Talking Trash About Claremont…

Today I want to talk dirty… really dirty… OK… are you ready? Here we go, lets talk TRASH! Did you know that Claremont was one of the first communities in the State to begin a curbside recycling program way back in 1982? I didn’t either, but I picked up a great brochure entitled “Claremont Recycles” and produced by The City of Claremont Community Services Department.

Among other things, this handy little guide told me that in 2005 Claremont citizens recycled 5,200 tons of assorted recyclable materials and 8,400 tons of green waste.

I also found out that the smaller your black trash container is, the lower your waste collection bill will be as the rates here in Claremont are based on a variable scale.

In Claremont residential customers receive three different containers, a 90-gallon Green container for green waste, a 90-gallon Blue container for commingled recycling and a black container for mixed waste. All three containers need to be placed curbside by 6:00 AM on your designated collection day.

I thought it might be helpful if I published what should go in which container here, so here goes…

In your Green Waste container you CAN place:
Chipped wood
Prunings & Weeds
Pine Cones & Pine Needles
Grass & Leaves (loose only, not bagged)
Branches (no longer than 2 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter)

In your Green Waste container you CAN NOT place:
Dirt or Rocks
Metal
Wood (unless it is in one of the above forms)
Fruit or Vegetables
Bird of Paradise, Ivy or Bamboo
Palm Fronds
Ice Plants, Cactus, Yucca or any succulents
Trash, Recyclable Materials, Plastic Bags
Hazardous Waste
Oh, and DO NOT compact your green waste materials. You must also make sure that your green waste container lid is completely closed.
Tip: If you cut up your trimings you can increase the amount you can place in your bin.

In your Blue container you CAN place:
Empty Aerosol cans
Aluminum & Tin Cans
Catalogs
Cardboard (Cut it into small pieces to fit more into the bin)
Cereal Boxes without the lining
Computer & Ledger paper (be sure to shred any personal or sensitive documents before recycling them)
Drink Boxes
Egg Cartons (Paper and styrofoam)
Food Boxes
Glass Bottles & Jars, rinsed and with the lids removed
Juice Cartons (flatten them to fit more in the bin)
Junk Mail & Brochures
Laundry Bottles
Magazines
Milk Cartons
Newspapers
Plastic Bottles & Containers (#1 & 2)
Plastic Bags and wrapping
Plastic Milk Jugs (again, flatten before recycling)
Phone Books
Wrapping Paper

What you CAN NOT place in your Blue container:
Waxed & Carbon Paper
Food & Liquid Waste
Trash & Yard Waste
Hazardous Waste

Did you know that placing just one item that that does not belong in the green or blue container contaminates everything within it. All the items in that load will be considered contaminated and that load of previously recyclable material will have to go to a landfill. And one contaminated load could contaminate the entire truckload of items it touches.

What you can place in your Black Container:
Animal & Food Waste (bagged, please)
Cat Litter
Cigarette Butts
Disposable Diapers
Old Clothes & Shoes (If they still have life left in them, consider donating them to Goodwill, Salvation Army or a Homeless Shelter)
Rags & Sponges
Broken Toys (Again, if they are still useable and unbroken, consider donating them to a charity, shelter or thrift store)

What you CAN NOT place in your Black container:
Concrete
Construction Debris
Dirt & Rocks
Furniture
Large Appliances
Recyclables
Tires
Yard Waste
Hazardous Waste

For household hazardous waste disposal either bring the items to the next Household Hazardous Waste Roundup. You can also contact Claremont Community Services (909) 399-5431 to arrange for free pick up of some household hazardous waste products like used oil and filters.

For home generated sharp materials including needles, syringes and lancets you may pick up a free 1-quart sharps container and exchange that for another when full. Again, contact Claremont Community Services for more information (909) 399-5431.

And whatever you do, please don’t put hazardous waste in the trash o down the sewers and storm drains. It will present not only a very real threat to the environment, but also to the workers that may come in contact with it while collecting the trash.

If the items you have to dispose of do not fit into your container you can contact the Community Services Department to schedule a FREE Bulk Item pick up. The City of Claremont offers each household three FREE pickups each calendar year.

If you would like a free copy of the Claremont Recycles brochure just contact me with your address and I will send you a copy.

Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza