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Ink jet and laser printer cartridges, and typewriter cartridges and ribbons, can be re-filled and reused. However, they cannot be recycled with regular plastics, even if there is a recycling number on the cartridge. Ink jet cartridge recyclers often give revenues to charitable organizations to encourage recycling. Here are some places to recycle:

• Staples and Best Buy 
• Vermont Toner Recharge (Burlington) 802-864-7637
• Ribbon Recyclers (Williston) 802-660-8960

NOTE: Toner cartridges from photocopiers often cannot be refilled or recycled. These should be safely disposed of in the trash.

Each of the five transfer stations in the District accepts tires for a fee.

Thermometers containing silver liquid, and many older thermostats (round in shape or non-digital), contain mercury. Please take them to a hazardous waste collection. We can offer you one free replacement digital fever thermometer per household when you bring in your old one(s). Also see Mercury-Containing Devices for more details on mercury.

• Before you pitch your unwanted clothing and bedroom linens consider having a neighborhood yard sale or a clothing swap party with friends.

• Thrift stores will accept clothing and linens that are in good to excellent condition that they can sell. See Clothing for a list of area thrift stores.

• If you use the Ludlow or Springfield transfer stations, you can bring saleable clothing and linens there.

• If your clothing is torn or stained offer them as rags to your local mechanic. As a last resort, put your clothing in a yellow Planet Aid box, found throughout the District.

TVs may not go in the trash. They may be recycled with the  State of Vermont’s electronics recycling program. Click here.

• Propane tanks—Pressurized tanks which are empty or which no longer work (propane, butane, oxygen, etc.) should be returned to the retailer or manufacturer. Some retailers take your used tank when you buy a new one, even if the old one wasn’t theirs. For grill tanks, swapping them at a department store or convenience store is a good bet, as they often save you money on a new tank with the new “over-fill protection” valve. If you cannot find an outlet for your empty tank, you may take it to a hazardous waste collection or the Hartford Transfer Station.

• Fuel oil tanks—A fuel oil tank cannot go in the scrap metal pile unless it has been cut in half, a potentially explosive task. The tanks also often have hazardous sludge in them. Best bet is to hire a tank removal company, which can be found in the yellow pages under “Environmental Products and Services” or “Tank Cleaning”.

To properly dispose of “sharps” and syringes, it’s safer to toss them into a thick plastic container such as an empty laundry detergent bottle; it’s more puncture-resistant than most other types of plastic bottles.

The District has created a fluorescent orange warning sticker. Apply it to an empty laundry detergent bottle. Used syringes and other sharps should be placed inside and collected until the bottle is 2/3 full.
The bottle should then be capped and sealed with heavy duty tape.

Final steps…dispose of the bottle in your household trash and let your garbage hauler know that sharps are present. Do NOT recycle the container. For stickers, call the District at 674-9235 or email mobrien@swcrpc.org. We will mail them to you.

Food Related- Polystyrene (PS#6) plastic—found under meats, and in clam-shell type packaging—is not currently recyclable in our area. 

Packing Materials- Styrofoam packing peanuts and packing blocks cannot be recycled. The UPS Store (Shaw’s Plaza, West Lebanon NH 603-298-7890 ) and Hanover True Value/UPS (East South Street, Hanover NH  603-643-2308) both collect peanuts. Please call ahead. Many retailers who ship merchandise, including maple syrup producers, may take packing peanuts as well.

See Appliances.

Clean and dry – recycle according to your hauler or transfer station’s guidelines.