Oddball recycling

After realizing that teachers and students were fully willing to recycle paper and plastic when given the opportunity, I figured it was time to give everyone the opportunity to recycle other stuff, as well. So, knowing of several mail-away places that would take them and give us money in return, I began an ink-cartridge/cell phone recycling box in the main office at Aragon. I also threw in batteries, because I knew of many places where I could properly dispose of them.

The program was so successful that I was emptying my humble shoebox two-three times a week. It seems that teachers had been storing up their cartridges and batteries just waiting for something to do with them. I was reading a newsletter from RecycleWorks (the county advocacy group) that gave addresses of places that take overhead transparencies and CDs/floppy disks. So, I put up a box for those, too. The only problem is that we don't get paid for the latter items, so we have to pay out of pocket for shipping (one of the reasons the EIC needs money). In all, everything has been a huge success this school year, and even parents will occasionally bring stuff in.

Here is whom I use for our various disposal needs:

Ink cartridges/cell phones: BCS Recycling--contact Larry (They seem to pay more than the plethora of companies I've looked into, plus, they will recycle cartridges that they don't pay you for instead of just refusing them. They don't take toner, though).

Overhead transparencies: send with no paper and your name/organization to:

3M Recycle Program c/o Gemark
99 Stevens Lane
Exeter, PA 18643

CDs and floppy disks: send to (check to make sure they will take from out of the Bay Area):

Alameda County Computer Resource Center
1501 Eastshore Hwy., Berkeley, CA 94710
510.528.4052