The Fox Point Neighborhood Association, (FPNA), has received a $750 Earth Day grant for a third volunteer clean-up of Gano Park’s Seekonk Shoreline, set for Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Last year, a FPNA committee was formed to give the park back its view–something that had been hidden for years by weeds, untrimmed trees and illegal garbage dumping. FPNA participated in last year’s Earth Day Clean Up followed by a second one, which resulted in two-thirds of the park’s shoreline being cleared. This year’s Earth Day event, sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection, (DEM), and the Providence Department of Parks, will continue the view from the park’s back parking lot to the Crooks Point Bridge.

Gano Park is home to the Providence Soccer League, East Side Little League teams, city gardeners, dog park enthusiasts and residents from all over the city. Volunteers are asked to bring garden gloves, hand pruners, limb loppers, cross and bow saws to trim large weeds and trees; tarps to move the cuttings to the dumpsters. Under drizzling conditions, the clean up will continue, but if there are heavy rains, then a rain date of Sunday, May 1^st has been set. Dunkin Donuts on Gano Street will be providing free coffee and donuts to volunteers again.

At some point in future, plans call for the Seekonk River to be part of Rhode Island’s extensive bike paths and greenways system. In 2010, FPNA began a positive e-mail discussion between bike path personnel with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation , (RIDOT), and the East Coast Greenway Alliance regarding the railroad tracks that connect Gano Street with the park. The railroad bed, if re-claimed could offer a scenic pathway, or jogging course from Gano Street to the park’s riverfront.

Soon, the Narragansett Bay Commission will begin underground construction on Phase II of its Combined Sewage Overflow tunnel, along the Seekonk shoreline. Work on the proposed East Transit Street Boat Ramp, to be located at the southern end of Gano Park, also is expected to begin this year.

“At this particular time of change for the park, FPNA hopes to be a conduit of communication, offering periodic updates,” according to John Rousseau, event organizer . “We also will be posing questions to the many groups who will be involved in the parks transformation,” Rousseau said. “By improving this amenity on the eastern border of Fox Point, FPNA believes it will drastically raise the neighborhood’s quality of life and encourage real estate recovery.”

The committee includes representatives from DEM, the Narragansett Bay Commission, Save the Bay, Department of Parks, Brown University, Fox Point’s three elected officials and leaders of the various groups using the park. The committee mainly communicates through e-mails and seeks input from the public and advisory committee members. For more information, contact fpna@cox.net.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT JOHN ROUSSEAU AT 401-270-7121.

RIRRC TO HOLD ECO-DEPOT AND

E-WASTE COLLECTION AT CENTRAL LANDFILL

Dispose variety of household waste

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 15, 2011) – On Saturday, May 7, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) will hold a household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronic waste collection at the Central Landfill.   Rhode Island residents can bring eligible items for disposal from 8:00 a.m. until noon.

HHW and e-waste cannot be combined with regular trash or recyclables, and are banned from landfills.  Examples of e-waste include televisions, CPUs, laptops, and monitors.  Common HHW includes propane gas tanks, oil-based paint, turpentine, driveway sealers, fertilizer, mercury thermometers, and florescent light bulbs.

In addition to HHW and electronic waste, RIRRC will accept tires, clean wood, cooking oil, and batteries.  Fees apply for some products but recyclables, HHW and electronic waste are always accepted free of cost.

“It’s the time of year when people rummage through their garages, sheds, and basements and clean out the stuff they no longer need or want,” said Mike OConnell, executive director of RIRRC. “We cannot stress enough how important it is to separate waste that cannot be mixed with regular trash.  By disposing special wastes at the collections, Rhode Islanders extend the life of the landfill and reduce its toxicity.  These are both important goals for the state’s environmental health.”

While appointments are necessary for all Eco-Depot drop-offs, they aren’t required for residents who are just dropping off electronic waste for recycling.  For a complete list of eligible materials or to make an HHW appointment go to 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.

