Recycling, Waste Free, Plastic Free Guide
This guide was researched & compiled by:
Roger Barraby, a member of Living A Sustainable Lifestyle Tea & Talks
Pat McGovern, Waste Free Upper Valley
Susan Hodges of Strafford (VT) Climate Action
These are sources to start with, not endorsements of any particular brand or item.
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Rethinking Your Recycling & Personal Waste Disposal Practices
Practice the Refuse - Reuse - Recycle Strategy
Do you really need that plastic bag for small items that you can easily carry without one?
What about asking for that fish or deli meat to be wrapped in paper?
Or for TO GO items, ask if there’s a recyclable container option or bring your own container/?
Never litter! Green Up Day is a state holiday in Vermont for a reason. It brings light to the continued problem of litter. Always look for the nearest disposal option. If you need to, bring it back in your vehicle. Or, you can bring a small trash bag with you while out in nature or running errands.
Pick up what you can! If you see it, pick it up. Green Up Day should be a mindset. Let’s clean up messes as we go, and encourage our friends and family to participate.
Your Recycler is a Person - Sort Properly! Sorting can take up lots of labor and time. Not every recycling center is equipped to handle zero-sort recycling. Make sure to check at your local facility.
Only clean recyclables will be recycled! Soiled or mixed items can cause a load to be rejected by the receiving partners. When that happens, your recycling center has to pay per ton for disposal plus additional trucking to go to another location. So, PLEASE help keep the cost down by doing your part.
New England College Climate Class 2022 Poster for Reducing Plastic in Every Day Life.
How To Recycle Unusual Things & Reusable Options
Most Recycling Facilities Will Take:
Mixed Paper (dry & loose, no bundles): Magazines, catalogs, any paper envelopes, white paper, colored paper, & phone books, hardcover books (remove covers & spines first), notebooks/calendars (remove spiral wire to recycle as scrap metal)
Newspaper: dry and loose
Boxboard: cereal boxes, shoe boxes, egg cartons, wrapping paper tubes, toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes and toy boxes.
Corrugated Cardboard: Cardboard & Brown paper bags. Cardboard must be dry, flattened, & cut down to 4 X 4 foot pieces & loose.
Aluminum: Beverage cans; rinsed foil, pie plates & other foil containers.
Steel Cans: food cans, clean cat/dog food cans, syrup containers, cookie tins, lids from jars & cans.
Glass: Washed & Empty – Food & beverage glass only
Plastics: Bottles, tubs & packaging; but not ALL plastics - check with your facility staff
Yard Waste: leaves, brush
But For Everything Else Try…
Please Note: The best practice is to refuse plastic altogether and choose sustainable alternatives, but check out these resources for recycling atypical items if they are currently in your personal waste stream:
Your community transfer station or recycling center can explore a relationship with Terracycle to collect personal care products like toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, disposable razors, pens, markers and other items. Individuals can purchase boxes to recycle all kinds of plastic items that are not generally recyclable locally.
Home Depot - check with your local store to be sure they accept these items.
Rechargeable Batteries
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs
Used Holiday Lights
Lead Acid Battery Cores
Plant Pots
Hannaford’s & Other Chain Grocery Stores Working with NexTrex Recycling
Plastic Film (make sure it doesn’t ‘crackle’) - recycled into park benches and decks
White River Subaru - check with your local store to be sure they accept these items.
Snack Packaging
Disposable Coffee Items
Thrift Stores
Textiles, household goods, furniture, sports equipment
Clean Bubble Wrap for REUSE!
Used Electronics
Old Socks (with purchase)
West Lebanon Feed & Supply (NH)
Pet Food Bags
Omer & Bob’s & Stateline Sports (Lebanon, NH)
Used Athletic Shoes
Get paid to recycle athletic shoes
Tetra Pak Beverage Containers, ie. Broths, Soups, and Milk Cartons
T-shirt recycling and reuse program
Huskee Reusable Coffee Cup Program
Coffee cup reuse program
Reusable Options
Dish soap, laundry soap, shampoo, and hand soap in reusable, returnable containers.
Shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitizer, and hand soap in reusable containers. You can refill from a bulk 5 gallon bucket at a store or buy it in an aluminum container. When you’re done with the aluminum container you can refill it at a store or ship it back to Plaine Products to be sanitized and reused. Worst case scenario aluminum is highly recyclable
Waste-Free Upper Valley Refuse/Reuse Guide
Challenge yourself to choose 10 things to change...
Waste-Free Upper Valley is a grass-roots campaign to inspire individuals, event organizers, community institutions, and businesses to strive for sustainable, waste-free practices in the Upper Valley region covering 60+ towns in New Hampshire and Vermont. To contribute your waste-free tip, contact Pat McGovern @ mcgovern.patricia@gmail.com.
Food and Packaging
Grocery Stores - request paper bags & non waxed deli packaging; use the Bulk Foods Department for nuts, grains, flours, and snacks, i.e. Upper Valley Food Co-op in White River Junction, South Royalton Food Coop in South Royalton, Co-op Food Stores.
Restaurants/Cafes/Catering - request non-styrofoam containers or BYO, request waste free event practices
Farmers’ Markets, CSAs, Food Truck Vendors - BYO container; return egg cartons and syrup bottles
Schools, Hospitals, Church Suppers, Meals on Wheels - BYO water bottles, ‘To Go’ containers, request reusables
Events - Ask organizers to go 'Waste Free' or at least recycle
Bulk Buying - Bring your own containers for flour, baking soda, baking powder, pasta, rice, dried beans, nuts, nut butters, sunflower and sesame seeds, snack mixes, coffee, tea, dried fruit, oatmeal, granola, falafel mix, olive oil, maple syrup, tamari, laundry detergent, dish soap.
Bring Your Own Kit:
*Water Bottle
*Travel Mug
*Shopping Totes
*Metal/Paper Straw
*Plate, Bowl, Spoon, Fork, Napkin
*Produce Bags
Skip the Plastic Packaging For:
* Bar Soap and Bar Shampoo
*Cloth or paper goodie bags with homemade treats and crafts as opposed to cheap plastic toys for parties
*Hard Cider & Beer
*Deli Items, fruits, veggies
Celebrating Local Successes
Three Tomatoes Trattoria provides glassware to AVA events
Kilton Library Cool Stuff Collection
Willing Hands reduces food waste through gleaning
Farnum Hill & Harpoon Brewery have reusable cider and beer growlers
McNamara Dairy & Strafford Creamery uses glass bottles for milk - return for deposit
Lucky’s Coffee Garage gives a discount for bringing your own mug
What You Can Do Now:
Educate - spread the good news about cooperative efforts in your networks
Join - a local waste reduction coalition near you or your town’s sustainability committee
Talk - with the managers of grocery stores, restaurants, workplaces about incentives for BYO items
Reuse - Other kinds of Waste Reduction
*COVER Home Repair - takes furniture and appliances
*Thrift and Consignment shops - take clothing, toys, small appliances,equipment
*Omer and Bob's Bike Consignment Sale
*Repair Cafes - start one in your town with the local fix it experts
*Tool Library - encourage your library to start one
*Little Free Libraries and library free tables - plans available online
*Five-Colleges Book Sale - accepts books, DVDs, CDs
*Yard Sales including Hanover'/Dartmouth Community Yard Sale
*Bugbee Senior Center, 262 N. Main St, White River Junction, 802-295-9068 - accepts medical equipment and supplies (crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, etc)
*List serves and other online ways of giving, selling or buying second hand
*Bonnie Clac - donating cars for others to reuse
Holiday Gift Guide (from Beyond Plastics)
If there’s one time of the year that’s become synonymous with consumerism and waste, it’s the holiday season. Fortunately, you can spread cheer with thoughtful gifts for your loved ones that don’t harm our environment.
