There are two e-cycling/drop off/personal shredding events each week. One is at the Fort Totten Trash Transfer Station. The other is at the Benning Road Trash Transfer Station. I've only been to the event at the latter. The address is 3200 Benning Road NE. This is a really positive development in the District. I've been twice so far and there was zero wait time. We were in and out in around 3 minutes. You can take bags, or boxes of documents and they will shred them for you. The following is a general list of stuff they take, or don't take [with my personal notes added]. Note the CD/DVD thing. That one makes the list partly because burning all those old CDs and DVDs releases some pretty toxic fumes. This is a great chance to unload them properly [ditto with any old VHS tapes you no longer use]. Saturdays from 8am-3pm.
What's on the list, and what isn't-
ON-
Aerosols
Antifreeze
Asbestos Tile
Batteries
Brake Fluid
CDs and DVDs
Cell Phones
CFLs
Cleansers
Computers and any components [this does include calculators]
Drain Openers
Florescent Light Bulbs
Gasoline [small amounts only]
Mercury Thermometers
Mothballs [they can poison pets, and other animals, as well as children]
Motor and Boat Oil
Paint [oil based only]
Pesticides [also includes weed killers] PLEASE DO NOT POUR THESE DOWN THE DRAIN
Petroleum Products
Polishers
Propane Tanks
Solvents
Thinners
Videotapes
Wood Preservatives
OFF-
Air Conditioners [Call for bulk trash, but I've watched hazardous waste accept these]
Ammunition [take to the closest police station]
Explosives [take to the closest police station]
Latex Paint [dry out and place for trash pick-up. If you have a large amount you can go to the collection station and get a powder to dry it out]
Medicine [throw it away after removing the label. You can recycle emply containers]
Microwave ovens [call for bulk trash, but I've seen hazardous waste take them]
Tires [Up to 4 may be taken to the Ft. Totten Trash Transfer Station]
Wooden TV Cabinets or Consoles [Call for bulk pickup]
14 comments:
I've been there about 5 -6 times this year too, and absolutely no wait time, and the folks there are cheerful as well.
Also, they accepted my extra green trash bin - I had two, and now with all the recycling DC does, I didn't need two green trash bins.
Raychelle,
I wish I had that problem. My trash can was stolen this week. I guess it's following in the steps of my recycling can, which was stolen in mid-July. I've been trying to get DPW to give me a replacement recycling can ever since mine went AWOL. Here's hoping they are more responsive on the trashcan issue.
Inked,
Off topic, but did you get my forward about this Saturday's Free energy Efficiency Expo?
Does anyone have any recommendations for what to do with construction materials (i.e. pieces of concrete, parts of a backyard fence, etc.), I don't think DPW will take it. Thanks for any recs!
Dan from 15th ST
Dan, I found a house under construction (with a dumpster), gave the crew $20 and they let me use the dumpster.
I also need to give props to DC for a pretty reliable bulk pick-up program. +1 point DC.
Hey everyone.
I just wanted you all to know there is an alternative to getting rid of old tires-- start a tire garden! Tires make great little raised beds for your crops and you can turn them inside-out and paint them to be very pretty.
Here's a helpful website: http://www.wuvie.net/tireplanter.htm
You can also google "tire gardening" and find other ways to do it.
Good luck!
Karen
thanks for the tip, there are plenty of houses under construction on my block, i'll give that a shot!
Dan
Dan from 15th Street -
You can also try Rodgers Brothers: http://www.rodgersbrothers.net/
What are the times / dates.
"Ammunition [take to the closest police station]"
Seeing as how mere possession of ammo is an arrestable offense (unless you have a gun registration for a firearm of that same caliber, and are carrying that paperwork with you), this is dubious advice.
Ok -- lame question ... but how do I know if the paint I have in my garage is oil based or latex? I looked on the can but didn't see anything that would offer an answer. I know it's interior paint and that it's "eggshell." Any thoughts? I'd like to recycle it if possible.
Thanks!!
Diane,
it must have slipped through the cracks and accidentally been deleted. I'll try to post it is you resend it.
Regarding oil based or latex paints.
An easy clue is, (if you can still read the clean up directions on the can,) if you can clean up with water then its latex. Mineral spirits are needed to clean up oil based paints. Most likely the interior eggshell is latex. You can fill the can with kitty litter to dry out the paint.
inked,
sorry about your trash can!! i just moved to DC, and the house i live in didn't have a recycling can - i requested one since july and finally got mine last week. maybe you'll get yours soon?
fyi there are about 20 green trash cans at the benning road station. go around the orange cones, passing the electronics section, and approach the hazardous waste section, the trash cans are lined up by the wall. ask if you can have one since yours was stolen?
sorry, man....
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