RECYCLING
PAY IT FORWARD
Taking care of our planet for the next generations by keeping as much out of the landfills as possible.
RECYCLE it at the curbside or other recycling centers
REUSE/DONATE at thrift stores (Pennies for Change, Durham Rescue Mission, Habitat ReStore, other thrift stores in the area)
REPURPOSE at home or Scrap Exchange or Habitat ReStore
Unsure of what to do with an item? Contact the Recycling Group Chair for assistance. If she doesn't have an answer, she will research to find the best environmentally responsible way to dispose of it. In addition, she makes trips to different recycling locations when she has a carload. If you are unable to take the item yourself, she may be able to add it to her carload.
YOUR INPUT IS MOST HELPFUL! If you have found a place to recycle or repurpose items, please let the Recycling Group Chair know and she will share it on this website!!! Email:
SAFE_DISPOSAL of UNUSED MEDICATIONS
Accepted at:
Walgreens
6405 Fayetteville Rd. Durham
(NE corner of Fayetteville & HWY 54). Open 24 hrs.
DROP BOX inside located by the pharmacy
| ACCEPTED | NOT ACCEPTED |
|
prescription medications ointments patches over-the-counter meds lotions liquids pet meds vitamins inhalers |
needles thermometers hydrogen peroxide illegal drugs |
SAY_NO_TO_PLASTIC!!!
Some simple ways to use less plastic & help reduce the mounting plastic pollution everywhere --particularly in the oceans worldwide.
| USE | AVOID |
|
USE LAUNDRY STRIPS! Eco-Friendly, PLASTIC-FREE. |
Plastic JUGS! |
| Paper or reusable metal straws | plastic straws |
|
Reusable stainless/glass water bottle |
single use plastic bottle |
| Glass containers | sandwich/snack bags |
| Reusable utensils | Plastic utensils |
| Metal razor | Plastic razor |
| Metal/wire hangers | Plastic hangers |
|
Reusable shopping bag |
Plastic bags |
CURBSIDE REMINDER
- Put recyclables in the curbside bin LOOSE!!! -- NOT in a large plastic garbage bag. The bag will jam the machinery so they will remove the whole bag and put it in the trash/landfill.
- May put plastic caps back on plastic containers. BEST TO CRUSH BOTTLE FIRST.
- Not sure if an item goes in bin? Google search 'Durham Recycle Guidelines'. The Waste Wizard has been updated with more detailed information. Orange County (Chapel Hill) recycle guidelines are also very good.
A SPECIAL RECYCLE PROGRAM
NORDSTROM/NORDSTROM RACK: Nordstrom Beautycycle --
- DO accept: all kinds & brands of beauty & skincare product packaging -- bottles & caps, various tubes & caps, compacts, pump caps, hairspray triggers (not aerosol), lipstick cases, eyeliner pencils.
- Do NOT accept: aerosol or pressurized cans, electronic items like hair dryers, bottles from perfume-nail polish or remover, wooden eyeliner pencils, any biomedical or biohazard waste, or partially full packaging.
Dropoff boxes in beauty section of Nordstrom (Southpoint Mall) or Nordstrom Rack (Renaissance Center - across from Mall). For more details, see: https://www.nordstrom.com/browse/nordstrom-cares/get-involved/nordstrom-beauty-cycle
ONGOING RECYCLING EFFORTS
- APPLIANCES (small or large, NON-WORKING) & OTHER ITEMS WITH A PLUG - plus much more - such as glass, bikes, plastic toys, plastic or metal lawn or office furniture, lawn equipment, car seats.
- Anything with a Plug Recycling – Raleigh. 919-610-3465 - Website: (www.anythingwithaplugrecycling.com)
- 10131 Division Dr Raleigh.
- If you have a large broken item with a plug, e.g. refrigerator, call their number for possible pickup. Ask for Dennis and tell him Deane sent you.
- NOTE: If you have any small non-working appliances, e.g. vacuum/blow dryer/coffee maker, etc, or any other small items this center accepts) -- contact the Recycling group chair. She takes and delivers items when she has a carload. Read more about this center below under "Computers, Laptops, etc."
- Anything with a Plug Recycling – Raleigh. 919-610-3465 - Website: (www.anythingwithaplugrecycling.com)
- BATTERIES
- RECHARGABLE ONLY (NO SINGLE USE) - (e.g. vehicle, camcorder, cell phone, etc.). May drop off at Batteries Plus Bulbs, Lowe's Home Improvement, Home Depot, Staples
- SINGLE USE - A, C, D, 9V - Take to Durham Co. Waste Disposal & Recycling, 2115 W. Club Blvd. Website: (https://durhamnc.gov/878/Waste-Disposal-Recycling-Center) or Anything with a Plug (see link above under Appliances).
- CANDY & SNACK WRAPPERS - See SUBARU PROGRAM under SPECIAL RECYCLING PROGRAMS
- COFFEE or CREAMER CAPSULES - See SUBARU PROGRAM under SPECIAL RECYCLING PROGRAMS
- COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS, TABLETS,TOWERS, MONITORS, ETC
- Kramden Institute – Durham. 919-293-1133 - Website: (www.kramden.org).
