COME TO RESOURCE RECOVERY’S ECO-DEPOT & COMPUTER RECYCLING COLLECTION ON 6/12

Safety Disposal of Special Items at Central Landfill

JOHNSTON, R.I. (May 21, 2010) – Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation will hold a computer recycling and Eco-Depot collection on Saturday, June 12 from 8:00 a.m. until 12 noon at the Central Landfill, 65 Shun Pike in Johnston.

Appointments are required for Eco-Depot but not for electronic waste drop-offs.   Both collections are free for Rhode Islanders and limited to household waste.

Electronic waste is banned from landfill disposal and therefore cannot be placed in the trash.  Unwanted and broken personal computer equipment and cell phones can be recycled for free at this collection.  Resource Recovery accepts all types e-waste such as televisions, computers, printers, keyboards, laptops, cell phones, hard drives, scanners, modems, and mouse devices.   Please do not place these items in curbside recycling bins.

Eco-Depot is the name of RIRRC’s household hazardous waste (HHW)  program.  Through this service, people can dispose products such as fluorescent light bulbs, oil-based paints,  insecticides, and propane gas tanks.  HHW poses a risk to human health when discarded improperly and RIRRC reminds people to not dump HHW in storm drains, sewers, catch basins, cesspools, or directly on the earth.  It travels in groundwater through Rhode Island’s waterways and ultimately end up in Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

HHW products typically have warning labels marked “flammable,” “combustible,” “explosive,” or “corrosive.”  For a complete list of eligible materials, go to rirrc.org.

Sign up for Eco-Depot appointments online at www.rirrc.org or call 942-1430 x241.

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.

SPECIAL RECYCLING COLLECTION FOR

E-WASTE & HHW IN NARRAGANSETT ON MAY 15

RIRRC offers free service

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 26, 2010) – On Saturday, May 15, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, together with the Town of Narragansett, will hold a special collection for wastes that cannot be collected curbside or taken to the transfer stations.  From 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Rhode Islanders can drop off their computers, televisions, and assorted household hazardous waste (HHW) at Narragansett Town Beach in the South Pavilion parking lot.

This program is a free service for all Rhode Island residents, and anyone dropping off hazardous waste will need to make an appointment.

Resource Recovery will accept all sorts of e-waste including any broken and antiquated computer products such as CPUs, monitors, printers, keyboards, laptops, hard drives, scanners, modems, and mouse devices.  The corporation recycles the material safely and properly.

Eco-Depot is the popular household hazardous waste program run by RIRRC.  Nearly all households have some amount of HHW stored in sheds, garages, and basements.  Any product that is flammable, combustible, explosive, toxic, corrosive, poisonous and hazardous to health qualifies as HHW.  Examples of common HHW include oil-based paint, fluorescent light bulbs, lawn chemicals, pesticides, antifreeze, pool chemicals, turpentine, muriatic acid, propane gas tanks and fire extinguishers.  They are banned from landfill disposal because they can pollute the environment if discarded improperly.

For a complete list of eligible materials, go to www.rirrc.org.  On the Web site, you can book an Eco-Depot appointment or call 942-1430 x241.  Appointments are not necessary for recycling e-waste.

All Rhode Islanders in need of flood disaster assistance should register with FEMA at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

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.

COME TO RESOURCE RECOVERY’S ECO-DEPOT & COMPUTER RECYCLING COLLECTION ON 5/8

Appointment needed for household hazardous waste drop-off

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 16, 2010) – Need to get rid of household goods that cannot be tossed in the trash?  Bring them to the Central Landfill on Saturday, May 8 from 8:00 to noon.  Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation will accept household hazardous waste (HHW), computers, televisions and assorted electronic waste for free.  However, only Rhode Island waste is accepted.

