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WHAT CAN I DO WITH...?
Automotive Liquids
Used motor oil, transmission oil, brake fluid, antifreeze, as well as auto polish and cleaners can all be brought to CHARM. Used motor oil, antifreeze, and transmission oil are taken without fees. Other auto products like cleaners carry a small fee per pound. Recycling Fees. Can only be accepted during CHARM season.
Batteries
Household batteries such as AA, AAA, C, D, button batteries, and 9 volt batteries can all be dropped off at any one of the neighborhood recycling centers. Each shed at the recycling centers has a special door next to the vending machine with a sign, “Battery Drop”. We appreciate it when people keep their batteries together in a small plastic bag. Battery recycling is free.
Auto, truck, motorcycle, and boat lead-acid batteries are much larger and can and do leak acid if mishandled. These types of batteries lead-acid must come to the CHARM collection so they can be properly taken in and stored for recycling. Battery recycling is free.
Computer battery back-up systems can be recycled anytime there is an Electronic collection. Currently that is every day at 1100 S. Detroit Street, the central office of the Solid Waste District.
Closed jell-cell batteries used in small scooters and children’s toy vehicles. They are sealed and can be dropped at the recycling centers or brought to CHARM.
Books
Paperback books can be placed in any of the “Paper” recycling containers at the neighborhood recycling centers.
Hardback books can be recycled, however they need to be brought in to the main facility located at 1100 S Detroit Street, Bellefontaine during business hours from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday.
Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard is everywhere in our society. Break down cardboard boxes and slide them into the cardboard recycling container at each recycling center. If you have curbside recycling service you can cut the cardboard to small enough pieces to fit into your recycling bin.
Computers
Computers can be recycled as part of the electronics collection occurring during business hours at the District Office, 1100 S. Detroit St., in Bellefontaine. Monitor Recycling is $10.
Electronics
Electronics are collected daily between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm at our main office at 1100 S. Detroit Street in Bellefontaine, Ohio. If you can plug it in, bring it in. Does not include large items such as appliances, or freon containing devices.
Garden & Lawn Chemicals
Fertilizers, weed killers, plant food and other garden and pest control sprays, liquids, and powers are accepted only through the CHARM operation. There is a fee for these materials. Recycling Fees. Can only be accepted during CHARM season.
Glass
Household container glass such as: beer bottles, wine bottles, food bottles, can be recycled at all of the recycling centers by placing them in the Household Container roll-off bin.
Other glass items are not recyclable because they generally contain lead and cannot be melted with normal glass. Non-recyclable glass includes, house windows, auto glass, any kind of ceramics, china, ceramic jars, and pottery.
Household Hazardous Waste
Many items are considered household hazardous wastes such as poisons, bleaches, pool chemicals, garden chemicals and insecticides. These are all collected at a CHARM session. See CHARM.
The Ohio EPA allows the Solid Waste District to collect these items from households, extremely small generators of waste, but not from businesses, schools, government agencies, churches, or farms.
Household Items, Bottles & Cans
Glass bottles, steel and aluminum cans can be recycled at any neighborhood recycling center.
Light Bulbs & Fluorescent Tubes
Fluorescent tubes contain toxic chemicals like mercury and should not be tossed in the trash. These tubes are collected at the CHARM collection times and sent to factories for recycling. There is a small fee for each tube. Recycling Fees.
Incandescent light bulbs can be thrown in the trash. These bulbs will not be manufactured in the United States, nor sold in stores in a few years. They are being phased out because they are so inefficient and give off so much heat.
The twist light bulbs, CFLs, curly fluorescent lights, are recyclable and can be brought to the CHARM program for a small fee per bulb.
Recycling Fees. Also accepted during regular business hours.
Magazines
Magazines of all kinds are completely recyclable. Bring to any recycling center and place in the paper container. At the curbside place magazines with the paper and cardboard materials.
