“New Year's resolutions give us a chance to express something we’ve always wanted to do.  In this case, a resolution to be a better recycler not only helps the person making the resolution, it also helps the planet and the environment,” said Mike Smith, Market Area General Manager for Waste Management in Ventura County.

Recycling helps conserve resources and energy and supports a healthy environment.  Consider the following:

• A mature tree will produce just 14 newspapers.
• The energy saved by recycling one aluminum container runs a television for three hours.
• Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.

It can be hard to keep up with what’s recyclable and what’s not.  In most cities in Ventura County, the following materials should be put in the recycling bin:

Clean Paper, including newspaper and inserts, junk mail, white and colored office paper, wrapping, art and craft paper, telephone books, magazines, paper bags, catalogs, envelopes (including those with windows), shredded paper (in a closed paper bag or box), note cards, Post-it notes

Cardboard Boxes and Chipboard, including cereal boxes (liners removed), frozen food boxes, shoe and detergent boxes, paper and toilet rolls, and corrugated boxes (flattened)

Aluminum, Tin, Metal and Bi-Metal Cans, rinsed if possible, soda, juice, soup, vegetable, and pet food cans, pie tins, wire hangers

Glass Bottles and Jars (rinsed if possible), including soda, wine, and beer bottles, food jars

Plastic Bottles and Containers (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 and #7), including soda, juice, detergent, bleach, shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, dishwashing containers, milk jugs, tubs for margarine and yogurt, plastic planters

Plastic Bags and Film Bags (bundled in a tied bag), including grocery and store bags, dry cleaner bags

These materials should be thrown away in the regular trash.

Contaminated paper, including juice boxes, coated milk cartons, all soiled papers or bags with oil and food waste, paper cups, paper towels, wax paper and unclean food boxes

Broken glass, including window glass, mirrors, auto glass, light bulbs, fluorescent lights and ceramics, drinking glasses and mugs

Other plastic materials, including laundry baskets, garden hoses, plastic wrap, packaging materials and old trash containers

Miscellaneous materials, including cloth, appliances, carpet and padding, computer parts, diapers, dryer lint, food waste, packaging materials, lawn furniture, pens and pencils, phones, clocks, water pipes, wood/lumber and construction materials

These materials should NEVER be thrown in the trash or recycling bin.  Please take these materials to a household hazardous waste facility (see websites, below, for how to located these facilities.)

Hazardous materials, including batteries, syringes, electronic items, all partially filled aerosol cans and containers for cleaning fluids, automotive fluids, pesticides, paint, garden chemicals, and pool cleaners  

Websites for more information

For information on recycling, reuse and how and where to dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronics waste properly, see the following websites:

www.vcmax.org
VCMAX, the Ventura County Materials Exchange program, is a FREE "matchmaking service for discards" provided to county residents and businesses by the Ventura County Integrated Waste Management Division of the Water & Sanitation Department. The VCMAX program promotes reuse and waste reduction by allowing residents, businesses, and non-profits to place free "wanted" or "available" ads on the www.VCMAX.org website.

www.earth911.org
Earth 911 delivers actionable local information on the environment that empowers people to act locally, live responsibly and contribute to sustainability.

www.ciwmb.ca.gov/HHW
The State of California’s Integrated Waste Management Board has information on the changing regulations regarding HHW and e-waste.

www.freecycle.org
Waste Management is the founding Corporate Sponsor for The Freecycle Network™, which is made up of 4,218 groups with more than 4 million members across the globe. It's a grassroots and nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. A local volunteer moderates each group.  Membership is free.