What is HHW?  Any product that is flammable, combustible, explosive, toxic, corrosive, poisonous and hazardous to health qualifies as HHW.   RIRRC accepts a wide variety of HHW such as oil-based paints, propane gas tanks, fluorescent light bulbs, turpentine, driveway sealers, and unused lawn and garden fertilizers.  Because the products are harmful to humans, animals, and the environment, they cannot be placed in regular trash and special care must be taken with their disposal.

Likewise, most electronic waste – computers, televisions, scanners, mouse devices – cannot be placed in the trash or recycled through R.I.’s curbside program.

For a complete list of eligible HHW, go to www.rirrc.org.  On the Web site, you can book an Eco-Depot appointment or call 942-1430 x241.  Appointments are not necessary for recycling e-waste.

All Rhode Islanders in need of flood disaster assistance should register with FEMA at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

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.

Providence, RI — Dozens of Earth Day cleanups and celebrations throughout the state, as well as Arbor Day events, are listed in What Grows On in Rhode Island, a central clearinghouse for all sorts of environmental events in Rhode Island. The events are arranged in a calendar format with multiple views, and most listings include maps. Events can be sorted by category, event type, and town or city, making it easy for residents to find activities that most interest them.

Organizations listing special Earth Day and Arbor Day events include the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Save the Bay, RI Tree Council, Barrington Conservation Commission, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Burrillville Lions Club, City of Central Falls, City of Newport, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, Ten Mile River Watershed Council, Friends of India Point Park, Friends of the Blackstone, Narragansett Bay Commission, Newport County Saltwater Fishing Club, Friends of the Moshassuck, Friends of Ballard Park, Friends of the Pawtuxet River, Buckeye Brook Coalition, Clean Ocean Access, West Broadway Neighborhood Association, Johnston Historical Society, Waterfire Providence, West Greenwich Land Trust, the Kent County Jaycees, Richmond Conservation Commission, Concerned Citizens of Davisville, Save Bristol Harbor, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Serve Rhode Island, Smithfield Conservation Commission, Tiverton Garden Club, and the Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living, among others.

The Calendar also lists films and concerts organized by several groups in honor of Earth Day. Film showings include “A Sense of Wonder” in North Kingstown on April 17, “Home” in Newport on April 22, “Fresh” in Providence on April 22 and 27, and Where Do the Children Play?” in Barrington on April 28. Missa Gaia by Paul Winter will be performed in New Bedford, MA, on Friday, April 23.

“It’s impossible to track all these events without the help of computers,” said Susan Korté, managing editor of both The Providential Gardener and What Grows On in Rhode Island. “Hundreds of groups in Rhode Island care for Narragansett Bay, the beaches, watersheds, rivers, wetlands, parks, forests, and nature preserves. We don’t have time to look at all the individual websites, so we miss hearing about events we’d really like to go to. What Grows On in Rhode Island brings all this activity together and makes it easy for Rhode Islanders to participate in Earth Day events through its searchable online Calendar.”

Event listings link back to the organizing groups, making the website a useful research tool for finding local environmental information. “The Calendar is also a record of environmental work in the state. Rhode Islanders will be amazed to see the full range of their environmental efforts,” Susan Korté said. “What Grows On in Rhode Island helps each of us to see the big picture and find our place to pitch in.”

See www.whatgrowsonri.com for the state’s most comprehensive listing of Earth Day events.

It’s not too late to add any other Earth Day events. Any organization in or near Rhode Island holding public environment-related events may add listings to the Calendar free of charge athttp://www.whatgrowsonri.com/add_event.html.

The Providential Gardener also reminds volunteers to take precautions and follow the guidance of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management when cleaning up areas that have experienced flooding. There is still concern about contamination.

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What Grows On in Rhode Island is an environmental information services project of the Providential Gardener. The Calendar has been growing organically since March 2008 and includes the full range of environment-related activity in and near Rhode Island. Parts or all of the Calendar can be republished to other websites including newspapers and businesses that want to promote “green” activities, so that all Rhode Islanders can easily find out what’s “growing on.” Contact the Providential Gardener for details of free and fee-based options. All public RI environment-related events may be listed free of charge.www.whatgrowsonri.com.

