalind.kim@gmail.com)

Challenge
Like many in Lamorinda I’ve become adept at filling our brown recycling bin with glass, cardboard, paper, plastic, and aluminum. But there are still many odd items around the house that can’t be put in the brown bin and don’t seem like they should be thrown away. I’ve become determined to find the best places to take these things and keep them out of the landfill.

Solution Details
Some of my favorite ways to recycle “beyond the brown bin” are:
  • I keep two small compost bins by my sink:  one goes to the big compost bin in the backyard; the other goes to my worm bin (they are more selective on what they eat).  Think of them as my pets!!!  Our paper napkins I put in the green bin.
  • At work we collect the coffee grounds, then I bring them home for the compost bin.
  • Elephant Pharmacy in WC takes old meds; you need to fill out their form. (they just closed their doors - so I’ll try to find a new place)
  • Water:  Since it takes 1/2 min for the water to warm up in the am, I collect it in a container and then use that water for the plants.
  • Magazines:  I take them to the lunch room at work.

old-cds
One recent challenge was to find a way to dispose of my son’s old music inventory? What do I do with old VHS tapes, tape cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and DVD plastic covers?  This is what I found:
 
  • Goodwill (510-534-6666) had said they would take commercial video and audio tapes as well as "used" audio and video tapes (ones that you taped shows or music onto).  But when I took these to the Goodwill at the Rheem Shopping Center in Moraga, they informed me that they would only take the commercial ones. 
  • Concord Recycling 925-689-3900; 1320 Galaxy Way, Concord (M-F 8am-5pm; Sat 8am -2 pm) took the DVD covers, used VHS and audio tapes at no cost.
  • Another alternative is to contact Amoeba Records at 2455 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley; 510-549-1125 (M-Sa: 10:30 am – 10 pm; Sun 11 am – 9 pm).  They buy CDs and DVDs, don't expect much money for them but it is worth a try.  You can ask them whether they will take your VHS tapes.


Benefits & Payback
While it can be a pain to find locations that will accept odd items like VHS tapes and CDs, I try to combine it with errands that I’m running in the same vicinity, and avoid feeling guilty about sending stuff to the landfill that can be recycled.

Informational Links
Goodwill is located in the Rheem shopping center at 566 Center Street in Moraga.


Next Story Button2