RESOURCE RECOVERY’S ECO-DEPOT TO VISIT

RICHMOND FOR SPECIAL ONE-DAY COLLECTION

Free for Rhode Island Residents

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 8, 2011) –Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, together with the Town of Richmond, will offer a special Eco-Depot collection at the Richmond Transfer Station on Saturday, April 30 from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.   The drive-up and drop-off address is 51 Buttonwoods Road.

Eco-Depot collections are the safest, easiest and least expensive way to dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW) in Rhode Island.  Collections are always free and available to Rhode Island residents.

To help speed up the drop-off process, appointments are strongly advised for Eco-Depot collections.

“Leftover hazardous products take up space in your home and they really aren’t safe to store indefinitely, said Mike OConnell, RIRRC executive director.  “RIRRC holds collections in every county for consumer convenience and to ensure that the program is accessible.”

It’s vitally important to dispose HHW properly.  When people pour small amounts of HHW into storm drains, sewers or cesspools, they contaminate large amounts of groundwater and public waterways as well as soil.  Common HHW are poisons and chemicals, such as oil-based paints, propane gas tanks, toxic cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs, mercury thermometers, pool chemicals, rechargeable batteries and fertilizers.  Because these items contain chemicals that are harmful to humans, animals and the environment, special care is required to dispose of them safely.

To make a household hazardous waste appointment, go to www.rirrc.org, and click on the Eco-Depot button at the bottom of the page or call 942-1430 x241.   Follow on Twitter @RIRRC.

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 TO HOLD ECO-DEPOT AND E-WASTE COLLECTION IN FOSTER

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 1, 2011) –Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) is hosting a household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronic waste collection on Saturday, April 23 at Foster Town Hall, 181 Howard Hill Road, from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

RIRRC accepts an assortment of hazardous materials at these collections such as fluorescent light bulbs, mercury thermometers and thermostats, oil-based paints, automotive fluids, insecticides, and propane gas tanks.   Product labels using the words dangerous, toxic, corrosive, combustible, or flammable are good indicators that the product is HHW.   As such, they cannot be combined with regular trash or recyclables, and are banned from landfill disposal.

Eco-Depot, which is free for Rhode Island residents, is a valuable program to ensure that HHW remains out of the Central Landfill.   Appointments are strongly encouraged to cut waiting time, but people who are just dropping off electronic waste for recycling do not need an appointment.   Examples of e-waste include televisions, CPUs, laptops, monitors and televisions.

“Resource Recovery schedules special collections in each county to help make it very convenient to use the service,” said Michael OConnell, executive director of RIRRC.  “Disposing of HHW and e-waste products through Eco-Depot helps reduce the inadvertent release of toxic chemicals into the environment.  I encourage people to evaluate their homes to see if it’s time to remove whatever HHW they no longer need and bring it to Eco-Depot.”

For a complete list of eligible materials or to make an HHW appointment go to www.rirrc.org, or call 942-1430 x241.   Follow on Twitter @RIRRC.

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.

NUTRIENT-RICH COMPOST FOR SALE

RIRRC Recycles Leaf & Yard Waste into Soil Amendment

JOHNSTON, R.I. (March 28, 2011) – Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) has turned massive amounts of grass clippings, leaves, and yard debris into fertile compost that’s now for sale at bargain prices.

“The compost we sell started its life in the backyards of thousands Rhode Island households,” said Sarah Kite, Director of Recycling Services at RIRRC.  “Instead of wasting space in the Central Landfill on this organic material, RIRRC has converted it to a rich soil amendment that’s much safer for the R.I. environment than chemical fertilizers.”

The compost resembles dirt and is clean, screened, and rated as Class A.  ”Class A” designation simply means it is safe and effective for all applications.  It sells for $30 per cubic yard, which is less expensive than that sold by for-profit companies.  It is ideal for top-dressing lawns, prepping flower beds and improving the general condition of yard soil.