The Providential Gardener, located in Providence, RI, began as a blog in May 2006. It is both an environmental information services business and a way of seeing Rhode Island as one whole garden we all tend. The Providential Gardener is developing several information products and services that aggregate and make easily accessible the full range of environmental information for all Rhode Islanders.www.providentialgardener.com

ECO-DEPOT TO MAKE SPECIAL VISIT TO WESTERLY

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Collection Added in Wake of Flood

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 14, 2010) – On Saturday, May 1, the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation will hold an Eco-Depot collection for household hazardous waste.   The drive-up-and-drop-off collection will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Westerly Transfer Station on Larry Hirsch Drive.  RIRRC added this collection to its schedule recently to deal with the abundance of hazardous waste created when flood waters entered homes and sheds.

The collection is free and open to Rhode Island residents only.

Any product that is flammable, combustible, explosive, toxic, corrosive, poisonous and hazardous to health qualifies as HHW.   Examples of common HHW include oil-based paint, fluorescent light bulbs, lawn chemicals, pesticides, antifreeze, pool chemicals, turpentine, muriatic acid, propane gas tanks and fire extinguishers.  These items are banned from landfill disposal because they can pollute the environment when discarded improperly.  RIRRC’s Eco-Depot disposes of household hazardous wastes properly and safely.

Appointments are required and will help reduce the time you spend in the drop-off line.

For a complete list of eligible HHW, go to www.rirrc.org.  On the Web site, you can book an Eco-Depot appointment or call 942-1430 x241.

All Rhode Islanders in need of flood disaster assistance should register with FEMA at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

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.

FLOOD VICTIMS URGED TO USE MATERIALS EXCHANGE

FOR FREE HOUSEHOLD OR BUSINESS GOODS

Give Away or Get Free Furniture and Furnishings Online with RIRRC Service

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 7, 2010) – No more furniture in the basement?  Was your office furniture contaminated by the flood waters?  Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation hosts a free online exchange Web site (www.rirrc.org/free) where Rhode Islanders can get free, slightly used items, or they can give away such items.  For households and businesses ravaged by the floods, this is an excellent way to refurnish without investing a lot of time and money.

People who want to donate couches, desks, chairs, rugs, clothing, file cabinets, lamps, bookshelves and more can post the items on the Web site.  Those who want the items will contact the owner via phone or email and arrange for the exchange.

“This isn’t a brand new program but it’s perfect for this type of need,” said Mike OConnell, executive director of RIRRC.  “In the aftermath of the recent devastating effects of the flood, the timing couldn’t be better for Rhode Islanders to take advantage of this service.  We established the online exchanges to avoid wasting landfill space on slightly used consumer goods that deserve a second life.  For folks who want to help their fellow Rhode Islanders who need to redecorate, this is an easy way.”

The Materials Exchange Web site has two links:  One for business-related materials called ResourceXchange and one for household materials called FreeXchangeri.  Both sites allow you to browse current listings, and post both listings of your own and any wanted items you may need.

Rhode Island Resource Recovery recently redesigned the exchanges sites to freshen them up.

“It’s a shame how much gets thrown into dumpsters when there are people who could use them right now,” said OConnell.  “Through the Materials Exchange, by giving away things you might throw away, you can reduce your company’s or your own personal environmental impact and help out a neighbor in need.”

For more information, visit www.rirrc.org/free or call 942-1430 x112.

All Rhode Islanders in need of flood disaster assistance should register with FEMA at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

PAWTUCKET TO HOST E-WASTE AND ECO-DEPOT COLLECTION EVENT ON APRIL 24

Appointment needed for household hazardous waste drop-off

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 6, 2010) – On Saturday, April 24, the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation will hold an e-waste recycling and Eco-Depot collection together with the town of Pawtucket.  The collection will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Jenks Jr. High School, 350 Division St,  Pawtucket.  Both the household hazardous waste and the electronic waste collection are free and open to Rhode Island residents only.

