talkin - Thurston County

talkin‘
TRASH
...and more
Visit us at www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm
Tips for Keeping Thurston County Healthy, Fall/Winter 2007
Curbside Recycling Skyrockets Under New Program
We’re rolling out good news about the
new curbside recycling program! More
households are recycling, and a greater
volume of materials are being placed in the
bins. A preliminary comparison between
May 2006 and May 2007 shows that
LeMay Enterprises is collecting 40 percent
more recyclables with the new comingled
curbside program. We’ll have more data as
the program continues.
If your glass was set out on the correct day
and was not collected, please contact your
hauler promptly. To learn about collection
schedules, visit www.lemayinc.com,
then select your city, click on “recycling”
and choose “recycle and glass pick-up
schedule.” You may also call your hauler
directly. Phone numbers are on page 7.
The process was smoother than anticipated
thanks to residents’ dedication and support.
Of the 47,379 customers, only 1,501
requested smaller containers and 219 chose
not to participate. We appreciate your
patience during the transition.
Haulers are finding non-recyclables
– or “contaminants” – in the new recycle
bins. The haulers need to sort out the
contaminants and throw them away, which
may increase program costs and reduce the
commodity credit customers receive on their
bills. (The commodity credit is the recycling
rebate based on how much material
curbside customers recycle as a whole.)
Please take time to share your thoughts by
completing a customer satisfaction survey
that will arrive in your October/November
bill. (Rural Refuse customers will get a
separate mailing.)
About glass...
You may have noticed that glass is not
always collected along with the other
recyclables. That’s because glass is collected
every other recycle day. Glass makes up only
a small portion of the recycled material, and
therefore gets picked up once every four
weeks.
Recycle right
 No trash should go in the bins. Please
take care to put garbage in the right bin.
The green bin with the beige lid is for
recycling only.
For more instructions, review the brochure
that came with your cart, dig out the Spring
2007 edition of Talkin’ Trash, or call your
hauler. A printable version of the “yes and
no” list is also available on www.lemayinc.
com/Thurston/Thurston_doanddont.html.
LeMay will put a reminder notice on bins
that contain improper materials, and
may choose to discontinue service if the
problems persist. The vehicles are fitted with
cameras, so drivers can see materials as they
are emptied into the trucks.
Much of the contamination is simply caused
by honest mistakes. A few gentle reminders:
 Do not place recyclables in any type
of bag – paper or plastic. All materials
should be loose when placed in the bin.
The exception is shredded paper, which
should be put in a paper bag. See “Since
You Asked” on page 2.
 Plastic dairy tubs, yogurt cups, jugs, jars,
and bottles are recyclable; other plastics,
such as frozen food trays, are not. See
“Those Pesky Plastics” on page 2.
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WHERE RECYCLABLES GO: Materials collected from the curbside recycling programs in
Thurston County are transported to SP Newsprint, a recycling plant in Tacoma, where the
items are sorted and processed for sale. Processing typically includes flattening aluminum
cans; perforating plastic bottles; crushing glass bottles; and baling newspaper and other
items to be transported. Once processed, the materials are sold directly to specialty
recyclers, including huge paper mills, carpet mills, and steel and aluminum smelters.
Left to right: Sarah Hendrickson and Emma OckertAxelsson prepare recycle bins.
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
OLYMPIA WA
PERMIT NO 167
Produced by:
Thurston County Department of
Water and Waste Management
929 Lakeridge Dr. S.W.
Olympia, WA 98502-6045
Printed on recycled-content paper
ECRWSS
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
Since You Asked!
Those Pesky Plastics!
...why must they be so complicated?
A plastic milk jug and a plastic grocery bag
both have the number “2” on the bottom.
The milk jug can be recycled in your curbside
bin, so the bag can go in the bin too. Right?
Wrong.
Huh?
Where can I recycle a TV?
TVs are accepted at Community Recycle
Days for $10 each (see “Coming Soon”
on the back page). You may also recycle
your TV at the Thurston County Waste
and Recovery Center on Hogum Bay
Road; however, you’ll be charged the
regular garbage rate (see page 7) plus a $5
handling fee for each TV.
Is shredded paper recyclable?
Yes, provided the paper is shredded into
strips and placed in a paper bag so it
doesn’t blow around and cause litter.
Confetti and diamond-cut paper cannot
be recycled; however, the paper makes a
great addition to compost bins.
If you’re thinking about purchasing a
shredder, please select a model that
creates strips. Many banks are also placing
secure recycle bins in their lobbies.
Here’s a bewildering fact: Although two
plastic items may share the same number on
the bottom, both aren’t equally recyclable.
Contrary to popular belief, the “chasing
arrows” marker on the bottom of plastics
does not mean the plastic can be recycled,
or that the container is made from recycled
materials. The number just indicates the type
of plastic used in the manufacturing process.
Even though a cup, bag, or tray has the
same #1 or #2 resin code on the bottom,
they may have been manufactured using
a different grade of the resin. Also, items
molded with different techniques cool and
melt at different temperatures. This creates
a gloppy mess when recyclers try to make
new products out of the recovered plastic.
