Beyond Bottles and Cans |
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Appliances Large appliances are made mostly of metal and are banned from landfills and incinerators. Appliances used for cooling such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers have Freon that must be safely removed before disposal. Most private haulers will collect these items for recycling or they may be brought to Concord’s spring and fall drop-off days. |
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Athletic Shoes Nike recycles old athletic shoes into tennis courts, playgrounds, and running tracks. Some shoe stores participate in this program, or they may be brought to our spring and fall drop-off days. |
Drop-off Day Concord Public Works City Sport Stores |
Automobiles Cars are one of the most recycled items that we ever own. Most cars end up in a lot where their parts are sold for after market use, and after that they are dismantled and recycled.
There are a number of charities that will pickup up your car. Some (if not all) charge about $65 if they deem your car unworthy for parts resale based on very objective criteria (age and type of car, for example, not whether the car runs or not). Most (if not all) require a title and Vehicle Identification Number. You can generally get forms and instructions from these agencies' web sites.
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Salvation Army 1-888-999-ARMY 1-888-332-AUTO 1-888-227-5500 1-800-590-1600 1-800-488-2277 Jamaica Plain (617)522-8086 |
Automotive Products Tires, batteries, anti-freeze, motor oil and filters, and other automotive products are all recycled by car repair shops and auto dealers. Ask your local mechanic about recycling these items. Concord Public Works uses used motor oil to heat their garage. Used motor oil may be brought to Concord Public Works weekdays from 8:30 - 3:00. Please do not leave materials at other times. |
Automotive Products Local automotive mechanic or dealership Used Motor Oil Only Concord Public Works 133 Keyes Road |
Batteries Regular household batteries are alkaline and if manufactured after 1993 may be disposed of with your regular trash, but all other batteries should be recycled. Recycle the following non-alkaline batteries at locations listed to the right: Rechargeable batteries - cell phone, cordless phone, beeper, electric toothbrush, rechargeable flashlight, Palm Pilot, laptop computer, power tools, etc. Button batteries - hearing aid, watch, calculator, laser pointer, etc. Specialty batteries - such as lithium camera batteries Automobile batteries should be taken to an auto mechanic or dealership for recycling. |
Rechargable, button, and specialty batteries Concord Main Library Concord Public Works Concord Town
House Harvey Wheeler Center West Concord 5 & 10 Automobile batteries Local Auto Mechanic Lead-acid home security batteries Minuteman Hazardous Waste Facility
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Bicycles Bikes-not-Bombs works with inner city youth to repair mountain bikes and 3-speed bikes and sends them to central America. Children’s bikes and bikes in reasonable condition may be donated to a charitable organization (see clothing & household items below) |
Bikes-not-Bombs 59 Amory Roxbury, MA 617-442-0004 Goodwill |
Books and Magazines Books and magazines may be taken to the Concord Free Library for resale at the annual book sale. Some books may also be taken to the secondhand bookshops in Concord. Call shops for details. To recycle books that are no longer of value: Paperback books - recycle with mixed paper recycling Hardcover books - remove hardcovers and recycle pages with mixed paper recycling. Dispose of hardcover with regular trash. |
Concord Free Library Goodwill The Barrow Main Street Concord
Center Books with a Past Thoreau Street Concord Center Twice Told Tales Commonwealth Ave. West Concord |
Cardboard Corrugated Cardboard Corrugated cardboard boxes from residents may be recycled at the Public Works visitor parking lot and at the Composting Site. No other paper items (except packaging paper listed below) are accepted at these sites. Remove all wood, Styrofoam,
plastic, etc. This service is available to Concord residents only and is not for use by businesses. Moving Boxes There is an organization that will pickup moving boxes that are in excellent condition at your home at no charge. Boxes are resold so only moving boxes in excellent condition are acceptable. www.benezraboxes.com Packaging Paper Packaging paper from moving may be recycled at the cardboard drop-off. Pack into paper shopping or paper leaf bags and place inside cardboard recycling dumpsters. |
Concord Public Works Visitor parking lot 133 Keyes Road Daily Composting
Site Walden Street Saturdays, 9-3 April - Nov. Benezra Boxes 781-646-8734 |
Carpeting You will recycle more plastic by recycling the carpet from your home once every 15 years then by setting plastic containers at the curb every week for 15 years. Unfortunately carpet recycling is not yet widely available. Individual consumers generally can't get rid of a carpet, but you can ask installers and renovation companies if they will do it for you. |
Dupont |
CD’s, Computer Disks, & Videos CD’s, computer disks, and videos may be recycled at Concord’s drop-off day or sent to organizations that recycle these products. |
Drop-off days Green Disk
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Cell Phones Old cell phones have become a useful tool in the fight against domestic violence. Organizations reprogram old cell phones to dial 911 and distribute them at no cost to victims of domestic violence who cannot afford a fully operative cell phone. Old cell phones with their chargers may be donated to the Concord-Acton Violence Assistance Program by taking them to the Concord Police Station or by bringing them to the spring or fall Drop-off day. |
Concord Police Station any time Spring and Fall Drop-off Days
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Christmas Cards For many years Saint Jude's Ranch, a non-profit youth home that provides counseling and opportunities for troubled youth, has operated a holiday card reuse program. As familiarity with the program has grown, the number of cards they receive has far outpaced the number of cards they can handle, and handling excess cards is costing them money. They have asked for help in getting the word out asking
people to stop sending them cards. Remanufactured cards are available in packs of ten for $8 at 1-800-492-3562. For more information visithttp://stjudesranch.org/Content/cardprogram.asp. |
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Clothing, Linens, Household Items, and Furniture Many charitable organizations accept clothing, linens, household items, and furniture in good, usable condition. To the right are drop-off locations available in Concord. Household items may also be brought to the spring or fall SwapOff day. Many Charitable organizations will also come to your home for larger items and larger quantities of materials. Different organizations do different things with their materials, so items that are appropriate for one organization might not be as
appropriate for another. Be sure to ask each organization what they do with collected items.
As a general rule, all items must be in usable condition; no rips, stains, or broken parts. While there was a time years ago when charitable organizations repaired and mended broken items, that is no longer the case. Items are sold or distributed "as is". Charitable organizations rarely want non-functioning items, even those that "only need........" |
Furniture and Household Items Household Goods Recycling Ministry Acton - 978-263-5929 Clothing, Linens,
and Household Items Goodwill at Crosby’s Market, 211 Sudbury Road Clothing Only Red Cross at Papa Razzi Restaurant, 768 Elm Street and at West Concord MBTA parking lot St Vincent DePaulat West Concord MBTA parking lot Household Items Only |
Coat Hangers Many dry cleaners will take back coat hangers for reuse. They may also be brought to the spring and fall drop-off days for recycling as scrap metal. |
Ask your local dry cleaner Spring and fall Dropoff Day
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Computers The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) banned the disposal of computer monitors and TV's from landfills and incinerators in Massachusetts due to the large quantity of lead contained in their screens and other hazardous components. These items must be collected separately for recycling and may not be disposed of with regular trash. There is no ban on the disposal of other electronics (such as printers, fax machines, computers without monitors, cell phones, etc.) but programs that collect computer monitors
and TVs for recycling usually collect these for recycling as well.
LOCAL RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES Concord Public Works and REUSIT provide two drop-off days per year for the recycling of computer monitors, TVs, and other electronic equipment. Some private haulers will pickup of computer monitors and TVs.
REUSE OPPORTUNITIES
The following sites list organizations that will accept reasonably new computers and color monitors. They will upgrade equipment and redistribute them according to their goals.
TecsChange
PEP National Directory of Computer Recycling Programs
Electronic Industries Alliance
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
MANUFACTURER TAKEBACK PROGRAMS Manufacturers and retailers are beginning to provide electronics recycling opportunities for their customers.
This information is current as of December 2002.
Apple
Dell
Gateway
Hewlett-Packard/Compaq
IBM |
Spring and Fall Drop-Off Day
Concord Public Works - 133 Keyes Road
Concord Carlisle High School Terry Duggan Director of Technology CCHS 978-318-1510 x 136
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Concrete, asphalt, bricks, tile, rocks, etc . These materials are accepted for reuse and recycling. Must not include any metal or rebar. |
Acton Sand and Gravel 960 Main St. (Rt. 27) Acton, 01720 978-263-4770 |
Construction and Demolition Debris When renovating your home there are only two places for construction and demolition debris to go: to a landfill or to a construction and demolition debris recycling facility. When doing work on your home be sure to ask the contractor to send materials to a recycling facility instead of a landfill. For more information see: Roofing Shingles |
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Egg Cartons Egg cartons may be taken to a local farm that raises chickens and sells eggs. Styrofoam egg cartons may be recycled at spring and fall drop-off days. |
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Electronics Electronics frequently contain valuable precious metals in their circuit board and other recyclable materials. Old and no longer working electronics may be recycled at Concord’s spring and fall drop-off day. (See Computers above for information on computer recycling). |
Spring and fall Drop-off Days Concord Public Works
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Eye Glasses Old eyeglasses are collected for reuse by needy individuals. Eyeglasses are cleaned, repaired and measured to determine the correction. Available glasses are cataloged in a computer database, and matched to people with need. Many of the glasses are sent to other countries, as laws in the USA make it difficult to re-dispense a prescription product.
The Lions Club operates the largest program, collecting glasses from thousands of opticians and drop-off locations. There are a number of locations in Concord where glasses may be donated. |
Eyeglass recycling boxes Concord Post Offices Community Bank Harvey Wheeler Community Center Middlesex Bank Town House West Concord Pharamcy
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Fire Extinguishers Fire extinguishers should be checked every six years to be sure they are still fully charged and working properly. Fire extinguishes should not be placed inside a trash truck or incinerator because of the great pressure they are under. Old and no longer working fire extinguishers may be recycled by dropping them off at either of Concord's fire stations. AC&E Fire Extinguisher Company will remove and
reuse the chemicals inside and recycle the metal canister. Fire extinguishers may be taken to West Concord Five & Dime and Vanderhoof's for maintenance or to be recharged. |
Recharge Vanderhoof's Main Street, Concord Center West Concord Five & Dime Commonwealth Ave Disposal Concord Fire Department West Concord Fire Station Drop-off Days |
Flower Pots (plastic) Clean plastic flower pots may be recycled at spring and fall Drop-off Days. Please clean first. |
Spring and Fall Drop-off Days |
Flower Vases If you receive flowers from a local shop and don’t need any more vases, rinse the vase and return it to the flower shop for reuse. |
Local Flower Shop |
Fluorescent Bulbs Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and should not be disposed of with your regular trash. Residents may recycle straight, U, round, and compact fluorescent bulbs may be recycled at the locations listed to the right. Business should contact Concord Public Works or the Massachusetts DEP for information on regulations that ban the disposal of fluorescent bulbs from the regular waste stream, and disposal options. |
Concord Public Works Weekdays 8:30 - 4:30 West Concord 5 & 10 Daily
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Furniture - see Clothing above. |
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Metal Items Metal items such as keys, nails, old pots, old folding chairs, aluminum lawn furniture, as well as appliances may be recycled at Concord’s spring and fall drop-off days. |
Spring and fall Drop-off Day Concord Public Works
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Moving Boxes - (see Cardboard above) |
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Paint and Related Products Paint and related products may be recycled at Concord’s Paint shed. Limitations apply. See Paint Recycling |
Paint Shed Composting Site Walden Street Saturdays, 9-3, April - Oct. |
Plastic Bags There is a very strong market for plastic bags for reuse in plastic lumber. Recyclable bags include plastic shopping and grocery bags, produce bags, dry cleaner bags, newspaper bags, sandwich bags, bread bags, and any other plastic bag or film that is marked with a 2 or 4. These bags are always a little stretchy. If the bag has no "give" it should not be recycled. |
Stop & Shop Roche Bros. Shaw's (Star Market) Whole Foods
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Printer Cartridges Many printer cartridges can be sent back to their manufacturer to be refurbished and refilled for reuse. Check the packaging to see if it includes cartridge return information. If it does not, look for a local remanufacturer. Frequently they will send you a shipping label that will allow you to send the cartridge to them at no cost.
