Environmental update: Davis honored for trimming move-out waste

If you’ll be down at City Hall this month, be sure to check out our beautiful new award in the display case! As I mentioned last month, the California Resource and Recovery Association presented the city of Davis recycling program with the prestigious 2012 Pavitra Crimmel Reuse Award for our annual Apartment Move-Out Waste Reduction Program. The move-out program has successfully reduced waste at apartments in Davis during turnover by 40 percent.

While the move-out program allows residents at participating apartment properties an opportunity to reuse unwanted items, if you or someone you know is moving and you don’t live at one of these apartments, have no fear — other simple reuse options are available. The SPCA Thrift Store, All Things Right & Relevant and the Goodwill Donation Xpress are just a few of the many places in Davis where you can donate items for reuse.

Check out the City of Davis Recyclopedia online at DavisRecycling.org to find local places to reuse and recycle more than 250 different items, including appliances, electronics, clothing, home décor and furniture.

Please be respectful and do not unload your unwanted items in someone else’s trash can or Dumpster. Every August, businesses in Davis have people from all over town illegally dumping their mattresses and furniture in their Dumpsters, costing them extra time and money to clean up and haul away. Piling your extra trash in the street and sidewalk is also not OK.

If you have too much trash and it won’t fit in your garbage cart, please bring it to the landfill instead of leaving it out in bags. Better yet, take a closer look at what you’re throwing away. I’d be willing to bet that at least half of what you’re tossing out is recyclable. If your recycling cart is full, you can drop off recyclables for free 24/7 at the DWR recycling center at 2727 Second St.

Tempting though it may be, please be responsible as you are moving and help keep our city beautiful by donating your unwanted items, instead of leaving them on the street, sidewalk or in your front yard. Leaving furniture, mattresses and other household items in front of your property or on the street and sidewalk is a violation of city code and may be a safety hazard for bicycles and pedestrians. Try posting items on Freecycle, Craigslist or in The Davis Enterprise instead. It’s a free, simple and effective way to give away stuff you don’t want.

Got electronics? Did you know that there are three local places that accept electronics for recycling every day? The Yolo County Central Landfill, the SPCA Thrift Store (at Third and I streets) and the Goodwill Donation Xpress on Spafford Drive all accept electronics for recycling. There’s no need to wait for special drop-off events or out-of-town special pickup to come by your area. You can easily recycle your old or broken computer monitors, TVs, keyboards, CPUs, toasters and other electronics.

When you are moving, more than 20 percent of your waste may be cardboard. Please do not throw cardboard in the trash; it can be recycled quite easily. Flatten and stack cardboard boxes next to your recycling cart and Davis Waste Removal will pick it up for recycling. You can also bring your cardboard to the DWR recycling center.

Creek cleanup day: Want to make a difference? Join the city of Davis and the Putah Creek Council to help clean up your local watershed during the California Coast and Creek Cleanup Day. On Saturday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon, thousands of volunteers throughout the state will join the cause to rid our creeks, rivers and beaches of environmentally unfriendly litter.

Local cleanup sites include Davis storm water ponds and several areas along Putah Creek. To register and find out more information about the local cleanup events, visit PutahCreekCouncil.org.

Weekly hazardous waste days: Just a quick reminder that the Yolo County Central Landfill has free household hazardous waste drop-off days every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bring your expired medicines, old household cleaners, fluorescent bulbs, empty propane canisters and more for free disposal.

Senior and disabled Yolo County residents who are unable to drive may call (530) 666‐8856 to schedule a free pickup of hazardous waste materials.

For more information, visit DavisRecycling.org or email me at PWweb@cityofdavis.org.

— Jennifer Gilbert is the city of Davis’ conservation coordinator; her column is published monthly.