- 5010 NC 55, Durham.
- They refurbish computers & laptops for K-12 students and low income adults, and accept most e-waste items. They offer technology tools & education to help people thrive in this digital world. Please refer to their website for more information.
- 5010 NC 55, Durham.
- Best Buy (google search - 'Best Buy recycling')
- They take all kinds of used tech/e-waste regardless of where you purchased it or how old it is. May charge for some items.
- Triangle Ecycling - 919-414-3041 - Website: (http://triangleecycling.com)
- 2717 Western ByPass. Durham.
- They take most e-waste and refurbish computers for students. Refer to their website for a complete list under "INDIVIDUALS" tab
- Anything with a Plug Recycling – Raleigh. 919-610-3465 - Website: (www.anythingwithaplugrecycling.com)
- 10131 Division Dr Raleigh.
- This recycle center takes most e-waste and almost anything else EXCEPT tube type TVs or monitors, light bulbs, smoke alarms. Refer to website for "What We DO Take" and "What We DON'T Take" lists.
- NOTE: If you have any small non-working appliances, e.g. vacuum/blow dryer/coffee maker, etc, or any other small items this center accepts) -- contact the Recycling group chair. She takes and delivers items when she has a carload. Read more about this center above under "Appliances".
- Kramden Institute – Durham. 919-293-1133 - Website: (www.kramden.org).
- DISPOSABLE CUPS, LIDS, & STRAWS - See SUBARU PROGRAM under SPECIAL RECYCLING PROGRAMS
- INK CARTRIDGES - Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy
- LIGHT BULBS -
- Lowes & Home Depot - Compact florescent (CFL) only!
- Batteries Plus Bulbs – Long fluorescent (2' & 4') for a small recycling charge of $0.62/tube.
- Durham Waste Disposal & Recycling - all florescent bulbs, compact & long. NOTE: Incandescent light bulbs go in the trash as per Durham Recycling Guidelines/Waste Wizard.
- Lowes & Home Depot - Compact florescent (CFL) only!
- PACKAGING PEANUTS – NOT recyclable - keep for packaging or offer to packaging stores. Packaging Express in Woodcroft Shopping Center.
- PLASTIC BAGS - RECYCLE DEPOSIT BIN AT STORE - Website: (www.nextrex.com). Did you know you can put more than just plastic grocery bags in the recycling bin at the store??? . Other CLEAN & DRY soft plastics that can be placed in with these bags are:
- bread/bagel bags & produce bags
- product over-wrap on paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, diapers etc.
- bubble wrap & packing air pillows - puncture to let air out
- plastic retail bags – remove plastic handle & strings
- clean dry food storage like sandwich baggies
- cereal box liner if doesn’t tear like paper
- newspaper sleeves
- dry cleaning bags
- ice bags, #2, #4 heavier bags like bird seed bags – remove any metal closures
- wood pellet & salt bags
- plastic wrap around on new furniture
- PLASTIC PLANT POTS, TRAYS, TAGS - Home Depot Garden Center & Lowes Garden Center - Return to the garden center cashier
- STYROFOAM – WHITE BLOCK PIECES ONLY - Shimar Recycling - Website: (www.shimar.com)
- 938 Harvest St Durham
- No food containers or egg cartons. Pay $5 for a huge bin full. Take yours and put in their bins.
- STYROFOAM – Egg Cartons, takeout trays, cups - Publix Grocery - Website: (www.publix.com)
- CLEAN foam egg cartons, clean take-out trays, and clean cups.
- Bins in front of stores for these foam items
- TEXTILES - unusable clothing, shoes, belts, rags, linens, towels, +++.
- Drop off at City's Waste Disposal & Recycling, 2115 E. Club Blvd, Durham.
- This is a PDF of information including a list of accepted textiles - DurhamDebutsFreeTextileRecyclingDrop-OffLocation.pdf
- Drop off at City's Waste Disposal & Recycling, 2115 E. Club Blvd, Durham.
REUSING / REPURPOSING
SCRAP EXCHANGE – In Lakewood Shopping Center. (https://scrapexchange.org) Hours: Tue - Sat 11am - 6pm
- ONE CARLOAD drop-off - Appt needed Tue-Thu. Make appt on website. No appointment needed Fri-Sat.
- They take many items that cannot be recycled but are very useful for teachers, crafters and others for numerous projects.
- They now have a Thrift Shop so you can make one stop.
- Refer to their website for a long list of items to keep out of the landfills that they gladly repurpose.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE – (https://www.trianglerestores.org) NOTE: THEY TAKE MATTRESSES TOO!
- They take gently used furniture, building materials, cabinets, appliances less than 10 years old, electronics in working condition and much more. They will pick up large items. Refer to their website 'under DONATE' for information about more items and pick up policy.