As we all start spending more time outside for the season, you may be coming across old garden supplies and other seasonal items that you are unsure of how to properly dispose of. Here are some reminders and tips on how to dispose of these items.
Yard Tools: Yard tools like shovels and rakes are not accepted for recycling. Instead, they should be brought to either of the Authority’s EcoDrop facilities in Utica or Rome to be recycled as scrap metal.
Electric and Gas Power Tools: Electric and gas power tools are not accepted for recycling and instead should be brought to the Authority’s EcoDrop facilities for recycling/disposal. This includes electric power tools, power cords, rechargeable batteries and gas power tools. Please be sure that these items are completely free of any gasoline or oil before dropping them off.
Soil, Mulch and Compost Bags: Thick plastic bags holding soil, mulch or compost are not recyclable curbside or at retail stores. These kinds of bags are often too contaminated or wet to meet plastic film recycler requirements, so they should be placed in the garbage.
Flower Pots and Seedling Trays: Tough, rigid plastic flower planters are accepted for recycling at the Authority’s EcoDrop facilities as bulky rigid plastic. Rigid quart and gallon size plastic flowerpots and cardboard trays from garden centers and greenhouses are accepted for curbside recycling. Compostable pots are not recyclable and are not accepted for composting with green waste and should be placed in the garbage or be added to your home compost bin. Seedling trays made of crinkly plastic are not accepted for recycling and should be placed in the garbage. Ceramic flowerpots are not accepted for recycling and should be placed in the garbage as well.
Garden Hoses: Garden hoses are not recyclable and often get stuck in the machinery at the recycling center, leading to shutdowns so they can be removed. Garden hoses should be placed in the garbage.
Pesticides, Herbicides and Other Lawn and Garden Chemicals: These items are considered hazardous and should never be placed in your garbage or recycling bin. Instead, they should be brought to the Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility at the Utica EcoDrop. HHW items are only accepted April-September. Also included with these hazardous items are old gasoline, pool chemicals, motor oil and more.
Green Waste: Green waste is accepted at both of the Authority’s EcoDrop facilities and is turned into compost at the Authority’s Compost Site in Utica. If you are unable to bring your green waste to the Authority, check your local municipal collection guidelines to see if/when they pick it up at the curb. Some municipalities use the Authority’s Compost Site and others compost green waste on their own!
For more information on how to dispose of gardening related items or any other items, please contact the Authority at 315-733-1224 or ohswa@ohswa.org. More information can also be found on the Authority’s website at www.ohswa.org and the Authority’s Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.