While you are spring cleaning, recycle and donate your discarded stuff rather than throwing it in the trash. Here are some excellent local resources to help you find approved disposal facilities for special and hazardous waste.
Recycling Information Resources
- Check out the Berks County Recycling Center here for great information: www.co.berks.pa.us/dept/swa/recycle/pages/default.aspx
- Set up a recycling station in your kitchen, laundry room or garage for paper (newspapers, magazines and office paper/junk mail), metal cans and plastic bottles.
- Check your township’s website; many townships collect everything from old medicines to used motor oil.
Reduce What Goes Into Landfills
- Switch from paper to cloth napkins.
- Reduce paper waste by getting off catalog lists and reading newspapers and magazines online.
- Compost your grass clippings this summer and/or buy a mulching mower so that you do not bag your clippings.
Green Up Your Cleaning Supplies
- Replace strong chemical cleaners with natural substitutes where possible. Here are some ones you can make easily at home: realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/all-natural-cleaning-solutions?swaNav=%7C35090%7C
Dispose of Special and Hazardous Waste Safely
- Here is a good place to get information about multiple types of special and hazardous wastes including appliances, vehicles and leftover paint: www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/SWA/Pages/DisposalofSpecialWastes.aspx
- Spring clean your garage of extra paint, fuels and solvents and dispose of all of them in one drop-off to an approved site.
- Invite your neighbors to collect their hazardous waste at the same time and combine your load into one drop-off trip to the waste facility.
Rachel M. Gambone is a trained organizer who loves to share tips and strategies to help you organize your life.
