Green Zone  Tags: environment recycling waste_reduction organic climate_change pollution global_warming conservation ecology  

Books are difficult to recycle due to the glues used in their bindings, but you have a number of options:

Friends of the Library groups accept donations of used books, which may be added to the library collection, or "recycled" to other readers at their book sales.

Books for the Barrio is a good place to donate your old National Geographic magazines. They also accept encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Used Book stores will often give cash or store credit for your books.  Find them in the telephone directory under Book Dealers - Used & Rare.

Used Textbooks can be donated or recycled through several organizations; see CalRecycle.

In October 2009 the Pleasant Hill Library embarked on an exciting new partnership with the City of Pleasant Hill to promote reuse, increase recycling, and help the city reach its goals for diverting solid waste from landfills. This resource guide is intended for use county-wide to find solutions for any recycling dilemma.

The Green Zone was created in the Pleasant Hill Library to bring together its collection of books, magazines, and audio/visual materials making it easier for adults, teens, children, seniors, and businesses to explore a variety of environmental concepts and solutions. Several other libraries, including Antioch, Lafayette, Oakley, Orinda, and Pittsburg have also designated a Green Zone to promote their collections of environmental materials. These collections were made possible with the generous support of the Friends of the Library group in each community.

Get Cash for your Trash! Use this guide to find a buy-back center near you and get paid to recycle aluminum, glass, and plastic bottles. Get the kids involved in this eco-friendly habit!

In the midwestern town where I grew up, people routinely deposited their unwanted goods - furniture, appliances, lawn mowers, bicycles - at the curb, where they magically disappeared. We didn't even need to slap a "free" sign on it because it was understood that anything placed at the curb was up for grabs. My first apartment was furnished largely from curbside finds.

In California, this practice is discouraged, if not prohibited, but people still need to get rid of or acquire "stuff" that has useful life remaining.  Enter freecycle.org, a "grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns." Check it out.

These magazine articles are provided by the Library's subscription database.  You will need your library card to view them.

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Batteries pose a significant environmental threat and must be disposed of properly, not in the trash. Fortunately, it's more convenient than ever to drop off your used batteries:

• Call your local library to see if they have a collection bin.
• Many retailers collect old batteries; look for a bin at the checkout counter, and ask if you don't see one.
• The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility has expanded their open hours to Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They offer drive-through service so you don't even have to leave your car!

It is illegal to dispose of universal waste with regular trash.  
Universal waste includes:

• Household Batteries
• Fluorescent Bulbs
• Mercury Thermometers
• Computers
• Printers
• Microwave Ovens
• VCRs
• Radios
• Cordless Telephones
• Cellular Telephones
• Answering Machines

For a complete list of products and local options for reuse/recycling, see Universal Waste Recycling.

Did you know that you can return your used compact fluorescent lightbulbs to Orchard Supply Hardware or The Home Depot for recycling?

Bonus: You can recycle your old cell phones by donating them to Project Second Chance, the Adult Literacy project of the Contra Costa County Library.

Q. Where can I recycle clothing that is too worn out to give to charity? What about fabric from sewing projects?

A. There is a market for worn-out clothing and fabric, which can be recycled into insulation and other products. Campus California TG has numerous drop-off boxes in Contra Costa County. Learn more about clothes recycling on their website. (You can also cut up old t-shirts and towels for rags.)

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