As a result, plastic of mixed resin grades can
only be recycled into lower-grade products,
like plastic railroad ties and park benches. In
order to be recycled back into new plastic
bottles and tubs, recycling processors must
keep the resin grades separate.
As the number of plastic containers in the
marketplace multiplied, recycling plants
adjusted their processes so they could
accept dairy tubs and yogurt cups along
with plastic bottles; however, they are still
unable to accept additional types of plastic
containers such as drink cups, microwave
and deli trays, clamshell containers, and
‘blister packs’ that contain toys and
electronics.
Hopefully, more plastic products will be
recyclable in the future. But for now, please
recycle plastic dairy tubs, yogurt cups, jugs,
jars, and bottles only and toss anything that
isn’t allowed (or better yet, find another use
for it). Placing non-accepted plastics into
the bin increases the cost of the recycling
program and lowers the commodity credit
curbside customers receive on their bills.
Keeping out unwanted materials is equally
as important to the success of our recycling
program as putting in the good stuff.
Thanks for your help!
NOT EQUALLY RECYCLABLE
I need to dispose of a dishwasher, an
oven/stove, a dryer, and a hot water
tank. Where should I take them?
Everything but the dishwasher can go to
Community Recycle Days in September
(see “Coming Soon” on the back page for
details and costs). Jaco Environmental in
Snohomish collects appliances for a fee.
Visit www.jacoinc.net or call 800-4145072. Welch’s Bargain Center in Lacey will
accept appliances at rates ranging from
$5 to $15 each. Call 352-7552 for more
information.
Your Web site says you take propane
tanks at HazoHouse, but does the tank
need to be empty?
HazoHouse accepts propane tanks from
5 to 10 gallons for free, as well as the
smaller style used for camping. The
tanks can be full, empty, or leaking, with
or without a valve. Propane tanks are
also accepted for free as scrap metal at
Community Recycle Days; however, the
vendor requires the tanks to be de-valved.
Can you tell me if pressboard is
recyclable?
Unpainted pressboard can be taken to the
Yard Debris Site at the Thurston County
Waste and Recovery Center on Hogum
Bay Road. Yard waste rates are lower than
regular garbage rates, so tell the tollbooth
attendant that you are disposing of yard
waste. If the pressboard is painted, then
you’ll have to dispose of it as garbage.
Where can I dispose of drywall?
Silver Springs Organics in Rainier accepts
drywall. For hours and directions, visit
www.silverspringsorganics.com or call
446-SOIL (7645).
2
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PLASTICS INDUSTRY ASKED TO CHANGE CODE: The plastics industry says it never intended the
“chasing arrows” symbol to indicate that a container was recyclable or had recycled content,
but simply used it as a catchy graphic to highlight the identifying number. The California
Resource Recovery Association and other groups have asked plastic container manufacturers
to change the graphic since it is misleading.
Schools Turn Food to Flowers
This fall, three local elementary schools
will turn food waste into compost in
a new pilot program called “Food to
Flowers.” Roosevelt, Boston Harbor and
Garfield elementary schools were chosen
for the program based on a survey of 41
elementary schools.
The process is simple: Students and staff
will separate their uneaten food and soiled
paper (such as napkins) from their garbage
and place the materials in designated bins.
The food and paper will then be placed
outside in a large “Earth Tub,” which is
capable of holding up to 150 pounds of
material each day. Over time, the Earth Tub
will process the waste into compost. The
compost will then be used to grow food in
school gardens, closing the recycling loop.
By composting food and soiled paper waste,
the three schools are expected to reduce the
weight of their kitchen and cafeteria waste
by about 75 percent. Less garbage weight
could mean lower trash bills for the school
district.
For more information or to volunteer with
the project, contact Michelle Andrews at
[email protected]. Food to
Flowers is paid for in part by a Department
of Ecology grant.
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DIRTFILL: If you need dirt for a project...sign up on DirtFill.com. The Web site matches
residents, businesses and contractors who want dirtfill with contractors who need to dispose
of dirt. (Residents get one free listing; contractors pay a fee to subscribe.) In the listing,
residents state whether they want free dirtfill or are willing to pay for it. Contractors then
contact them to make arrangements. The toll-free number is 888-DIRTFILL (888-347-8345).
New Opportunity for Organics
Now Thurston County residents have yet
another place to take yard debris and other
organic wastes: Silver Springs Organics in
Rainier.
Silver Springs Organics is a new, fully
permitted, commercial composting facility
that offers low-cost recycling of organic
wastes. Among other things, the facility
accepts yard waste, wood waste, drywall,
pre/post-consumer food waste, agricultural
waste, and land clearing debris including
stumps of any size. Basic rates are:
Yard waste: $26.00-33.50/ton*
Wood waste: $19.00-44.00/ton*
Farm waste: $25.00-38.00/ton*
Food waste: Call to inquire
*Fees range by substance and quantity.
Residents may drop off organic wastes
directly at Silver Springs. Mid- to large-scale
waste generators can arrange for dumpster
service. Examples include coffee stands,
restaurants, and florists.
The finished compost meets or exceeds state
and federal standards, and is available for
purchase in bulk.