RIRRC’s Eco-Depot disposes of household hazardous wastes properly and safely.  Examples of HHW include propane gas tanks, half-empty oil paint cans, spent fluorescent light bulbs, mercury thermometers, dirty motor oil, and unused fertilizers.  HHW cannot be placed in regular trash and the safest way to dispose of them is through Eco-Depot.   Appointments are required and will help reduce the time you spend in the drop-off line.

Likewise, most electronic waste cannot be placed in the trash or recycled through R.I.’s curbside program.  Through Resource Recovery’s special programs, unwanted and broken personal computer equipment and televisions are recycled for free.  All types of household computers are eligible including CPUs, monitors, printers, keyboards, laptops, hard drives, scanners, modems, and mouse devices.

For a complete list of eligible materials, go to www.rirrc.org.  On the Web site, you can book an Eco-Depot appointment or call 942-1430 x241.  Appointments are not necessary for recycling e-waste.

All Rhode Islanders in need of flood disaster assistance should register with FEMA at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

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.

RIRRC Again Extends Collection Hours at Central Landfill

Effort to help cities and individuals with quick disposal of flood debris

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 6, 2010) – Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation today announced that it will again extend operating hours at the Central Landfill.   The landfill will be open for two additional hours for April 7 through April 9, and will extend its hours to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10.

“We are handling a higher-than-normal volume of waste and will accommodate the needs of our municipal, commercial and individual customers to get rid of the flood-damaged material as quickly as possible,” said Michael OConnell, executive director of RIRRC.  OConnell reports that RIRRC has seen a marked increase over the past few days in vehicle traffic and tonnage at the landfill.

In order for municipalities to apply for FEMA reimbursement, household trash left for collection at the curb must be separated from flood debris.  However, if individuals choose to bring the waste to the Central Landfill themselves, their disposal fees would not be eligible for FEMA reimbursement.

For those who do choose to drive their damaged goods to the Central Landfill in Johnston, they must first stop at the RIRRC scale house to be weighed, and then be directed to the drop-off area.   As they exit, they must cross over the scales to be weighed a second time, and the amount owed will be based on the net tonnage delivered. The minimum fee for residential drop off is $23 for the first 550 pounds of waste.  Any weight over 550 pounds will be charged a proportionate rate per pound.

The extended hours are:

• Wednesday, April 7:  Open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, April 8: Open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, April 9: Open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, April 10:  Open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, April 17:  Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, April 24:  Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents must discard household hazardous waste (HHW) via the RIRRC Eco-Depot program, as they normally would.  Examples of common HHW include oil-based paint, fluorescent light bulbs, lawn chemicals, pesticides, antifreeze, pool chemicals, turpentine, muriatic acid, and fire extinguishers.  Any product that is flammable, combustible, explosive, toxic, corrosive, poisonous and hazardous to health qualifies as HHW.

The updated April collection dates and locations are:

• April 10 from 8 a.m. – noon, Central Landfill, 65 Shun Pike, Johnston
• April 17 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Second Beach, Middletown
• April 17 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Central Landfill, 65 Shun Pike, Johnston
• April 24 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Jenks Jr. High, 350 Division St., Pawtucket
• April 24 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Block Island

“HHW is never allowed to be mixed with regular trash,” said OConnell.  “If the products have been compromised or their containers breeched because of the flooding, they will need to bring them to an Eco-Depot collection.”

RIRRC warns residents to use caution when handling and transporting materials to Eco-Depot.   Some products can cause reactions if they are combined with other hazardous products so it’s best to keep the HHW in original containers.  Line your vehicle floor with newspaper or plastic, and put bunched up newspaper between different HHW products.

For more information about what qualifies for HHW collections, directions, collection dates, and handling instructions, visit the Eco-Depot page on www.rirrc.org or call 942-1430 x 241.

All Rhode Islanders in need of flood disaster assistance should register with FEMA at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

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.