RIRRC produces about 20,000 cubic yards of finished compost each year.  It’s available for sale during regular operating hours, which are Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to noon.    At this time, customers must transport the compost; home delivery service is not available.   The minimum purchase is one half cubic yard.

For more information about purchasing the compost, visit.rirrc.org/buycompost or call 942-1430 x104.  Follow on Twitter @RIRRC.

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 TRAVELS TO MIDDLETOWN FOR

SPECIAL ECO-DEPOT AND E-WASTE COLLECTION ON 4/16

Good Timing for Aquidneck Island Household Spring Cleaning Activities

JOHNSTON, R.I. (March 25, 2011) – Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) will host a special collection of household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronic waste at Second Beach in Middletown on April 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  For people who live on Aquidneck Island, this will be a convenient date to avoid the trip to Johnston for special wastes disposal.

Eco-Depot collections are free and are available to Rhode Island residents only.  To avoid waiting in lines, appointments are necessary if dropping off HHW.  No appointment is required for recycling electronic waste.

Last year, 1,200 households delivered 77,000 pounds of HHW and 25,000 pounds of e-waste to RIRRC at this location.  By volume, this made last year’s Middletown collection the most successful of the year.  Because this collection is held near the shore, RIRRC asks that residents refrain from bringing safety flares to Eco-Depot.  Local fire departments can assist with the proper disposal of safety flares.

Neither HHW nor e-waste can be combined with regular trash that will be land-filled.  Common examples of electronic waste include computers, monitors, mouse pointers, hard drives, modems, scanners, laptops, printers, and televisions.  The improper disposal of these now-common items has the potential to cause harm to humans and environment alike.

HHW must also be disposed of carefully.  These products use cautionary terms on their labels such as “poison” or “danger to human health.”   The usual suspects are oil-based paints, rechargeable batteries, pool chemicals, automotive fluids, fluorescent bulbs, and mercury-containing devices such as thermostats and thermometers.

“Eco-Depot is free and one of the best services available to safely rid homes of potentially dangerous products,” said Michael OConnell, executive director of RIRRC.  “We schedule collections around the state because we appreciate the fact that people don’t want to travel very far on their Saturdays for this type of household chore.  With our service, you won’t have to wait in line more than 20 minutes.”

To make an appointment, go to www.rirrc.org and click on the Eco-Depot symbol, or call 942-1430 x241.   A full listing of accepted wastes can be found on the site.  Follow them on Twitter @RIRRC.

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 TO HOST ECO-DEPOT AND E-WASTE COLLECTION AT CENTRAL LANDFILL
Dispose variety of household waste

JOHNSTON, R.I. (March 18, 2011) –Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) is hosting a household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronic waste collection on Saturday, April 9 at the Central Landfill, 65 Shun Pike, in Johnston from 8:00 a.m. until noon.

Eco-Depot is a valuable HHW collection program that is free for all Rhode Island residents. HHW cannot be combined with regular trash or recyclables, and is banned from landfills.
“RIRRC holds regular collections and it’s essential for Rhode Islanders to utilize this program which helps keep the state clean and healthy for all who live and vacation here,” said Mike OConnell, executive director of RIRRC. “We ask folks who are disposing HHW to make an appointment in order to make the process quicker and easier.”
RIRRC will accept a wide variety of hazardous materials such as fluorescent light bulbs, mercury thermometers and thermostats, oil-based paints, automotive fluids, insecticides, and propane gas tanks. A good rule of thumb to judge if a product is HHW is to check the product label for the words dangerous, toxic, corrosive, combustible or flammable. If it does, it’s probably HHW.

While appointments are necessary for all Eco-Depot drop-offs, they aren’t required for residents who are just dropping off electronic waste for recycling. Examples of e-waste include televisions, CPUs, laptops, fax machines and scanners.

On April 9, Rhode Islanders can also dispose tires, clean wood, cooking oil, and batteries at the Central Landfill. Fees apply for some products; recyclables are always accepted free of cost.
For a complete list of eligible materials or to make an HHW appointment go to 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.

