Discussions

Well spring is indeed in the air for us and everybody is busy cleaning up their houses, garages, and getting rid of the clutter, (their junk “), so to speak. For myself I’ve got several items that need to be disposed of. But the question is where? Where can you take a couple of used dishwashers (one works good, but it is old (top loader), and the other must have parts that can be recycled.  
I am a great lover of COKE and my can collection has grown to proportions that need to go somewhere, but where? My ink cartridges from my printer have too also grown.  
I decided to check on line for recycling outlets and I found a few but still have questions. I might add that I’m not very proud of Brandon’s programs for recycling. Out of all Canada’s Provinces, Manitoba is very lacking in their recycling resources. Alberta and B.C. are the best for doing their part in recycling.  
So here’s a list of what I found:  
I know compact discs are small and over time they do pile up. If your like me, I have a collection of compact disc’s that haven’t been used in a while and part of my clutter. I found that they are recyclable. Music, CD-ROM and even write-once disks can be recycled. The booklets and paper backings are ok, but better to recycle them as mixed paper. To erase any material data on the disk’s simply cut the disk up with tin shears or place them (one at a time) in the micro-wave with a small glass of water for 5 seconds on high. (By the way, it makes a spectacular light show). Package them up and send them pre-paid by UPS Ground, third class mail, freight or other surface transportation to  
[Plastic Recycling Incorporated, 2015 South Pennsylvania, Indianapolis, IN 46225.  
Perhaps someone knows of a place closer to home that recycles compact disks. Other than that, give them to charity or trade-in at a store where they do that sort of thing.  
Another collection that I have is my old lens’s (glasses), which have been gathering dust for a few years. I discovered that they can be used for someone without proper vision care and can’t afford them. The Lion’s Club operates the largest program. Some chain stores such as Len’s Crafters, Pearle, For Eyes, all collect glasses world-wide. The glasses are cleaned, repaired and measured for strength. From there they are cataloged and matched to people with need. Package them up, if your like me, I have about 20 odd pair some of which are in good condition while others need repair, and send them to: The Low Vision clinic, 1929 Bayview Ave., Toronto, On. M4G 3E8  
Better still why not ask your friends, family and co-workers if they have any used eyewear and package them in a box so as not to damage and send them along. I believe also that the Lion’s Club has used eyewear glass boxes set up in a few places here in Brandon. Does anyone know the location of these boxes?  
Another super collection I have and I know that you probably do too are old used and new, but out-dated, greeting cards. I discovered that St Jude’s Ranch, a non-profit youth home, has operated a holiday reuse card program. The ranch provides counseling and opportunities for troubled youth. The kids operate a business taking used greeting cards, neatly cutting off the front covers, gluing on new back covers, and selling the result. The kids earn money and a sense of purpose.  
You can either send entire cards, or cards with the backs off. Get your friends, families and co-workers again and collect the cards. Send them via UPS Ground or the “Bound Printed Rate “at the Post Office. Send them to: St Jude’s Card Recycling, 100 St. Jude Street, P.O. Box 60100, Boulder City, NV 89006.  
Sneakers are another great save of mine. I know some of you guys also have lying around some old worn sneakers that you’ve just not been able to throw out. The “Nike Corporation “will take these shoes off your hands. They grind up the shoes and reuse some of the components for athletic mats, which are donated to good causes. CALL: 1-800-352-NIKE and navigate deep into the menu for drop-off locations and a Reuse-A-Shoe program description. Better still, when buying new shoes ask the store if they participate in any recycling program. Someone should mention this program to the various second hand clothing stores in town here as from my inspection of their shoe collection and the condition of some of their shoes, a program such as what Nike offers would be an asset to them. I mean what do they do with all those old shoes that are not sold or given away?  
The same goes for carpets, old synthetic carpets have value as recyclable materials. . Individual consumers generally can’t get rid of a carpet, but if you ask installers and renovation companies if they will do it for you. Check out United Recycling Incorporated, DuPont or Allied Signal’s Carpet Recycling information for details.  
Paper egg cartons, toilet paper or paper towel rolls, tissue boxes and Popsicle sticks, now I collect these things and I don’t really know why! All of these can be recycled but they can serve another purpose also. Kids and teachers alike will love you for contributing these for their art crafts. Also the local YMCA (camps like spring break starting next week), the Library, Sunday Schools for camp crafts they hold. Can you think of others?  
Your old sheets, pillow cases, or materials can be cut up into block squares, tied together and given to charity or a craft store or someone you know who does quilting (phone a craft store and ask what size of squares are used and cut according to size.)  
Great Lakes Electronics Corporation in conjunction with e-waste Recycling Inc. of Tilbury Ontario has partnered with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) to help under privileged kids get computers to use. “CAW Local 200 Computers For Kids “is an organization of working people who are reaching out in order to fill an important need in the education of the children in our communities. They want to provide computer literacy to underprivileged kids. E-Waste Recycling collects material deemed useable from the programs refurbishing process and delivers them to Great Lakes Electronics Corp.  
Great Lakes also take, VCR’S, T.V’S, telephone equipment, computers, monitors, circuit boards, terminals.  
They are disassembled into components and all items from the process are recycled. Even items of no value are recycled at their expense. Whether you have 10 pieces or 100 pieces, GLE will send their fully insured specialists for removal. This is a nation-wide service. All equipment with sensitive information will be removed and destroyed. The address is [E-Waste Inc., 165 Queen Street N., and Tilbury On. NOP 2LO  
Or 1-888-392-7831: information@recycleelectronics.com  
I think computers for underprivileged kids are a great idea!  
As I was surfing around I found quite a few valuable sites, but the list is many to mention, but I did come across this one and I feel it’s one worth mentioning. It’s about children in Kenya Africa and viewing that particular web site really tugged at my heart. Just looking at the sorrow in the children’s faces was enough for me to mention this site. They are in dire need of non-perishable items for children between the ages of 5-18 years of age. Books, shoes, toys, sports (baseballs, soccer balls etc.), clothes, toothbrushes, combs, hats, blankets, school supplies, list is endless. If anyone would care to individually or as a group to gather some of these items and send, they would greatly be met with appreciation untold.  
The address to send the items to: SHARE KENYA, Attention: Ms Cyprina Abanyo, P.O. Box 63, Mbita Kenya, Africa  
I hope you seriously think of contributing to this cause.  
Well I could go on but if anyone else has ideas of what to do to recycle some “ junk “ please let me know as it’s “ SPRING CLEAN-UP TIME “!!