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Department of Public Works
Recycling Programs

For information on other recycling programs available at the landfill, visit the Special Wastes section.

  • eCycle
  • Shred
  • Conserve
  • FC Green
  • Save-a-Sole
  • ReThreads
  • Bags
  • Reuse
  • Outreach

e-cycle logo

Electronics recycling is offered the second Saturday of each month from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. and the fourth Wednesday of each month from noon until 4 p.m. at the landfill's citizens' convenience center! (Wednesday collections will not be held in November and December due to the holidays.)

Electronics such as computer monitors, lap tops, cell phones, adapters, dry cell batteries, processors, keyboards, mice, cables, televisions, VCRs, fax machines, copiers, scanners, calculators, electric typewriters, telephones, answering machines, tape recorders, camcorders, cameras, stereos and speakers are all accepted during special collection events.

There is a small fee to cover the proper disposal of computer and television screens which contain lead and/or mercury. (Televisions - $12; $20 for wooden consoles. Monitors - $8. UPS - $5.) All other electronics are accepted free of charge!!photo of monitors in a box

Monitors and television screens are not landfilled. All materials are trucked out of the area and dismantled for recycling. All working microwave ovens should be donated to a local charity.

Businesses and residents are encouraged to participate in eCycle! Company checks should be made payable to Treasurer, Frederick County. Debit/credit cards are not accepted.

Community Shred

Spring Cleaning Community Shred

Saturday, April 20
8 a.m. to noon
At the intersection of Stine Lane and Martinsburg Pike, across from Frederick Block

During our Fall 2012 Shred Fest, 8,820 pounds of paper documents were safely destroyed and recycled. This is the equivalent of saving 75 trees; 28,700 gallons of water; 238 million Btu's of energy; and 1,676 gallons of oil as well as reducing air pollutants!

Many thanks to our sponsors: RMS Document Shredding, Southern Scrap/Williams Recycling, Shockey Companies, E&M Enterprises, and Frederick County Recycling.


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Protect your identity through safe and secure destruction of personal documents. Community Shred is free and a perfect opportunity to do just that. All paper collected is recycled.

Read more about identity theft at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.

 

  

Rain Barrel Sale

Thank you for your enthusiasm! All barrels for 2013 have been sold.

Why Install a Rain Barrel?

  • Grow green! Your plants will love it! Rainwater has no added chemicals, is usually soft and free of dissolved minerals. Water that is "softened" with chemicals is bad for plants due to salts that are dissolved in the water.
  • Conserve water. Drought or no drought, we should all conserve water. Our groundwater and fresh water supplies are limited.
  • Reduce runoff and pollution. If your roof's area is 1,200 square feet (30 x 40 feet), then 1 inch of rain equals more than 700 gallons! Find out how much your roof can save at www.save-the-rain.com. You can harvest this rainwater which otherwise would be lost to runoff. To harvest even more rainwater, you can connect several barrels in a series and have hundreds of gallons of water capacity.
  • It's easy being green. Water from rain barrels is easily accessible for various garden chores. (Also, if you depend on electricity to run your well pump, this water is handy during power outages.)
  • Save green! If you are on municipal water, why pay to water your gardens when you can collect hundreds of gallons at no cost?
  • Rain barrels can be constructed not only from food grade barrels, but also from sturdy trash cans. Read more in Building a Rain Barrel from a Plastic Trash Can
  • Check out our video presentation to learn more about water conservation and what you can do to improve water quality by building your own rain barrel.

recyclers

Why Compost?

link for posterRather than "feed" a landfill, wouldn't you rather feed your lawn and garden? By composting your yard waste and kitchen scraps, you reduce the amount of waste headed for the local landfill and produce a rich, dark soil amendment as an added bonus. It's nature's way of recycling and doesn't require a lot of time or specialized tools. All the supplies you need to get started are already in your yard. Remember, any time of year is a great time to start your own backyard program.

  • Improves structure, texture and aeration of soil.
  • Contains nutrients and trace elements essential to plant growth.
  • Adds beneficial organisms to the soil.
  • Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and mulches — saves money.
  • Reduces the need for watering your garden.
  • Reduces by up to 30 percent the material sent to landfills!

Other Ways to Conserve, Protect Our Water, & Save Money

Green Scaping is a set of landscaping practices that can improve the health and appearance of your lawn while protecting the environment and saving money. Learn how to spend less time working on your lawn, invest less in water and chemicals and reduce yard waste.

Did you know that we use up to 80 gallons of water each day inside our homes? Don't Be A Drip. Save A Drop.

Frederick County's all-new Frederick County Green logo represents an extension of Frederick County Recycling. Its mission is to move beyond our county's efforts to reduce waste and send materials off for recycling and reuse, keeping the message of "green living" a priority in our community.

Greening the Valley

Read the Publication

Businesses in our community are a huge part of our green efforts. As part of a two-year project administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, a publication was produced celebrating those accomplishments. Greening the Valley is a compilation of recycling and conservation success stories from across the Northern Shenandoah Planning District.

