Recycling Tips 2017

Darien Reycycling Center

Saturday Recycling Tip: What to Do With That Old Garden Hose

By David Gurliacci | September 1, 2017

If you want to give your old hose a bit more life before tossing, consider these reuse ideas. 

Unusable garden hoses, like this one, should be thrown in the trash. They “catch” in equipment at the sorting facility, and should never be placed in single stream. ___________

 This announcement is from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information. Find out more about recycling in Darien here. ___________

More tips from the Darien Recycling Center:

What to do with old sports equipment
What to do with food containers that still have food in them
How to dispose of air conditioners, refrigerators, dehumidifiers
What to Take Home from the Darien Recycling Center
What light bulbs can be recycled
Can any batteries not be recycled?

Darien Reycycling Center

Saturday Recycling Tip: How to Recycle Containers With Some Food Still in Them

By David Gurliacci | July 8, 2017

Our guidelines suggest that “recyclables must be loose, empty and no more than lightly soiled.” Containers with food left in them will be thrown in the garbage when they arrive at the sorting facility; ditto with closed plastic bags. Questions about recycling? Click here. __________

— This announcement is from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information.

Darien Reycycling Center

Saturday Recycling Tip: How to Dispose of Air Conditioners, Refrigerators, Dehumidifiers

By David Gurliacci | June 10, 2017

Finally getting around to replacing that old air conditioner? Refrigeration equipment (freezers, refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers) can be recycled at the Darien Recycling Center. A $15 Freon-recovery fee is required – pay cash or check to the scale house attendant or at the Department of Public Works (DPW) office at Town Hall. __________

— This announcement is from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information. Find out more about recycling in Darien here.

Darien Reycycling Center

Can Any Light Bulb Be Recycled in Darien? Saturday Recycling Tip

By David Gurliacci | April 29, 2017

All light bulbs can be recycled at the Darien Recycling Center, but care should be taken with fluorescents as they contain a small amount of mercury. What to do if one breaks? _____________

— This is an announcement from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information. Find out more about recycling in Darien here. Other recent recycling tips:

Can any batteries not be recycled?

Darien Reycycling Center

What to Keep in Mind About Recycling Batteries in Darien: Saturday Recycling Tip

By David Gurliacci | April 15, 2017

Here’s what you should know about recycling batteries at the Darien Recycling Center — any kind of batteries:

(And the amount of batteries already recycled there, just from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 is pretty amazing.)

All types of batteries can be recycled at the Darien Recycling Center — no need to remember which ones can safely be disposed of with trash, which should be returned to retailers for recycling or which type should be saved for Household Hazardous Waste Day (HHWD). In FY-16, more than 5 tons of batteries were recycled through our facility! _____________

— This is an announcement from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information. Find out more about recycling in Darien here. Other recent recycling tips:

Which paints are accepted and which types aren’t.

Darien Reycycling Center

What Paints, Paint Products You Can & Can’t Recycle: Saturday Recycling Tip

By David Gurliacci | April 8, 2017

A few important reminders when dropping off paint and paint products for recycling:

Darienite.com editor’s note:

Paint is not accepted for Darien’s Household Hazardous Waste Day program, on June 3 this year. Here’s when nearby communities are holding Household Hazardous Waste Day programs, starting April 29 in Weston. _____________

— This is an announcement from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information. Find out more about recycling in Darien here. Other recent recycling tips:

Four Ways to do Single Stream Recycling Better
Old Appliances Like Washers, Dryers & Stoves
Recycle old smoke detectors.

Darien Reycycling Center

Saturday Recycling Tip: Four Ways To Do Single Stream Recycling Better

By David Gurliacci | April 1, 2017

Single stream recycling simplifies how recycling is done by allowing paper, cardboard, plastic, metal & glass to be “co-mingled,” or in one bin. A few reminders, however:
1) RECYCLABLES MUST BE LOOSE — never contained in a closed bag;

2) CARDBOARD should be FLATTENED;

3) LARGER PLASTIC ITEMS should be recycled in the “LARGE PLASTIC ITEMS” drop-off;

4) PLASTIC BAGS should be BUNCHED TOGETHER inside another bag – never loose. These simple steps facilitate operations at the sorting facility, and ensure that the materials you’ve made the effort to recycle are actually recycled! _____________

— This is an announcement from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information. Find out more about recycling in Darien here.

Darien Reycycling Center

Saturday Recycling Tips: What You Can Do with Bags

By David Gurliacci | March 18, 2017

You can recycle bags, and do that at the Darien Recycling Center, but for many bags there are even better options that the recycling center hopes you’ll choose. Here are two tips about bags from the Darien Recycling Center:

#1 — Avoid disposable bags

Single use plastic & paper bags are recyclable, but let’s face it: a lot of resources go into making, transporting & recycling them. 100 billion (yes — BILLION) plastic bags are consumed annually in the U.S., and many end up littering our landscapes, highways and waterways. A variety of reusable bags are available — most are inexpensive, durable and can be cleaned. Find ones you like and make a habit of using them!

Darien Reycycling Center

Now You Can Recycle Smoke Detectors at Darien Recycling Center

By David Gurliacci | March 11, 2017

Smoke detectors can now be recycled at the Darien Recycling Center! Why recycle them? Most older (ionization) smoke detectors contain a tiny amount of radioactive material, which is sealed inside the device and poses no hazard to users, but should not be thrown in the trash or put in with single stream recycling.  

[Editor’s note: Back on Jan. 24, Darienite.com reported that smoke-detector recycling was coming.

Darien Reycycling Center

Saturday Recycling Tip: What To Do With Working Pens, Markers You Don’t Want

By David Gurliacci | March 4, 2017

“Have a bunch of working markers, pens or pencils hanging around that you no longer need or want?” Here’s what you can do with them:

Darien Recycling Center recommends that you stick them in a ziplock bag and drop them off at the Swap Shop. Now in its seventh year, the Swap Shop is more popular than ever, as evidenced by its overcrowded parking area on a recent Saturday afternoon. Coming this spring: a new, more permanent, structure for the Swap Shop! _______________

— an announcement (and a second announcement) from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information.