Mattresses & Bedsprings
Mattresses and bedspring at this time must go to the landfill. Take them directly to Cherokee Run Landfill on Route 68 N., or if you live in Bellefontaine, obtain a large item sticker from the City Utility Office, 592-3561, for a fee and the Bellefontaine Utility workers will pick the item up from your yard.
Mercury
If you have items containing mercury (silver in color) such as a thermometer, auto switch, home thermostat, bring those items to CHARM for proper collection, storage, and recycling double bagged in ziplock bags. We also accept jars of properly sealed mercury anytime we are open for business. Mercury spills are dangerous because mercury will vaporize at room temperature. Children and women of childbearing age should not be exposed to Mercury vapors. If a spill occurs do not vacuum it up. Such an action will only distribute the Mercury vapors quickly through your home or business.
Packing Peanuts
Most packing peanuts are made of Styrofoam (polystyrene). Styrofoam is not recyclable in this area of Ohio, however if they are clean and dry, PakMail located in Bellefontaine will accept them.
Paint
Oil Based: There are basically two kinds of paint, oil based paints and water based paints (latex). We accept oil based paints at CHARM for a small fee. Because they contain oil they can be blended with other materials for fuel to make electricity. You can tell oil based paint by the smell and the instruction on clean up. If you need turpentine or paint thinner to clean up the paint is oil based.
Water Based: Water based paints, or latex paint, are not recyclable. To get rid of this paint, use it up while painting first. Then dry leftover paint with kitty litter, saw dust, or floor dry. Once it is hardened it can be thrown in the trash and sent to the landfill. If the instructions on the can say it can be cleaned up with soap and water, you have water based paint.
Paper
Paper is fiber and all kinds of paper are recyclable. Paper goes in the ‘paper’ container at the recycling centers. Some animal food bags look like paper but have a plastic liner; this paper is not recyclable unless you can remove the plastic liner – a tough job.
We love shredded paper. Just be sure that when you take shredded paper to a recycling center that the wind is not blowing too strongly; we like the paper to go into the containers and not on our neighbors.
Plastic Bags
Most plastic film is recyclable, items such as single use grocery bags, bread wrappers, produce, food storage, product wrap; salt bags are some of the most popular and are completely recyclable! Please make sure bags are clean from all residues and/or garbage. Please DO NOT bring plastic bags with liners, bags that contain threads, weaving, strapping or cording. All plastic bags/film must be brought to our main facility which is located at 1100 S Detroit Street, Bellefontaine. There is a large blue roll off container that is there for this product.
Plastics
There are hundreds of kinds of “plastic”. Just because an item appears to be made of plastic does not mean it is recyclable. Currently only plastic containers with the number 1 or 2 in a small triangle on the bottom of the container are recyclable. This would include water bottles, pop bottles, soap and detergent containers, some food containers, cat litter containers. Fortunately number 1 and 2 plastics include most of the home containers made from these materials. Another measure of whether a plastic item is recyclable is if the container mouth is smaller than the container size, such as a milk jug; then it is recyclable.
Many other “plastic” items contain toxic materials or many layers of plastic film that cannot be chemically or physically separated. Shower curtains are a good example; they are made of polyvinyl chloride, a material that is not recyclable.
Shredded Paper
Paper shredded is totally recyclable and we welcome it. Only one caution, don’t put it in your curbside bin or bring it to a drop-off location on a windy day – you may end up decorating the neighborhood with paper streamers! At drop-off locations place shredded paper in the paper container.
Styrofoam
Ugh! Ugh! Styrofoam is NOT recyclable at all in this part of Ohio. Styrofoam packing peanuts and all that packing material from shipping boxes, coffee cups, and all the rest are trash! Do not put them in the drop-off recycling containers or curbside bins.
Television (TV) Sets
Yes, we accept them – they cannot go to a landfill. See the Electronics Collection schedule. Fees apply $10.
Tires
Scrap tires are recyclable and we only accept them at CHARM sessions. Recycling Fees. Fees do apply.