Green Choices

Want to enjoy the green life? It's easy to be green! The EPA has everything you need to know -- from "green" vehicle choices; operating your car in order to achieve to maximum fuel efficiency; selecting durable goods when shopping; and even tips on environmentally-friendly lawn care.

Check out Touchstone Energy Cooperatives' Together We Save videos for tips to save energy around the house.

Visit the recycling office for your free Frederick County Green usable tote!

Support Local Farmers

Fresh fruits, vegetables and other produce are available in abundance, regardless of the season. Buy local. Make a pledge to shop local offerings at www.virginiafood.org. Discover what's in season and where to find it at Buy Local Shenandoah Valley.

Buying local benefits our local economy, the consumer, and the environment.

save-a-sole logoSave-a-Sole, the county's newest recycling opportunity, collects shoes, sneakers, boots, cleats, sandals, slippers, heels, handbags, belts, hats, luggage, backpacks and laptops bags in any condition for recycling! The program is in search of shoes that would otherwise be thrown away — those that are too worn, torn or out-of-style for yard sales and local charities. All items will be shipped to West Africa where they will be cleaned and repaired, providing much-needed jobs. Refurbished items will then make their way into the impoverished region's charitable network. Look for the "Shoe Drop" at your nearest convenience site (except Gainesboro) or the landfill! Save-a-Sole collection is also available at Total Image/Workingman's Store on Amherst Street and the Frederick County Animal Shelter. The only requirement is that shoes be dry and banded, bagged or tied together as a pair.

girl sorting shoes     

photo of shoe kids     photo of shoe guys

rethreads logoThe ReThreads Textile Recycling Program was launched in November of 2010.

Textiles are the oldest recycled commodity, yet only a fraction actually get recycled or reused, leaving millions of tons of usable cloth headed to landfills each year despite the many charitable organizations collecting used textiles. Materials collected through ReThreads will be shipped to those in need in West Africa.

It is vital that garments be gently worn and free of rips and stains, clean, dry and bagged. Please remove all hangers. Items accepted include jeans, pants, dresses, uniforms, pajamas, coats, sweaters, bedding, linens, comforters, towels, drapes, slipcovers, table cloths, fabric, and stuffed animals. Clean stuffed animals are used as teaching tools in Africa's mission schools.

Area rugs may also be recycled. Rugs must be clean, dry, rolled, tied and bagged. Carpeting will not be accepted.

Other unacceptable items include undergarments, pillows, mattresses, mattress pads and diapers.

Textile recycling boxes are available at the landfill, Greenwood, Clear Brook, Albin, Double Toll Gate and Middletown citizens convenience sites.

Bag Recycling

kids in bagsMeet the Bag Family at www.abagslife.com to learn everything about bags, how to determine what can be recycled, and how to prepare it for recycling.

All sites now accept PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS for recycling! Simply condense individual bags into a larger bag, tie off the bag and stuff it into the plastics recycling container!

BAG -- TIE -- STUFF! It's that easy! All bags are recycled locally and turned into composite lumber. Other recyclable items which may be included with your plastic shopping bags are: produce bags, bubble wrap, plastic potato/fruit sacks, bread sacks, plastic wrapping from paper towels, soda six-packs, mulch bags, water softener and wood pellet bags, and clean Ziploc bags!

All plastic wrap and bags must be absolutely free of food and other residue.

Reuse Resources

Remember, one man's trash is another's treasure! Several local charitable groups accept good useable items such as Goodwill Industries (723-6864), Salvation Army (722-2749), C-CAP (clothing only; 662-4318), Blue Ridge Hospice (536-5210), Winchester Medical Center Auxiliary (536-0000) and the SPCA Thrift Store (450-2710). Habitat for Humanity's Restore (662-9704) accepts and re-sells all forms of building materials and large appliances.

Useful links to the environment:

Visit the Earth's 911 web site for questions on everything from the proper management of old fuel to local businesses who accept packaging peanuts and batteries. Simply type in your zip code once you access the site.

Virginia Naturally is the Commonwealth's statewide initiative to promote lifelong learning about the environment and stewardship of Virginia's natural and historic resources. Find out more about this program and access a virtual library of information about such topics as volunteer opportunities, educational classes, places to visit, community events, watershed maps, lesson plans and recreational activities, visit Virginia Naturally.

2012 Stewardship Virginia spring campaign is April 1 through May 31. This statewide campaign by the Department of Conservation and Recreation encourages all Virginians to become involved by planting buffers, adopting streams, improving habitats and participating in outdoor recreational activities.

Citizens and businesses and service groups are encouraged to adopt a stream, plant buffers, improve habitat and participate in educational and recreational programs. Learn more at www.dcr.virginia.gov/stewardship or call 1-877-42-WATER.

Outreach

Frederick County Recycling offers a variety of hands-on activities to county schools, clubs, scouts, homeschoolers and other groups. All activities are coorelated to Virginia's Standards of Learning. Groups are also encouraged to tour the regional landfill. Please telephone 665-5643, ext. 1 at least two weeks in advance. Lesson plans and environmental education support materials are available.

     two boys planting a tree     scout with sundae

 

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