Please note that Beyond Plastics does not endorse any specific companies or products.
1. Choose Plastic-Free Gifts That Prevent Waste
Looking for the perfect practical gift? Reusable metal, glass, or ceramic water bottles and travel mugs are plastic-free gifts that will also help the recipient to reduce future waste! Other zero-waste gifts include bamboo utensil sets, stainless steel straws, loose tea and tea strainers, beeswax food wrap, Swedish reusable cloths, reusable bowl covers, reusable cotton tote bags, stainless steel or ceramic compost containers, and so much more.
2. Give a Gift Subscription or Certificate To A Zero-Waste Service
Purchasing a gift certificate or subscription to one of the many excellent zero-plastic and low or zero-waste products, stores, and services out there can be a great way to bring a family member or friend into the fold. A few to consider include Plaine Products, Blueland, HumanKind, Package-Free Shop, and Loop Store but there are more and more out there to choose from and you might enjoy the research.
3. Support a Local Farm & Feed a Loved One
Consider buying a friend or family member a share (or a half share) in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Are you new to the concept of a CSA? Click here for more info on what a CSA is and how it works. You can look for farms that offer winter CSA shares or purchase one that begins in the spring. This is a great way to support a local farm while also helping the lucky recipient feed themselves and their family with fresh, nutritious goodies. Consider providing some of your favorite recipes along with the CSA share to round out the package. If you don’t know where to start, you can search for CSAs through Local Harvest or the USDA’s database.
4. Support Democracy & Your Community With A Newspaper Subscription
Independent media is crucial to a functioning democracy. Whether it is online or paper, for you or for a friend, subscribe to your local newspaper whether it’s a monthly, weekly, or daily.
5. Give an Experience
Gifting experiences is a great way to reduce waste and create lasting memories. Whether it’s a membership to a nature preserve or a local museum or a lift ticket for a nearby ski mountain that can be used now or the promise of a long-anticipated trip to Paris, this could be a hit.
6. Choose Plastic-Free Clothing
Everyone loves a comfy pair of PJs or some new socks for the holidays. Unfortunately, most of our clothing is made from synthetic materials like polyester and nylon which contain plastic fibers. But there are plenty of fun and affordable brands that use materials like recycled cotton, linen, and wool. Need somewhere to get started? The free app GoodOnYou can help you find the best brands to buy from this season. Or consider buying a gently used item of clothing from thredUp, Poshmark, or good old eBay.
7. Give the Gift of Giving to Others in Need
For that person who already “has it all,” the gift of giving could be a great choice. Make a donation in their honor to a charity you think they’d appreciate (hint: Beyond Plastics is a great option!) and send them a card sharing the gift. Or, if you think they’d prefer to be more hands-on, consider setting them up with a pre-paid micro-lender account through an organization like Kiva to allow them to choose the recipients of their microloans. This could be a particularly good way to help a young person experience philanthropy directly. Other places with great meaningful virtual gifts that give back include Oxfam America and Heifer International and many environmental nonprofits offer symbolic wildlife adoption programs.
8. Make Your Own Gifts
Homemade items are the way to go for truly unique and special presents. DIY candles, baked goods, bath salts, tea mixes, brownie mix, vanilla extract, spices, and even games can be easy and customizable gifts! Click here for some DIY gift ideas.
9. Buy From Your Local Bookstore
Resist the temptation to buy from Amazon and visit your local bookstore. Wear your mask and spend some time browsing the shelves to see what books might delight a loved one. Many book stores also sell toys and cards if you’re looking for more than books.
10. Entertain With an Online or Streaming Subscription
Winter is long and entertainment really helps. A subscription or gift certificate to a streaming platform, an audiobook platform, an online music service, or an online newspaper or magazine could help your loved ones stay entertained and informed without requiring any new plastic or disposable items.
