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Recycle+ Special Collection

The Recycle+ service includes special collections of specific items or materials for recycling or donation a few times each year. Please only include the items listed below during the designated dates for each special collection.

May 1-31: Kitchen items

Kitchen items

Accepted:

  • Silverware (forks, spoons, butter knives, serving utensils)
  • Manual can openers
  • Cheese graters
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Whisks, tongs, mixing spoons, spatulas, ladles
  • Cutting boards (plastic or wood)
  • Potholders and oven mitts
  • Sauce and soup pots
  • Sauté and fry pans
  • Baking sheets
  • Pyrex®
  • Ceramic baking dishes
  • Dutch ovens

NOT accepted:

  • Sharp knives that could injure collection workers (e.g., chef's knife, steak knives, bread knife).
  • Dishes
  • Small appliances
  • Broken or rusty items

Instructions:

  1. Prepare donations for collection.
    • All items must be clean and ready to use. Include matching lids.
    • Wrap ceramic and glass items in paper to prevent breakage.
    • Place all items in the Recycle+ bin with smaller items in a plastic bag and larger ones loose.
  2. Schedule a pickup. Contact your garbage and recycling company to request a pickup at least two business days before your regular Recycle+ collection day.
  3. Set out your Recycle+ bin on your scheduled pickup day. Put the donations in your bin and close the lid. If the bin is full, put donations in a plastic bag and set next to the bin.

Washington County and local garbage and recycling companies are collecting reusable items for Community Warehouse. Community Warehouse provides furniture and housewares to help people make their homes safe and comfortable. Contact us for more information, and thank you for donating to Community Warehouse!


August 1-31: Blankets, sheets and towels

Washington County and local garbage and recycling companies are working with Community Warehouse to collect reusable items. Make sure your items are clean and in ready-to-use condition. Community Warehouse gives furniture to people in need to help them make safe and comfortable homes.

Accepted for donation:

  • Bed sheets and pillowcases
  • Blankets, quilts and comforters
  • Bath and hand towels
  • Washcloths

Not accepted for donation*:

  • Stained, torn or worn-out items
  • Bed skirts
  • Clothing
  • Electric blankets
  • Curtains or window treatments

*Textiles not accepted for donation may be put in the textile recycling bag. Review textile recycling instructions.

Instructions for preparing materials for special collection:

  1. Prepare donations for collection. Wash all items before placing them in a plastic bag. You can use a Recycle+ bag or a larger kitchen waste bag.
  2. Schedule a pickup. Contact your garbage and recycling company to request a pickup at least two business days before your regular Recycle+ collection day.
  3. Set out your Recycle+ bin on your scheduled pickup day. Put the donation bag in your bin and close the lid. If the bin is full, put the bag next to it.

December 1- January 31: String lights for recycling.

Before recycling your string lights, test the lights and consider donating or giving away working string lights. If they do not work, try fixing them using these repair tips from WikiHow.

Include:

  • LED string lights
  • String lights with small bulbs
  • String lights without bulbs
An illustration of lights that are accepted for recycling.

Do NOT include:

  • Rope lights
  • Novelty lights if you cannot remove the novelty bulb
  • Inflatable yard figures
  • Other holiday decor
Items not accepted

Instructions for recycling string lights with Recycle+:

  1. Prepare string lights for collection. Remove novelty or large bulbs often identified as C6, C7 or C9. These are commonly found on older or outdoor lights. Put bulbs in the garbage or save as replacement bulbs for other string lights.
Remove bulb
An illustration of the kind of bulbs that can be removed and put into garbage or saved as replacement bulbs.
  1. Schedule a pickup. Contact your garbage and recycling company to request a pickup at least two business days before your regular Recycle+ collection day.
  2. Set out your Recycle+ bin on your scheduled pickup day. Put the string lights in your bin and close the lid. If the bin is full, put string lights in a bag and set next to the bin.

Contact Us

Solid Waste & Recycling

Phone

503-846-3605