DONATE UNWANTED BOOKS VIA
RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY
JOHNSTON, R.I. (June 2, 2010) – With summer officially here, it might be time to make room on your shelves for a new book to read at the beach or for your children’s school vacation reading list. Drop off all your unwanted books at the Central Landfill in Johnston, and they will be donated to Reading Tree.
Reading Tree is a non-profit organization working to solve the issue of excess books in our nation’s landfills as well as the global issue of a lack of books in areas that desperately need them.
“While books are recyclable in Rhode Island, it’s better to find someone who might enjoy the book when you are finished with it,” said Sarah Kite, director of recycling services at RIRRC. “Rather than rip off the hard covers on bound books so you can recycle the pages, drop off all your hard cover books and your paperbacks, too, at the Central Landfill during regular hours.”
R.I. Resource Recovery recommends throwing away books that were damaged in the recent flooding. They are no longer usable and may actually cause harm if they become encrusted with mold.
Reading Tree accepts all types of books – children’s, adult, hard cover and paperback. Children’s books will be donated to schools, family literacy programs and international libraries. More than 1.6 million books were donated to such programs in 2008. Some books may be sold to help pay for Reading Tree’s programs.
“This program is a wonderful opportunity to give to people in need, and you will get a sense of satisfaction by clearing out all your unwanted books that have been taking up space in your home,” said Kite.
The Central Landfill is open Mondays through Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and on Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to noon. For information about recycling, visit the Rhode Island Resource Recovery website at www.rirrc.org, or call 942-1430 x775.
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the quasi-state environmental agency dedicated to providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage waste. The agency helps fund and promote the state’s recycling program, and owns and operates the Materials Recycling Facility and Central Landfill in Johnston.