RIRRC TO HOLD ECO-DEPOT COLLECTION
AT COVENTRY DPW ON APRIL 2

JOHNSTON, R.I. (March 11, 2011) – On April 2, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) will host a free collection of household hazardous waste (HHW) at the Coventry Department of Public Works, 1668 Flat River Rd. Appointments are available between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Any household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered HHW and cannot be mixed with regular trash. HHW can be dangerous to humans, animals, and the environment when not properly handled.
Some of the most common types of HHW are oil-based paints, rechargeable batteries, fertilizer, pool chemicals, automotive fluids, and mercury-containing devices such as fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats, and thermometers. If unsure, look for warning words, such as “poison”, “hazardous to human health”, or “danger” on the label.
To avoid waiting in line, appointments are necessary to drop off HHW. This collection is for Rhode Island residents only.
“RIRRC’s Eco-Depot is the best program in the state for the easy and free disposal of hazardous waste,” said Mike OConnell, executive director of RIRRC. “It’s not wise to store hazardous products in the home, so we encourage people to take advantage of this service and get rid of their HHW safely through Eco-Depot.”
To make an appointment, go to www.rirrc.org and click on the Eco-Depot symbol, or call 942-1430 x241. A full listing of accepted wastes can be found on the site.
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

RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY TO HOST SPECIAL
ECO-DEPOT COLLECTION IN GLOCESTER

JOHNSTON, R.I. (March 7, 2011) – The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) will host a special Eco-Depot collection of household hazardous waste (HHW) in Glocester on March 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The site is the Glocester Highway Department located at 91 Chestnut Hill Road. The collection is free and available for Rhode Island residents only.
Appointments are necessary for the Eco-Depot service to reduce waiting time in the drop-off.
HHW is banned from landfill disposal and cannot be mixed with regular trash. Eligible products have labels warning that they are dangerous to human health because they are flammable, caustic, combustible, explosive or toxic. Some of the most popular HHW are compact florescent light bulbs, oil-based paint, mercury thermometers and thermostats, used motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, antifreeze, lawn chemicals, and pesticides.
Incorrect disposal of HHW has long-lasting ill effects on the environment. Small amounts of household poisons can contaminate large bodies of water, affecting the plants and wildlife that rely on the water for life. It’s nearly impossible to pinpoint the source of the pollution or clean it up. It’s much easier to prevent pollution by using a service such as Eco-Depot.
To make an appointment, go to www.rirrc.org and click on the Eco-Depot symbol, 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.

WARREN TO BE THE SITE FOR SPECIAL RIRRC COLLECTION
Wide Assortment of Household Waste Can Be Disposed and Recycled

JOHNSTON, R.I. (March 1, 2011) – Appointments are still available for the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronic scrap collection on Saturday, March 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 21 Birch Swamp Road in Warren.
Eco-Depot collections are the safest and easiest way to dispose of HHW in Rhode Island. The collection is free but restricted to Rhode Island residents.

If you are dropping off hazardous waste at this Eco-Depot collection, an appointment is required. This helps reduce time waiting in line and helps RIRRC know in advance what kinds of products will need special handling.
It’s very important to properly dispose HHW properly. When people pour even the smallest amounts of HHW into storm drains, sewers or cesspools, they can contaminate large amounts of groundwater and public waterways as well as soil. Common HHW are poisons and chemicals, such as mercury thermometers and thermostats, oil-based paints, propane gas tanks, toxic cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs, pool chemicals, and fertilizers. Because these items contain chemicals that are harmful to humans, animals and the environment, special care is required to dispose of them safely.

Appointments are not required for anyone dropping off electronic scrap. Examples include televisions, CPUs, laptops, fax machines and scanners.

To make an Eco-Depot appointment, go to www.rirrc.org and click on the Eco-Depot symbol, or call 942-1430 x241. A comprehensive listing of HHW and electronic scrap examples can also be found on the site.
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.