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Silver Springs Organics in Rainier
The opening of Silver Springs is an exciting
new development for recycling efforts in
Thurston County. South county residents
now have an organics recycling facility in
their own back yard. Plus, Silver Springs is
currently the only location that takes food
waste.
For more information, contact Silver Springs
Organics directly at 446-SOIL (7645) or visit
www.silverspringsorganics.com.
As always, you may take yard debris to the
Waste and Recovery Center near Hawks
Prairie and, in most areas, sign up for
curbside yard waste service (see page 7).
Bill McTurnal Enterprises near Kamilche/
Shelton also accepts sod and grass
clippings, call 866-4594.
MANURE AND SPOILED FEED: An average 1,000-pound horse produces 9 tons of manure a
year (50 pounds per day) containing valuable fertilizer elements. If you need to get rid of
horse manure, take a drive to Silver Springs Organics in Rainier. The facility accepts horse stall
waste (manure and bedding), and spoiled feed (hay, grain, silage). Silver Springs also accepts
cow, chicken, goat and sheep manure (no liquid, cat or dog waste). Your nnneeeeeigh-bors
will thank you. Tipping fees apply. Read above for contact and pricing information.
More Places Take Computers
Staples is now accepting all brands of
used computers, monitors, laptops,
printers, faxes and all-in-ones for recycling,
regardless of whether the items were
purchased at Staples. The fee is $10 each.
Greengeek is located at 808 Jefferson Street
S.E., next to the Olympia Post Office, and
is open Thursdays and Saturdays from
1 p.m. until 7 p.m. for recycling drop-off or
purchases.
Staples also accepts smaller computer
peripherals, such as keyboards and mice,
free of charge. Ink and toner cartridges,
cell phones, PDAs and rechargeable
batteries are also accepted free at Staples.
TVs and large floor-model copiers are not
accepted.
Volunteers are able to respond faster to
e-mails than to phone calls. The e-mail
address is [email protected]. The phone
number is 352-5172.
Greengeek, a charitable computer reuse
organization in Olympia, accepts all
computer equipment, including: monitors,
printers, desktop and laptop computers,
scanners, keyboards, mice, hard drives, and
cards. The equipment does not need to be
in working condition.
Separate Glass
at Blue Boxes
Greengeek has an excess of monitors, and
is giving away tested 15” and 17” monitors
while supplies last. Please e-mail to make
arrangements.
For a full list of other locations, visit the
recycling link of www.co.thurston.wa.us/
wwm and select “Where Should I Recycle
My...?”
Monetary donations are appreciated
for recycling items, and are required for
printers ($5) and monitors ($10). Visit
greengeek.org for more information.
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ANALOG TVs: Starting in 2009, federal law will require all TV stations to start broadcasting
only in digital. That means tens of millions of old analog TVs in the U.S. will need to be
hooked to a cable or satellite box, or fitted with a special converter, to display the new
signals. As a result, many people will end up disposing of these older analog TVs because
they won’t be compatible with the new technology. (Hint: Before purchasing a new TV, visit
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvlabels_largeprint.pdf.)
Keith Eisner recycles glass at the blue box site off
Mottman Road in Tumwater.
Glass is now an “outsider” at Thurston
County blue boxes. Plastics, tin and
aluminum are mixed together in the
same box, but glass now belongs in
a separate blue box – much like the
curbside recycling program.
The blue bins have also been freshly
painted and new signs added. Please
look carefully at the signs for instructions.
You’ll find information on how to recycle
materials and a phone number to call to
report full bins or litter.
In most cases, private businesses
provide space for recycle boxes as a
courtesy to residents. Unfortunately,
several businesses have dropped out
of the program due to litter and illegal
dumping. Please keep the bin areas
clean.
Good for You!
Last May, Thurston County residents
delivered a whopping 218 tons of
material to Community Recycle Days at
the Thurston County Fairgrounds and
South Sound Speedway. That’s 436,000
pounds of computers, monitors, tires,
scrap metal, appliances and other items
that will be recycled or reused instead of
ending up in a landfill. The fairgrounds
event drew a recordbreaking 1,536
customers; all told,
2,000 customers
attended the events.
Just one month
later, citizens
delivered 14.84 tons
(29,680 pounds)
of household
hazardous materials
to the WasteMobile
in Rochester
and Rainier. Items included motor
oil, antifreeze, flammable liquids,
pesticides, oil-based paints, acids and
other chemicals that could harm family
members, pets or the environment.
Join us again at the next Community
Recycle Days and WasteMobile events.
See “Coming Soon” on the back page
for details.
3
Long, Winding
Road of Trash
True or false: All garbage in Thurston
County is buried at the Hawks Prairie
Landfill.
The answer is false. Did we take you
by surprise? If so, you’re not alone. For
decades, Thurston County used to bury
garbage at what was then known as the
Hawks Prairie Landfill. In 2000, however,
Thurston County ended its landfilling
operations and capped the last remaining
garbage cells. Today, all the garbage in
Thurston County still goes to the Hawks
Prairie site, renamed the Waste and
Recovery Center. The garbage, however,
only remains there a few hours before
traveling to a regional landfill 250 miles
away.
