PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (June 2, 2009) – The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, through the Calvert County Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division, has awarded new recycling contracts that expand the types of materials accepted through the county’s recycling program.
The expanded list of recyclable materials now accepted at county convenience centers includes wide-mouth plastic tubs, televisions and stereos and various types of lamp bulbs. The recycling initiative is a response to citizen requests and increased awareness as residents become more interested in reducing the county’s waste stream.
“At the direction of the Board of County Commissioners, we pursued these new avenues for recycling common household items in an effort to help residents recycle more,” said Acting County Administrator Terry Shannon. “Recycling helps preserve natural resources and diverts waste that would ultimately end up in the landfill. Our goal is to exceed the state’s requirement that the county recycle 15 percent of its waste.”
Below is a comprehensive list of accepted and unacceptable items.
Paper (accepted at all seven county convenience centers)
All uncontaminated newspaper, mixed paper, magazines, paperback and hardcover books, junk mail, advertisements, catalogs, telephone books, computer and copy paper, shredded paper, gift wrapping paper, soda boxes, food and cereal boxes and corrugated and cardboard boxes.
Unacceptable: Waxed cardboard, milk and juice containers, waxed paper, waxed or plastic liners in food boxes, food contaminated paper, oil soaked paper, carbon paper, used paper plates, napkins, sanitary products or tissues, stickers and plastic laminated paper such as fast food wrappers, juice boxes, and pet food bags; paper with any sort of contamination or plastic layers cannot be recycled.
Commingle Containers (accepted at all seven county convenience centers)
Plastic: Soda, milk, water and detergent bottles, jars, jugs, tubs and food containers displaying symbol code numbers 1 through 7 (no containers may contain food residue).
Glass: Bottles, jars and jugs.
Cans: Aluminum, tin and steel food and beverage containers.
Aerosol: Empty containers.
Unacceptable:
Plastic: Plastic plates, wrap, bags, toys, Styrofoam, packing peanuts, trays, cups, buckets, pails, storage totes, flower pots, plastic furniture, lumber, pools, play sets and other items not considered a bottle, jug, jar or tub container.
Glass: Drinking glasses, window glass, dishes, ceramics, mirror glass.
Cans: Paint cans.
Aerosol: Paint and chemical containers.
Electronics (accepted at all county convenience centers except Lusby).
All used consumer electronic devices, computers, servers, monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, fax machines, scanners, copiers, VCR and DVD video players, audio/visual equipment, cable TV boxes, communication systems, microfiche readers, oscilloscopes, plotters, power supplies, bar coding equipment, calculators, microscopes, PDAs, test equipment, cameras, cords, wires, modems, video games, stereos and televisions.
Unacceptable: White goods and appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves, toasters, etc.
Fluorescent, Compact, Specialty and Incandescent Lamps (accepted at all county convenience centers except Lusby).
Fluorescent tubes (straight, u-shaped and circular), compact fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps and other lamps (mercury, sodium, etc).
Unacceptable: Broken lamps.
For more information on county recycling, contact the Calvert County Department of Public Works at 410.535.2204 or visit online at www.co.cal.md.us.