Purchasing remanufactured printer cartridges both saves money and reduces waste. Next time you need a printer cartridge consider purchasing a remanufactured one. |
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Propane Tanks Most places that sell propane tanks will take them back. Some places will accept propane tanks for a fee. In Concord propane tanks may be taken to Concord Lumber for a $5 fee. Propane tanks may also be brought to the spring and fall Drop-off days for a fee. |
Concord Lumber Lowell Road Spring and Fall Drop-off Days |
Reusable Building Materials The Building Material Resource Center collects reusable building materials, such as flooring, cabinets, kitchen and bath fixtures and materials, doors and windows (no lead paint) electrical equipment, full sheet plywood, gypsum board, 6'+ lumber, and any other reusable materials. Materials are made available to low income families and non-profit organizations at
a nominal cost. |
Building Materials Resource Center 100 Terrace Street Roxbury, MA 02120 617-442-8917 |
Smoke Detectors The most common type of smoke detector contains a small amount of Americium 241, a radioactive material. For this reason all detectors must, by law, be labeled as to radioactive content. It is legal to disposal of old smoke detectors in landfills or incinerators, or you may return them to the manufacturer for disposal. Detector companies accept returned radioactive detectors for disposal as hazardous waste.
Detectors have a limited life span, usually specified at ten years. Testing your detector with actual smoke is the only way to be sure it will work when needed. For more information call 800-323-9005 or 800-387-4219
The vast majority of smoke detectors are made by First Alert Corporation. Look on the back for an address. Any manufactured in Aurora IL may be sent back to First Alert. |
First Alert Radioactive Waste Disposal 780 McClure Road Aurora, IL 60504-2495 Send detectors by surface mail or UPS Ground so they don't end up in an airplane.
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Styrofoam Packaging Peanuts Styrofoam Packaging peanuts may be taken to a packaging store such as Mail Boxes Etc. or other business that ships products for reuse. Styrofoam cups, trays, egg cartons, block, etc. Most packaging stores are not interested in Styrofoam block or other packaging materials. Other forms of Styrofoam may be recycled at Concord's spring and fall Drop-off days. You may bring these to the Compost Center on Saturday, January 5th or Saturday, January 12 between 9 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. |
Packaging Peanuts Mail Boxes Etc Thoreau Street Cups, trays, block, etc. Drop-off Day Concord Public Works |
Thermometers - (silver fever thermometers) Mercury fever thermometers (the silver ones) contain a significant amount of mercury that should not end up in a landfill, incinerator, or wastewater. Recycle working and broken thermometers at Concord Public Works. Please place thermometers in sealed plastic bag or other secure container. |
Concord Public Works 133 Keyes Road Weekdays, 8:30 - 4:30
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Thermostats Older household thermostats use mercury to regulate the heat in your home. If you are replacing your old thermostat do not throw it out with your trash. Thermostats can be recycled at Concord Public Works or the Concord Building Department. |
Concord Public Works 133 Keyes Road Concord Building Dept. 141 Keyes
Road Weekdays, 8:30 - 4:30 |
Tires |
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Tyvek Mailing Envelopes Tyvek mailing envelopes are made from #2 plastic and although they are not collected at curbside, you can mail them back to DuPont for recycling. Put them inside a used Tyvek envelop, put on a new label and send to Dupont.
How to distinguish Tyvek envelopes from paper: Tyvek envelopes are as thin as paper, usually white, with a soapy smooth ricepaper like finish. You can tell they are not paper because they are almost completely indistructable. Often the envelope will say Tyvek or #2 plastic, but not always. |
Dupont Terry Fife- Tyvek® Recycling Specialist 5401 Jefferson Davis Highway Spot 197 - Room 231 Richmond, VA 23234 1-800-44-Tyvek
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Wood Recycling Wood products that contain no paint, stain, varnish, or other finish can be recycled as mulch. Only a limited number of wood products meet this criteria: miscelanious pieces of lumber (no plywood or pressure treated wood), pallets, crates, etc. Also acceptable are branches, tree limbs, tree stumps, etc. Nails and screws are ok but no larger pieces of metal or non-wood materials. |
Marabello Nursery Farm Recycling and Composting 874Barrett's Mill Road Concord 978-369-6620
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Wrapping Paper Some curbside recycling programs (including the town’s municipal collection program) accept paper wrapping paper for recycling, ask your hauler. Be sure to remove all ribbons, bows, Mylar, cellophane, and foil coated papers before recycling. |
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Links to sites for additional information: |
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