Recycling: It's the right thing to do - and it's the law:
Did you know? The San Diego County Waste Ordinance prohibits residents from placing the following materials in the trash: Aluminum cans, glass bottles & jars, large appliances, newspaper, plastic beverage bottles, tin & bi-metal cans and yard waste.
The 4 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Rot (composting) & Recycle.
Take personal responsibility for the amount of waste that is generated at home and at work. Kids love to recycle - get them involved! Reduce waste by purchasing products with less packaging and more renewable content. Products made from recycled materials take much less energy to produce. Reuse what you can. Donate unwanted shoes, clothing, textiles, furniture, and more to charities. Composting kitchen scraps, yard waste, and livestock manure improves soil nutrients, and increases soil water retention, reducing the amount of water required for plants and gardens. Recycling conserves natural resources, saves water and energy, decreases pollution, increases jobs, and strengthens the economy, all while reducing the need for new landfills and the production of green house gases. Following the 4 R's saves money on waste disposal costs and can provide a payback. It also provides a sense of personal satisfaction and contribution to a better future. Please clean and separate your recyclables prior to dropping them off.
MERIT Recycling:
Open: Sunday and Monday 10 AM to 1 PM. Located at 32102 Hwy 94, across from the Motor Transport Museum, near Cameron Corners in Campo, between Sheridan Road and Buckman Springs Road. Donations of a wide variety of clean recyclables are accepted. There are no CRV payments.
Mountain Empire Resources Information Task Force (MERIT) is a local all volunteer non-profit organization. The money made from the sale of recyclables is given back to the community through donations and scholarships to deserving community groups and local students.
The MERIT site accepts newspaper, cardboard, mixed paper (including phone books, junk mail, paper feedbags, etc.), aluminum cans, steel (tin) food and drink cans, PET #1 plastic, HDPE #2 plastic both natural (milk and water jugs) and colored (such as detergent and shampoo bottles), all glass containers (no window glass), and all scrap metal except ferrous. Electronics, like computers, and some appliances are accepted periodically for a small fee. For more information e-mail merit@sciti.com or call Sheryl at 619-417-6035.
County Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste: toll free hotline: 1-877-713-2784
The County hotline will provide more recycling information for appliances, used motor oils, electronics, yard waste, household hazardous materials, automotive. They can also tell you where to get free mulch. Or go to the County website at www.sdcounty.ca.gov. Click on departments, click on Public Works, then click on the recycling link.
For Zero Waste information go to: http://www.zerowaste.ca.gov/ and http://www.grrn.org/zerowaste/zerowaste_faq.html
Californians Against Waste is the nations oldest, largest, and one of the most effective non-profit organizations working to conserve resources and prevent pollution. Go to their website for more information on their efforts and goals at www.cawrecycles.org
GrassRoots Recycling Network is dedicated to environmental stewardship and achieving a sustainable economy by eliminating waste and reusing, recycling and composting resources. Go to their website for more information on their zero waste goals and efforts to keep organics out of landfills at www.grrn.org.
More information is also available online from I Love A Clean San Diego at: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/ and www.wastefreesd.org.