Proper disposal protects waste workers, the community and the environment

VANCOUVER – Holiday celebrations can generate more waste, and waste of different kinds. Clark County Public Works’ Solid Waste Education and Outreach program encourages the community to properly dispose of waste this holiday season. Proper disposal protects waste workers, the community and the environment.

To find out how to properly dispose of an item, residents can use the RecycleRight app or RecyclingA-Z.com. These tools provide local disposal options for hundreds of items, along with information such as curbside collection schedules, service reminder sign-up, holiday collection schedules, and winter weather service alerts.

Residents should follow these guidelines to properly dispose of items that cannot go in curbside garbage or recycling carts:

• Batteries: Batteries must be taken to designated disposal sites. Batteries cannot be disposed of in garbage or recycling carts. Batteries tossed in household garbage or recycling carts can explode or spark fires. Several retail stores across Clark County now offer free battery disposal for household batteries, including lithium-ion batteries and cell phones. Disposal locations can be found at RecyclingA-Z.com or on the RecycleRight app.
  • Household batteries can also be recycled by covering each battery terminal with tape, putting them in a clear sealable bag and placing them on top of curbside recycling carts. Batteries accepted for curbside recycling include single-use and rechargeable AA, AAA, C, D, button, hearing aid and watch batteries.
• Block foam: Block foam can be dropped off at Earth Friendly Recycling in Vancouver for recycling. Block foam can also be placed in curbside garbage carts, but it cannot go in curbside recycling carts.
• Air pillows, bubble wrap, bubble mailers and plastic packaging: These plastic film products can be placed in bins for recycling at many local grocery stores and all three Clark County transfer stations. Plastic film cannot go in curbside recycling carts because it can get tangled in the machinery that sorts recyclables.
• String lights: Holiday string lights can be taken to a specialty recycler or disposed of in the garbage. String lights cannot go in curbside recycling carts. Specialty recyclers are listed at RecyclingA-Z.com and on the RecycleRight app.
• Gift wrap and ribbon: Gift wrap with non-paper elements such as glitter, foil and plastic decorations should be disposed of in the garbage because the non-paper decorations are not recyclable. Plain gift wrap that does not have glitter, foil or other non-paper decorations can be placed in curbside recycling carts. Ribbon should always be disposed of in the garbage.
• Electronics: Electronic products contain valuable materials that can be recycled, and toxic chemicals that should be kept out of the landfill. Electronics should be taken to one of the free E-Cycle drop-off locations listed at RecyclingA-Z.com and on the RecycleRight app.
• Excess recycling and cardboard: Extra cardboard and other recyclables can be set out with curbside recycling carts on regularly scheduled collection days. Extras should be placed in a cardboard box or paper bag. Recyclables in plastic bags are not accepted. Extra recycling can also be dropped off for free at Clark County transfer stations.

For more information and holiday waste-reduction tips, visit the Clark County Green Neighbors website.

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor. Residents can also visit clark.wa.gov/public-works to sign up for email notifications.

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Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.