1
Hazardous Waste: Play it Safe
Thurston County offers two convenient
ways to safely dispose of dangerous
household products, such as varnishes,
cleaning supplies, pesticides and auto
chemicals. Products that say DANGER,
WARNING, or CAUTION are accepted
at HazoHouse and the WasteMobile
free of charge. Please play it safe while
transporting the products:
 Leave children and pets at home. If
you must bring them, be sure to keep
hazardous materials out of reach,
preferably in a trunk.
 Keep products in their original
containers. If the label is unreadable or
missing, label it.
 Do not deliver containers larger than 5
gallons. For questions about handling
larger containers, call the county
Hazardous Waste Assistance Line at
786-5457.
 Never mix products together. Dangerous
gases can form when products are
mixed – especially bleach and ammonia.
 Pack fluorescent tubes in their original
containers, or wrap the tubes in
newspaper or plastic to prevent them
from breaking. Broken fluorescent tubes
release a small amount of mercury gas. If
the tubes break, open the windows and
ventilate well. Carefully sweep up the
glass (do not vacuum), double-bag the
materials, and place them in the trash.
See pages 7 and 8 for more information
about HazoHouse and the WasteMobile.
To order a free copy of the “Healthy Home
Companion,” select “free guides” on www.
co.thurston.wa.us/wwm.
 Make sure items are well sealed, lids are
tight, and check for leaks. If a container
is leaking, place it inside a secondary
container such as a plastic tub or bucket
(which can be returned to you).
Garbage is taken to Thurston County’s
Waste and Recovery Center, where it is
compacted and put in containers. More
than 1 million pounds of waste come to
the center each day!
2
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INDOOR AIR POLLUTION: Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household
products. Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning,
disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. According to EPA studies, the indoor
air in homes is 2 to 5 times more likely than outdoor air to contain about a dozen common
organic pollutants, regardless of whether the homes are located in rural or industrial areas.
Recycling Saves Energy
The containers are then transported by
truck to Centralia, and put on a train
headed to Roosevelt in south central
Washington.
3
Waste-reduction and recycling are easy
ways to help save energy and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling helps
save the energy it takes to create new
products from raw materials; leaves more
trees in the forest to remove carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere; and reduces the
methane gas produced when garbage rots
in landfills. (Waste in Thurston County is
sent to a landfill that converts methane gas
to energy, but many other landfills around
the country do not have the technology.)
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Remember, recycling is second best to not
making waste in the first place (Reduce,
Reuse, then Recycle).
ENERGY SAVINGS: Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for
three hours. Recycling a 1-foot-high stack of newspapers saves enough energy to heat a
home for 17 hours (71.3 kilowatt hours). Sources (in order): California Integrated Waste
Management Board and Weyerhaeuser.
In Roosevelt, the containers are
unloaded and transported by truck to
the Roosevelt Regional Landfill.
“Waste-Free Holidays” Returns
4
The Roosevelt Regional Landfill buries
about 250 railcars full of garbage every
day from Washington and other states
– approximately 15 million pounds!
4
The Washington State Department of
Ecology has released encouraging news
about how recycling has helped protect our
local environment. Washington’s recycling
efforts in 2005 reduced greenhouse gas
emissions by 3.2 million tons (or 6,400
pounds). This is similar to removing 2.5
million passenger cars from the roadway
that year – over half the passenger cars in
Washington, according to the department.
From Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, local
businesses will once again offer discounts
on waste-free gifts such as certificates
to concerts, sports, plays, restaurants,
massages, lessons and more. Details
will be posted by Nov. 15 on www.
wastefreeholidays.com.
If your business offers service
or experience gifts and would
like to participate, please call
Amber Wells at 754-3355
ext. 7669 or e-mail
[email protected].
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HOLIDAY TRASH: Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving
and New Year’s Day than during any other time of year. The food waste, shopping bags,
packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons add about 1 million tons a week to the
nation’s waste stream.
Confessions of a Busy Recycler
Those of us in the waste-reduction field
tend to “walk the talk” when it comes
to reducing, reusing and recycling. If not,
we’re consumed by guilt. But wait! Before
you think we’re all fanatics, you should
know we have a few tricks up our sleeves
to streamline the amount of time we spend
“saving the earth.” Like everybody else,
we have busy days and the stress of jobs,
kids, bills, car repairs and the never-ending
question: What exactly ARE we having
for dinner tonight? Here are some of our
shortcuts:
 Save money on trash bills by recycling
more materials. The easiest option is to
sign up for the new curbside recycling
program. The program is a snap because
all materials except glass are put in a
single container. Recycle blue boxes are
also located thoughout Thurston County
for residents who choose to self-haul
materials instead. See page 7 for a list of
hauling companies and box locations.
 Compost kitchen and yard waste
for your garden. Store compostable
materials in a small container in your
kitchen until you take them to the
outside bin. Fruit and veggie peelings,
coffee filters and grounds, non-meat
leftovers, old produce, stale bread,
paper towels, and napkins can be
composted easily. (No, it doesn’t get
smelly. Just like the trash under the
sink, you need to take out the container
regularly and keep it clean.) Thurston
County residents can get deep discounts
on compost bins because the county
subsidizes the cost of the bins. Visit
www.compostbinsthurstoncounty.com.
 Keep a shredder nearby when you open
mail and pay bills. Shredded paper is
excellent for composting and helps keep
the correct ratio of greens and browns
in your bin. Shredded paper is also
recyclable, as long as it’s in strips; see
“Since you Asked” on page 2.
 Place metal clothes hangers in a box in
the trunk of the car and drop them off
next time you visit the dry cleaners.
 Get off junk mail lists – besides reducing
paper waste, you’d be surprised how
much time you save sorting mail. For
help, go to www.co.thurston.wa.us/
wwm/recycling/junk_mail.htm.
Reader Offers
Litter Tub Ideas
Our April edition of Talkin’ Trash only
scratched the surface of the topic of kitty
litter buckets, according to one loyal
reader. What people really need, she
said, are practical ideas on how to reuse
the buckets. The reader offered these
suggestions:
 Toss plastic bags, dry cleaning bags,
bread bags, and other film-type plastics
into a container. When it’s full, put the
container in the car and drop off the
bags on your next grocery store run.
Most stores have a plastic recycling bin
near the front of the store, and plastic
film is very valuable to recyclers. Don’t
worry about whether the bags or other
materials originally came from the store;
a separate recycling company picks it
up anyway. Just make sure the plastic is
stretchy and you can poke your finger
through it.
 Styrofoam peanuts can go in a bag
in the trunk to get dropped off at a
packaging store while running errands.
Call 800-828-2214 or go to www.
loosefillpackaging.com for locations.
 Clear the clutter. Get rid of unwanted
items by using one of the many free
exchange Web sites listed on page 7.
Garage sales and charitable donations
are also good clutter-busters.
 Properly dispose of all those unnecessary
cleaners, paints, stains, varnishes and
other dangerous household products.
Take them to HazoHouse or the
WasteMobile free of charge. See pages 7
and 8 for details.
 Keep a reusable coffee mug and reusable
shopping bags in your car. That way,
you’ll be prepared for an unexpected
coffee stop or trip to the grocery store.
 Create emergency kits that contain
meals, water, flashlights, batteries
and other emergency supplies.
 Store yard and garden supplies in the
buckets, or use them to transport
weeds.
 Organize hobby items, household
cleaning supplies, or small tools.
 Store kindling.
 Collect used motor oil.
 Protect fragile items.
 Organize holiday decorations.
According to
a not-so-rustic
member of the
Solid Waste staff,
kitty litter buckets
are also perfect
for storing and
transporting
camping supplies.
Of course, you can
also post buckets
on 2good2toss.com or www.freecycle.
org.
If you have fun or innovative ideas for
reducing waste, tell us so we can share
them with the rest of the community.
Call Terri Thomas at 754-2896 or e-mail
[email protected]. Thanks,
“DD,” for calling us with the ideas!
Keep in mind that the very best way to
prevent waste is to keep it from entering
your house in the first place. Recycling is
great, but generating less “stuff” is even
better for the environment – and it saves you
the time and effort of making it go away.
Plastics Pop Quiz
...which are recyclable in Thurston County?
Yogurt cups
Frozen food trays/
clamshell containers
Yes
No
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Shampoo bottles
Bottle caps
Plastic cups
Yes
No
(bottles are ok)
No
CLOTHING BANK: Capital Clubhouse is accepting donations for its community clothing
bank, The Wardrobe. Donations of clean, gently used men’s and women’s clothing and
accessories can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and noon
to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The Wardrobe is located at 618 Seventh Ave. S.E. in Olympia. For more
information, call 357-2582 or visit www.capitalclubhouse.org/wardrobe.
5
Health Matters
News from Thurston County Environmental Health
How Clean is Your Crème Rinse?
Free Medicine
Disposal
Group Health on Lilly Road N.E. in
Olympia is now accepting expired or
leftover prescription bottles and overthe-counter medications, including pet
medicines, vitamins, medicated ointments
and inhalers. The medications must be in
their original containers. Empty containers
are not accepted. A secure bin labeled
“medication return” is located near the
pharmacy. For more information, visit
www.medicinereturn.com or call 1-800RECYCLE (1-800-732-9253).
Dry Out Mosquito
Homes
The mosquito that carries the greatest
threat of West Nile Virus in our area
likes to breed in small stagnant water
bodies, not in wetlands. So walk around
your house and turn over all potential
containers such as old tires, buckets, and
wheelbarrows. Drill holes in tire swings,
empty bird baths weekly, and clean out
gutters. See www.co.thurston.wa.us/
health/ehwnv.
A Bright Idea
If every American home replaced just one
light bulb with a compact fluorescent
bulb, we would save enough energy to
light more than 2.5 million homes for
a year and prevent greenhouse gases
equivalent to the emissions of nearly
800,000 cars. (Source: ENERGY STAR, a
joint program of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S.
Department of Energy)
All fluorescent bulbs contain a small
amount of mercury, so don’t break those
bulbs! Recycle fluorescent bulbs free at
HazoHouse or the WasteMobile (see “Play
it Safe” on page 4).
