Have you heard?  Hard-to-Recycle collection returns to Swannanoa Saturday, July 13

Press release from Rainbow Recycling

PRESS RELEASE
DATE: July 5, 2013
CONTACT: Marilyn Sobanski, Rainbow Recycling, 828-669-5459

For immediate release:
Have you heard? Hard-to-Recycle Collection Returning to Swannanoa!

BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC July 5, 2013– The popular Hard-to-Recycle Collection will be rotating back to east Buncombe County on Saturday, July 13, 10am – 2pm, at ACE Hardware,
2319 Hwy 70, Swannanoa. Created to make it easy for county residents to recycle a wide range of items that aren’t taken with bottles, cans, and containers that you toss in your curbside recycling bin, cart, or blue bag, the rotating quarterly “H2R’s” are FREE events open to all Buncombe County residents and small businesses.

These special collections are made possible by the efforts of sponsors Rainbow Recycling, Asheville GreenWorks, Curbside Management, Biltmore Iron & Metal and Open Box Moving Solutions along with other participating businesses and organizations. It’s a “win-win” for all -residents can clear out unusable or unwanted materials (ONLY ITEMS SPECIFIED, PLEASE) from their closets, sheds, garages and offices while contributing to the local economy and well-being of the community at the same time. At these events, local recycling businesses glean more material and nonprofits reap items they can reuse in their work.

What is accepted at this upcoming Hard-to-Recycle Event? A wide range of items, but not all that could possibly qualify… and certainly not your trash! The complete list with IMPORTANT details and vendor phone numbers (should you have any questions) is available online at www.ashevillegreenworks.org or by email from rainbowrecycling.org.

In quick overview, Curbside Management will take rigid plastics (buckets, lawn furniture, flower pots, etc.), books, and cardboard (the only curbside item accepted at this event) while Biltmore Iron and Metal will collect all types of electronics, computers, and batteries. There is a $6 handling fee for TV’s (only tabletop 32” or smaller models) and for CRT monitors (older, bulky type).

Rainbow Recycling will collect Styrofoam and packaging (different items bagged separately, details on flyer), metals, wire, and unusable small appliances. Many common items that are in usable/working condition will be welcomed by Habitat for Humanity, including household items, small appliances and tools, art, lawn furniture, sporting goods and windows, doors and ceiling fans (with mounting hardware).

With needs so great in the community these days, non-perishable food along with towels, sheets and blankets will be accepted and donated to the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry. In addition, spring and summer clothing, shoes and boots will be collected for their distribution while UNUSABLE clothing and fabric and off-season (fall and winter) clothes will be taken to ABCCM (Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry). Prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids, accepted for the Swannanoa Valley Lions Club, will serve those in need near and far.

Our four-footed friends not to be forgotten, Asheville Humane Society will collect cat and dog items and other useful goods – worn towels and blankets and storage totes. They will have a table of information about their work as will Blue Ridge Biofuels, a regular participant at these collections, on hand again to take your used cooking oil for recycling into biodiesel fuel.

So while that’s seems about everything “hard to recycle”, that’s not the case. Please note the following as common examples of items NOT accepted at this event: food service and colored Styrofoam, upholstery foam, wood or particle board furniture, paints and chemicals, fluorescent lights, medications and “sharps”, vinyl items (such as hoses, window blinds), tires, mattresses, plastic wrap and bags (unless to sort and carry materials).

Residents attending this event will find the drive-thru – with volunteers to unload their items – a convenient option. Whether coming in by car or parking and walking into the collection site by foot, recyclers will find new “station” signage, made possible by a Community Improvement Grant from Keep North Carolina Beautiful, helpful in identifying which area to drop off which items. For ease and speed, it is recommended that you pack your items in your vehicle “by vendor”. Items not listed (or approved by vendors in advance) may be refused.

Please note that this collection runs for just four hours – 10am – 2pm; NO early or late drop-offs.

Event will be held unless SEVERE weather prohibits. Attendees are encouraged to exemplify neighborly spirit and patience. Respecting event guidelines helps these quarterly events to continue. Donations also accepted. For general questions, contact Rainbow Recycling, (828) 669-5459, info@rainbowrecycling.org, before Saturday.

This award-winning event (Carolina Recycling Association, March 2012) will next rotate to south Buncombe County on Oct 12 (site to be announced).