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Q
Who is required to recycle in CT?
A Everyone!
The Mandatory
Recycling Act went into effect in CT on January
1, 1991. It applies to every business, every
household, every institution and every government
agency.
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Q
What items do I have to recycle?
A Everyone
in the State of CT is required to recycle the
following items: glass food and beverage
containers; metal food and beverage containers;
newspapers; corrugated cardboard; leaves; scrap
metal; used motor oil; lead-acid batteries; white
office paper (households exempt); grass clippings
and nickel-cadmium batteries.
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Q Are
any other items recycled in the HRRA region?
A Yes.
In addition to the recyclables mandated by the
State, residents of HRRA communities can also
recycle all plastic bottles with a neck as well
as magazines.
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Q Why
does HRRA provide recycling only for plastic bottles
with a neck?
A HRRA
accepts all plastics with a #1 or #2 in the triangle
on the bottom of the container. The Intermediate
Processing Center (IPC) which handles recyclables
from the HRRA communities has developed strong
resale markets for #1PET and #2HDPE plastics.
Such markets are not available for the other types
of plastics (#3 - #7). Many people say it is too
difficult to find or read the numbers in the triangles
on the bottom of plastic containers, but it is
easy to tell if a plastic container has a neck.
Since more than 95% of all plastics with a neck
are made from #1 or #2 plastic, the "check
for the neck" campaign is an easy way to
capture the right plastics for recycling. In other
parts of the country "check for the neck"
programs have increased plastics recycling by
as much as 30% compared to asking consumers to
find the #1 or #2 in the triangle.
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Q How
can I safely dispose of sharps?
A Dispose
of used needles and other sharps in a sharps container
specifically designed for that purpose.
Containers may be available from your physician
or pharmacist and are sold at medical supply stores
and online. One convenient option is the
mail-back program that allows for the return of
filled sharps containers through the post office.
The following are examples of mail-back programs:
Sharps
Disposal by Mail System®; BD™
Sharps Disposal By Mail; GRP
Medical Services - Mail-Back Sharps Disposal.
Do not throw loose
needles into the garbage and do not
put sharps in recycling blue bags. Each
year a number of garbage haulers in our region
suffer unnecessary needle sticks because of the
improper disposal of sharps. Additional
information is available on the EPA
website.
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Q Where
can I dispose of used propane tanks?
A Used
tanks can be taken to your local propane
dealer or supplier or to one of the tank
recycling companies on the list maintained
by the CT DEP. Those on the list in the greater
Danbury area include Norbert E. Mitchell Co.,
Techair, and Federal Road Sunoco. Tank Recyclers,
in partnership with Blue Rhino of New England
recycles and re-certifies old grill tanks for
return to the marketplace. Blue Rhino can be found
at Home Depot, Lowes, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart .
Do not throw your tank in the
trash or attempt to remove its safety valve.
Propane tanks are not accepted
at regional household hazardous waste collections.
Q How
do I recycle used motor oil?
A Used
motor oil can be recycled at your local drop off/recycling
center in every HRRA municipality except Ridgefield.
In Ridgefield, the Town sponsors an annual motor
oil collection day for residents every October.
In the HRRA region, some Auto Zone stores also
accept used motor oil for recycling.
Q What
types of batteries must be recycled?
A Lead
acid batteries, such as car and truck
batteries, should be recycled at your local drop
off/recycling center. Nickel-cadmium
(Ni-Cd) rechargeable batteries, such
as those found in many electronics, cameras, and
cell phones, should be recycled through the manufacturer’s
take-back program. Just go to any of the
participating retailers such as Best Buy, Cingular
Wireless, The Home Depot, Lowe's, RadioShack,
Sears, Staples, Target, Verizon Wireless, and
Wal-Mart. Check with the Rechargeable
Battery Recycling Corporation for the location
nearest you. Primary dry cell batteries,
those that are thrown away after use such as AA,
C and D cells, can be disposed of in your regular
household garbage.
Q How
do I dispose of used paint cans?
A Oil
based paint should be saved for the annual
household hazardous
waste collection in the region. Latex
paint, the kind that cleans up with soap
and water, is not hazardous and can be disposed
of in your regular garbage, after removing the
lids from the cans and letting the paint dry out.
To speed up the drying process, you can mix any
leftover paint with kitty litter or sawdust.
The main objective is to prevent any paint from
dripping out of the garbage truck and all over
the road after pickup when your garbage is compacted
in the rear of your hauler’s packer truck.
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Q I’m
new to the area and wondering how to start my
garbage collection and recycling service?
A In
the HRRA region, garbage collection is done by
private haulers. You can choose a hauler
from the list of HRRA
permitted haulers, look in the yellow pages
or check with neighbors to find the haulers who
serve your community. HRRA permitted haulers
are required to maintain comprehensive liability
insurance, automobile liability insurance and
workers’ compensation insurance as required
by law as a condition of their permit. All
HRRA municipalities provide for a local
drop off/recycling center where residents
who don’t want to hire a private hauler
can dispose of their garbage and recyclables.
Most private haulers in the region pick up curbside
recyclables on the same day as garbage collection.
Newtown residents receive municipal recycling
collection paid for by taxes. For more information
about the Newtown
municipal recycling program you may call 203-270-4300.
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Q What
items are accepted at the annual household hazardous
waste collection?
A Items
accepted at the household hazardous waste collections
include oil-based paints and solvents; glues and
adhesives; automotive and marine products such
as engine degreasers, brake fluid, gasoline; herbicides;
insecticides; pesticides; hobby supplies; and
items containing mercury such as thermometers
and thermostats. For more information, see
the complete list of items
accepted as well as items
not accepted or call HRRA at 203-775-6256
x304.
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Q What
should I do with my household hazardous waste
if I won’t be in town for the collection
event or if I missed it?
A If
you are unable to get to the household
hazardous waste collection scheduled for your
community, ask a friend, neighbor or relative
who is planning to go to the collection to take
along your items or safely store your hazardous
items for the following year’s collection.
You also have the option to call a licensed hazardous
waste transport and disposal company, but the
cost is often prohibitive for individual homeowners.
There are no facilities in the State of Connecticut
at which residents of this region can drop off
household hazardous waste except for the annual
collections organized by the HRRA municipalities.
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Q Why
doesn’t HRRA schedule more household hazardous
waste collection events?
A The
short answer is cost. More than 40% of the
HRRA budget
is designated for household hazardous waste collection
costs. Funding to cover those costs comes
from local tax dollars in the participating towns.
With local budgets squeezed to keep property tax
increases to a minimum, there are limited dollars
available in every community to pay for household
hazardous waste collection. By working together
to hold collection events, HRRA municipalities
help keep fixed costs to a minimum. You
can help by supporting the household hazardous
waste collection during your community’s
budget process.
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Q Where
can I dispose of old computers and other electronics?
A Residents
of Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Milford and Sherman
can bring old electronics to the annual household
hazardous waste collection sponsored by their
communities. Danbury, Newtown, New Fairfield
and Redding residents can dispose of old electronics
at their local drop off/recycling centers.
The AWD/City
of Danbury Mom & Pop Recycle Center 
is open to residents of all HRRA communities with
a non-resident permit and accepts electronics.
Businesses looking to dispose of working computers
purchased in 2002 or later may donate them to
Geeks
for Givers for use by local CT non-profits.
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Q Are
plastic grocery bags recyclable?
A Yes,
but not curbside or at RTI. Return plastic grocery
bags to the grocery store. They can be made into
plastic lumber. Better yet, try reusable cloth
bags instead of either paper or plastic. Most
local grocery stores sell reusable shopping bags
for a nominal fee. You can also buy bags online
like Green
Sak.
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Q How
should I dispose of old prescription medication?
A Do
not flush prescription medication down
the toilet! Proper disposal that protects the
environment is easy and cost effective as described
in this
guide from CT
DEP.
Q How
do I dispose of items not discussed so far?
A Check
out DEP's How
Do I Dispose Of . . . website.
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