Paint Smart
Your daughter wants to change her room
color – again! Before you buy all those
gallons of pink paint, follow these safety
tips:
 Choose water-based over oil-based
paint whenever possible.
 Select the least toxic paints with
the lowest VOCs (Volatile Organic
Compounds). Ask your paint store for
help identifying the best brands.
 Avoid spray painting.
 Do not use exterior paint indoors.
 Turn off the air conditioner and cover
it with plastic. Air conditioners do not
filter indoor air.
6
There is concern that the chemicals we
use in our daily lives don’t stay in us – they
are washed down the drain and excreted
from our bodies into the wastewater
system. Traces of personal care chemicals
are being detected at low levels in
wastewater systems, streams, rivers, and in
Puget Sound. Research shows that these
contaminants are damaging aquatic life.
What you can do:
You wake up, brush your teeth, shower, and
apply deodorant, lotion and maybe some
makeup. By the time you eat breakfast,
you may have already exposed yourself to
products containing hundreds of different
chemical compounds! Surprisingly, many
of these ingredients have not been
preapproved for use, and are not monitored
for their long-term health effects. The Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) does not test
and approve cosmetic ingredients before the
products are marketed, with the exception
of color additives (see vm.cfsan.fda.gov
and click on “cosmetics”).
The chemicals in any single consumer
product are unlikely to cause harm; however,
there’s reason to be wary of repeated
exposure to many different chemicals on a
daily basis. These chemicals make their way
into our bodies through the skin or from
inhalation. Chemicals in cosmetics that pose
health risks include those that:
 cause cancer or are suspected of causing
cancer: acrylamide, formaldehyde, coal
tar, diethanolamine (or cocamide DEA),
petroleum distillates, and ethylacrylate.
 interfere with reproduction and
development: phthalates, lead acetate,
and toluene.
The chemicals in personal care products not
only affect us and our children, they also
affect the environment.
 Look for products made with basic,
natural ingredients.
 Choose products with the smallest
number of listed ingredients.
 Avoid products that contain phthalates.
These may be listed as DBP, DEP, or DMP
or may be labeled as “fragrance.”
 Check ingredients in your personal
care products on the Skin Deep
cosmetic safety database: www.
cosmeticdatabase.com.
 Look for companies that have signed the
“Compact for Safe Cosmetics”: www.
safecosmetics.org/companies/signers.
cfm.
 Read a study of toxic chemicals in
Washingtonians - Pollution in People
www.pollutioninpeople.org.
 Visit the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition:
www.toxicfreelegacy.org/safecosmetics.
 Request an educational presentation
on “Toxins in My Toothpaste?,” which
includes an activity to make your own
lip balm. This presentation is especially
geared to middle or high school classes
but is also available for parents and
other interested groups. Call 754-3355
ext. 7244.
Pesticides at School
Kids are at greater risk for pesticide exposure
because of their size, proximity to the
ground, and the physical hand-to-mouth
ways they play. You may already limit weed
and bug killers at home, but what about
school or daycare?
Washington State passed a Pesticide Rightto-Know Act that went into effect July 2002
(RCW 17.21.415). The law requires public
schools and licensed daycare centers to:
 notify parents about their pest
management policies and methods;
 make records of all pesticide applications
accessible to all interested people;
 provide an annual summary of pesticide
use in the district during the previous
year;
 provide interested
parents with 48-hour
advance notice of
pesticide applications;
 post notification in a
prominent place at
the school 48 hours
before pesticides are used; and
 after pesticides are used, post signs
for at least 24 hours at major entry
points and spray sites, informing people
about the pesticides and why they were
applied.
For information about pesticide-free
gardening, visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/
health/ehcsg.
Garbage and Recycling Resources
Contacts
Talkin’ Trash is produced by the
Thurston County Department of Water
and Waste Management. Phone
357-2491 or e-mail wwm-webmaster@
co.thurston.wa.us. TDD: 754-2933.
County Department of Water
and Waste Management
WasteLine: 786-5494
(24-hour recorded information about solid
waste and recycling)
Alternatives to Burning Hotline:
754-2953 (24-hour recorded message)
TDD: 754-2933
Thurston County Solid Waste Administration:
357-2491
Web: www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm
Located at 929 Lakeridge Drive S.W.,
Bldg. 4, Room 100, Olympia, 98502
Another valuable Web site: Washington State
Department of Ecology Recycle Assistance:
1800recycle.wa.gov.
Curbside Collection (Haulers)
Thurston County does not own or operate
garbage trucks. Call your service provider for
information about collection schedules.
 Butler's Cove Refuse.................923-0111
Recycle Blue Boxes
Our Facilities
Locations
Thurston County Waste
and Recovery Center
Tumwater: 3400 25th Ave. S.W. (off of
Mottman Road in Tumwater)
Lacey: College Street Safeway, 4700 Yelm
Highway S.E.
Located at 2418 Hogum Bay Road. From
I-5: take the Marvin Road exit (Exit 111) and
head north. Turn right onto Hogum Bay
Road. The center will be on your right.
Lacey: Thurston County Waste and Recovery
Center, 2418 Hogum Bay Road N.E.
