Kyle Geissler talks with Janesville Gazette reporter Kayla Bunge about items you should recycle, but shouldn't put in the recycling bin.
JANESVILLE — We're all accustomed to recycling paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastic and glass. But a number of household items can't be placed in the recycling bin and don't belong in the garbage can.
Here's a list of the top five things you should be recycling—but probably aren't—and where you can take them so they don't end up in a landfill.
Plastic bags
Alarming fact: Each year, an estimated 500 billion single-use plastic bags are consumed worldwide, and more than 380 billion plastic bags are used each year in the United States alone, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Only 3 percent of plastic bags are recycled; the rest end up in landfills or as litter on streets, grasslands and waterways.
Where to recycle it: A number of national and local retailers have drop-off bins for plastic bags, including:
-- Wal-Mart, 3800 Deerfield Drive, Janesville.
-- Kohl's, 2500 Milton Ave., Janesville.
-- Pick 'n Save, 1717 Center Ave., Janesville.
To find a drop-off location elsewhere, go to www.plasticbagrecycling.org.
Fluorescent light bulbs
Alarming fact: An estimated 670 million mercury-containing fluorescent lamps are discarded annually in the United States, according to the EPA. More than two-thirds of fluorescent lamps end up in landfills, which can lead to a release of mercury into the environment.
Where to recycle it: A number of national and local retailers accept fluorescent bulbs for recycling, including:
-- Home Depot, 3200 Deerfield Drive, Janesville. Only spiral-shaped compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are accepted.
-- Menards, 2001 Morse St., Janesville
-- Harris Ace Hardware, 2720 E Milwaukee St., Janesville and 200 S. River St., Janesville. There is a 75-cent charge to recycle standard (long) fluorescent lamps.
-- Southside True Value, 1516 Center Ave., Janesville.
To find a drop-off location elsewhere, go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling.
Computer printer cartridges
Alarming fact: Each year, more than 1 billion ink and toner cartridges are sold worldwide, and more than 500 million cartridges are used in the United States alone, according to the EPA. Only 5 percent of ink and toner cartridges are recycled; the rest end up in landfills, polluting the environment with plastic, metal and chemicals.
Where to recycle it: Some national retailers accept empty ink and toner cartridges, including:
-- Staples, 2900 Deerfield Drive, Janesville. HP, Dell and Lexmark cartridges are accepted in exchange for $3 in Staples Rewards.
-- Best Buy, 2850 Deerfield Drive, Janesville.
A number of Web sites pay cash for empty printer cartridges—an increasingly popular fundraising scheme—and recycle them. Check out Planet Green (www.planetgreenrecycle.com), which accepts both printer cartridges and cell phones and offers a fundraising program for both items.
Cell phones
Alarming fact: An estimated 150 million cell phones are taken out of service each year, according to the EPA. Less than 20 percent of them are recycled, and the rest end up in landfills, poisoning the environment with plastic, metal and chemicals.
Where to recycle it: Some national retailers and wireless service providers accept cell phones and accessories as part of the EPA's “Plug-In To eCycling” program, including:
-- Best Buy, 2850 Deerfield Drive, Janesville.
-- Staples, 2900 Deerfield Drive, Janesville.
-- AT&T, Janesville Mall, 2500 Milton Ave., Janesville.
-- Sprint, Janesville Mall, 2500 Milton Ave., Janesville.
-- Verizon, 2263 Humes Road, Janesville. The HopeLine program collects used cell phones and accessories, refurbishes them and donates them to victims of domestic violence.
A number of Web sites pay cash for old cell phones and recycle them. Other sites collect old phones, refurbish them and donate them to people in need. Check out:
-- Collective Good (www.collectivegood.com), which gives phones a second life as first-time phones for low-income people in developing countries.
-- Cell Phones for Soldiers (www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com), which trades in phones for calling cards so soldiers can call home.
-- GRC Wireless Recycling (www.grcrecycling.com), which donates money to its charity partners for every cell phone collected.
For more places to donate your old cell phone, go to www.americancellphonedrive.org.
Electronics
Alarming fact: Of the 2.25 million tons of computers, televisions and other electronic products discarded in 2007, an estimated 82 percent went to landfills, according to the EPA. Electronic waste, or e-waste, contains lead, mercury and other toxins that can contaminate the groundwater and soil.
Where to recycle it: CRT Processing, 2535 Beloit Ave., Janesville, accepts electronics for proper recycling. Prices are $1 for cell phones; $10 for laptop computers, printers and other desktop electronics; $15 for 27-inch or smaller TVs and microwaves; and $20 for 28-inch or larger TVs.
CRT Processing is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (608) 754-3400.