Recycling: Recycling Tips
Introduction
The Recycling Department is funded by a user fee at the landfill, and by the sale of commodities. No tax dollars are used.
- Recycling creates jobs and strengthens the economy.
- Recycling saves energy.
- Recycling prevents soil, water, and air pollution, including greenhouse gases.
- Recycling conserves our natural resources.
- Recycling extends the lives of existing landfills and reduces the need for new landfills.
Recyclables
| Type | Location |
|---|
| plastic (all numbers) | Shawnee County Recycling bins (no styrofoam or plastic bags of any kind) |
|---|---|
| plastic grocery bags | Salvation Army, Let’s Help, Dillons, Walmart |
| newspaper bags | trash or your paper carrier, Walmart |
| styro-foam peanuts | FED-EX, UPS Store |
| styro-foam molded | Trash |
Check the bottom of the container, there should be a triangle with a number in the center. Shawnee County accepts all numbers. No plastic bags or styrofoam.
| aluminum | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
|---|---|
| tin | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
| newsprint with inserts | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
|---|---|
| magazines/catalogs | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
| office paper | CALL Shawnee County Recycling |
| corrugated | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
|---|---|
| cereal & cracker boxes | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
| brown paper sacks | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
| colored | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
|---|---|
| clear | Shawnee County Recycling bins |
Remember to rinse all food and beverage containers before recycling.
| refrigerators | Shawnee County Refuse (to remove freon & recycle) |
|---|---|
| washers & dryers | Langley Recycling, Advantage |
| stoves | Langley Recycling, Advantage |
Several appliance stores will remove these items for you at the time of delivery for an extra fee.
| PVC pipe | trash |
|---|---|
| lawn furniture | trash |
| shower inserts | trash |
| ceiling tiles | trash |
| Paint cans | household hazardous waste facility |
| medications | contact shawnee county household hazardous waste facility |
Medical (sharps) wastes require special handling: Call the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal at 1-800-643-1643. You can also call the Center for Disease Control’s Office of Public Inquiry at 1-800-311-3435 (ext #2). It’s also a good idea to check with your local pharmacy for additional information.
Composting
Composting is a very useful way to increase the yield of your vegetable and flower gardens. Items, which can be safely composted, include:
- grass clippings
- leaves
- small tree limbs
- vegetable & fruit peelings
- coffee grounds
- shredded paper
- straw or hay bales
Animal fats can be composted; however, they may tend to attract rodents to your yard.
When composting, dirt should be added to your pile to keep odors down and aid in breaking down the vegetable matter. Turn every two weeks or so, and keep it moist. The Shawnee County Recycling Department provides one free compost bin to residents of the county to help them get started. Call 233-6147 for more information.
Household Hazardous Waste
The Shawnee County Recycling Department operates a Household Hazardous Waste collection facility located at 131 NE 46th St. to help keep hazardous wastes out of our landfills, streams, and ground water. Call (785) 286-4381 or 233-6147 if you have any questions or doubts about what can be safely thrown away. The facility is open the first Saturday of every month except January and July. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon rain or shine. You can also call them anytime for an appointment that best fits your schedule to drop off HHW items.
Be sure to dispose of trash properly, and safely to insure the safety of our children, and grand children.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Remember: reduce, reuse, recycle.