Rates (through 12/31/07)
Steamboat Island: William’s Island Market,
3403 Steamboat Island Road N.W.
Yelm: City of Yelm Public Works Building,
901 Rhoton Road
Rochester: Rochester Garbage Drop Box
site, 16500 Sargent Road. Open Tuesdays,
Saturdays and Sundays only.
Bucoda: Town of Bucoda, Main Street
and E. 5th
Rainier: Rainier Garbage Drop Box site,
13010 Rainier Acres Road S.E. Open Fridays
and Saturdays only.
Summit Lake: Summit Lake Garbage Drop
Box site, 12133 Summit Lake Drive. Open
Sundays only.
Items Accepted at Blue Boxes
Thurston County’s blue recycle boxes accept:
 Newspaper
 Glass bottles and jars
 Eastern Grays Harbor (Summit Lake)
................................................923-0111
 Tin and aluminum cans
 Joe’s Refuse..............................736-4769
................................. or 1-800-525-4167
 Plastic dairy tubs, yogurt cups, jugs,
jars, and bottles
 Milk cartons and drink boxes
 Corrugated cardboard
 Pacific Disposal.........................923-0111
 Rural Refuse.............................923-0111
The above companies are owned by Harold
LeMay Enterprises. Yard waste collection
service is also available in many of the service
areas. Call for more information or visit www.
lemayinc.com.
 City of Olympia residents, call 753-8368
or visit www.ci.olympia.wa.us. Olympia
provides its own trash, recycling and yard
waste collection service.
 City of Rainier residents, call 446-2265
for trash service. Call 923-0111 for recycle
service.
 Town of Bucoda residents, call 278-3525
to arrange for trash service. Use the
county blue boxes on Rainier Acres Road
for recycling. Open Fridays and Saturdays.
County Public Health and Social
Services, Environmental Health
Phone: 754-4111 or TDD: 754-2933
Web: www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehadm
Gardening guides: www.co.thurston.wa.us/
health/ehcsg
Healthy home advice: www.co.thurston.wa.us/
health/ehhm
Located at 929 Lakeridge Drive S.W., Room
113, Olympia, WA 98502. Send mail to 2000
Lakeridge Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98502.
 Mixed paper
All materials should be placed loose in the
boxes – no paper or plastic bags (with the
exception of shredded paper strips, which
should be placed in a paper bag).
Compost Bins
Reduced-price compost bins are available
through the Thurston County Master Gardener
Foundation. Bins include the Earth Machine
for $35 each ($86 value) and the Biostack for
$55 ($140 value). The bins are subsidized by
the Thurston County Solid Waste Program for
county residents. The price includes tax and
delivery within Thurston County.
one ton = 2,000 lbs
Loose Garbage.............. $72.46 per ton
plus tollhouse fee................ $3.28 per trip
plus WA state garbage tax at............3.6%
Flat fee for loads less than 200 lbs: $10.88.
Garbage in Cans/Bags
1 can/bag........................................ $5.10
2 cans/bags...................................... $6.79
3 cans/bags...................................... $8.49
4 cans/bags.................................... $10.17
More than 4 cans/bags are weighed as loose
garbage.
Loose Yard Debris............. $35 per ton
Flat fee for loads less than 300 lbs: $5
Yard Debris in Cans/Bags...$1.25 each
More than 4 cans/bags are weighed as loose
yard debris.
Hours
Weekdays:
Nov. 1 to March 31.......... 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 1 to Oct. 31............. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays
Year round....................... 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Garbage/Recycling Drop
Boxes
Rainier: 13010 Rainier Acres Road S.E.
Friday and Saturday only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(until 5 p.m. April 1 to Oct. 31)
Rochester: 16500 Sargent Road S.E.
Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to
5 p.m.
Summit Lake: 12133 Summit Lake Drive
Sunday only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holidays
The Waste and Recovery Center, HazoHouse
and all Drop Boxes are closed on the
following holidays only: Thanksgiving Day,
Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and July
Fourth.
Green Cone food digesters are available
for $30 each (a $160 value) but need to be
picked up from the foundation. Rubbermaid
worm bins are $10 each and are sold at
workshops only (see “Coming Soon” on
page 8). Call 481-4204 or visit: www.
compostbinsthurstoncounty.com.
Are you storing dangerous and
unwanted hazardous products in
your home?
Exchange Web Sites
Open Friday-Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The following Web sites provide an excellent
way to sell or give away items in good
condition that you no longer need or want.
 Thurston County’s free online exchange
program: www.2good2toss.com
 Olympia’s Free Online Classified Ads:
groups.yahoo.com/group/olympiaclassifieds
 Craig’s List: seattle.craigslist.org/oly
 FreeCycle: www.freecycle.org
TAKE THEM TO
HAZOHOUSE!
HazoHouse offers FREE, safe
and convenient disposal of most
household hazardous products.
Located next to the
recycling area of the
Thurston County
Waste and Recovery
Center, 2418
Hogum Bay Road
N.E. in Lacey.
7
Coming Soon...
Mark Your Calendar for These Events
SEPTEMBER: Community Recycle Days
Thurston County’s Community Recycle Days
offer an easy way to recycle a variety of
household items at reduced rates.
Community Recycle Days serves Thurston
County residents only, not commercial
vendors or businesses.
Saturday, Sept. 15 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
South Sound Speedway
3720 183rd Ave. S.W. in Tenino
Visitors will be asked to supply the short
form below to help us track inventory. To
get a head start, please bring the completed
form to the events.
Saturday, Sept. 22 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thurston County Fairgrounds,
Event will be in the lower parking lot
3054 Carpenter Road S.E. near Lacey
For more information, visit our Web site at:
www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm or call
357-2491 or TDD at 754-2933.
PLEASE FILL OUT THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR YOUR ITEMS
AND GIVE IT TO THE STAFF WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE EVENT
ITEM
PRICE EACH
Tires (passenger vehicle) - no rim
$2
Tires (passenger vehicle) - with rim
$3
Tires (tractor size). Prices for larger tires will be
$10
determined on site by the vendor.
Refrigerators, Freezers, Air Conditioners
$15
(maximum 4 per vehicle)
Stoves, Washers, Dryers, Hot Water Tanks
$5
(no dishwashers – most are not metal anymore)
Microwaves, Televisions, Computer Monitors,
$10
Laptop Computers
CPUs, Fax Machines, Printers, Scanners,
$5
Copiers (under 50 lbs)
CD & DVD Players, VCRs, Stereo Systems,
$2
Radios, Speakers
Keyboards, Computer Mice, All Types of Phones,
FREE
Printed Circuit Boards
Power Tools, Push or Riding Lawn Mowers,
Bicycles, Small Gas Motors (including chain saw,
FREE
weed trimmer, outboard boat motor)
Goodwill Donations (small furniture, clothes,
FREE
working small kitchen appliances, kitchenware)
Scrap Metal (including de-valved propane tanks)
FREE
Flower Pots (2 gallon or larger, clean and
FREE
unbroken)
QUANTITY
ROW TOTAL
$
$
$
We WILL NOT accept: garbage, electronics
(take electronics to Community Recycle
Days), yard waste, appliances, computers,
monitors, medical wastes, explosives,
ammunition, propane tanks, empty or
leaking containers, business wastes, smoke
detectors or radioactive materials.
 Yard waste composting
11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
 Worm bin composting for food waste
noon to 12:45 p.m.
Locations
$
Dirt Works is located on Alta Drive, off
Capitol Mall Drive behind Yauger Park in
west Olympia.
$
FREE
FREE
Olympia Farmers Market is located at the
north end of Capitol Way in downtown
Olympia.
FREE
FREE
FREE
GRAND
TOTAL:
$
Learn tips to prolong the life of your septic
system at these free workshops. Register
online at: www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/
ehoss/wkshp_sch.html or call Thurston
County Environmental Health at 754-4111.
TDD: 754-2933. Participants will get a $10
discount on pumping.
We WILL accept: oil and latex paints;
glues and adhesives; pesticides and
herbicides; car and household batteries;
antifreeze; motor oil and filters; cleaners and
polishes; pool and hobby chemicals; thinners
and solvents; and fluorescent light bulbs and
tubes. These items will be accepted free for
residents.
 Green Cone composting for food waste
10:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
$
Dispose of hazardous household products at
the next WasteMobile events:
Both events will be held at the Labor
& Industries Building parking lot, 7273
Linderson Way S.W. in Tumwater.
Sept. 22: Olympia Farmers Market
“Leaf Composting Basics” from 10 a.m. to
11:30 a.m.
$
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER:
Septic Sense Workshops
Sunday, Sept. 30 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Discover how to compost at the following
free workshops. No registration is
required. Compost bins and bin plans
will be available at the workshops. Bins
are also sold at a discount through www.
compostbinsthurstoncounty.com (see page
7 for details). Workshops will be held on the
following Saturdays:
Oct. 20: Dirt Works
$
SEPTEMBER: WasteMobile
in Tumwater
Saturday, Sept. 29 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER:
Compost Workshops
Tuesday, Sept. 11 – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Thurston County Public Health and
Social Services Building
412 Lilly Road N.E., Olympia
DECEMBER: Free
Christmas Tree Recycling
The Waste and Recovery Center will recycle
Christmas trees free of charge from Dec. 26
to Jan. 13. (The center is closed New Year’s
Day.) Tree recycling may also be available at
the staffed Rainier and Rochester drop box
sites, in the City of Yelm, and through your
garbage hauler. Visit the recycling link of
www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm for updated
information in December.
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
The Thurston County Waste and Recovery
Center and the drop boxes at Rainier,
Rochester and Summit Lake will be closed
on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and
New Year’s Day.
Wednesday, Oct. 10 – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Rochester Fire Station
18346 Albany Street S.W., Rochester
Tuesday, Oct. 16 – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Grace Community Covenant Church
5501 Wiggins Road S.E., Olympia
Cosponsored with the City of Olympia
Wednesday, Oct. 24 – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Black Lake Fire Station
5911 Black Lake Blvd. S.W., Olympia
Recycle your old telephone book in your
comingled recycle bin or at a blue box
location. Check out the Brown Pages of the
new Dex phone book for information about
garbage and recycling services.
8