11. Give An Old Item New Life
Regifting is great! If you own an item that you’re ready to part with and think someone else would enjoy, wrap it up (see tips below), and pass it along. Vintage and used items also make excellent holiday gifts. There are so many wonderful books, household items, pieces of clothing and jewelry, tools, and more that deserve a second (or third or fourth) chance to be useful and provide joy waiting to be discovered. You can browse eBay or Etsy to find special gifts. Or grab your mask and visit your local antiques shop, second-hand bookstore, thrift store, or auction to look for finds.
12. Wrap It Up Right
Much wrapping paper is non-recyclable (anything glittery, sparkly, etc, won’t be accepted). The good thing is that wrapping paper is not a necessity. This year, look around your home for alternatives. Newspapers and paper grocery bags work really well. There are reusable cloth bags with drawstrings on the market. Even a decorated pillowcase can be a good option. If you have kids, drawing, painting or stamping a pattern on a used grocery bag can be a fun activity, too. If you want to go the extra mile, old book pages, tote bags, and scrap fabric make for cute and unique wrapping. And when you’re unwrapping gifts, save the wrapping paper and ribbons to use them again. If your family enjoys a little friendly competition, you can even keep score to see who can reuse a given piece of paper the most times (warning, this could stretch on for years!)
13. Gift of Health
Give a loved one a fitness membership, such as to a gym or yoga group. There are lots of virtual options if they prefer that option. This can be a great way to motivate them and give them access to a facility or groups for fitness.
Zero Sort Centers - call ahead to verify hours
New Hampshire
Canaan Transfer Station - Tues. (2-6PM), Wed. (7-11AM), Thurs. (2-6PM), Fri. (7-11AM), Sat. (8AM-2PM)
Vermont
Barnard Transfer Station - Wed. (4-8PM), Sat. (8AM-4PM)
Corinth Transfer Station & Backyard Composting - Sat. (8AM-1PM)
Groton & Ryegate Recycling Center - Fri. (3-6PM), sat. (8AM-12PM)
Norwich Transfer Station - Wed. & Sat. (8AM-4:45PM)
Tunbridge Transfer Station - Sat. (9AM-3PM), Wed. (4-7PM)
Sorting Centers
New Hampshire
Charlestown Transfer Station - Tues. (8AM-4:30PM), Wed. (1-6PM), Fri. (10AM-4:30PM), Sat. (8AM-4:30PM)
Claremont Transfer & Recycling Center - Tues. & Sat. (8AM-3:45PM) - plastics & metals allowed together
Cornish Recycling Center - Sat. (9AM-2PM)
Mount Trashmore in Grantham - Sun. (9AM-4PM), Mon. (8AM-12PM), Thurs. (8AM-4PM), Fri. (10AM-4PM), Sat. (8AM-4PM)
Lebanon Solid Waste & Recycling - Mon.-Fri. (8:30AM-5PM), Sat. (8:30AM-2PM)
Lyme Transfer Station - Sun. (8:30-11AM), Wed. (4-6PM)
New London Transfer Station - Tues., Wed., Thurs., Sat., Sun. (9AM-3:30PM)
Newbury Transfer Station - Mon. (9AM-1PM), Wed. (1-5PM), Sat. & Sun. (9AM-5PM)
Orford Transfer Station - Sat. (8-11AM)
Piermont Transfer Station - Sat. (10AM-2PM), Sun. (12-3PM), Wed. (5:30-7:30PM)
Sunapee Transfer Station - Sun. (8-11:45AM), Mon., Thurs., Fri., Sat. (8AM-4:15PM)
Unity Transfer Station - Wed. (1-5PM), Sat. (8AM-4PM)
Wilmot Transfer Station - Wed. & Sat. (8AM-4PM) - plastics, tin & aluminum allowed together
Vermont
Bethel Royalton Solid Waste - Tues., Thurs, Fri., Sat. (7AM-1PM)
Chelsea Transfer Station - Sat. (8AM-3:45PM)
Fairlee Transfer Station - Sat. (8:30-11:30AM)
Hartford Solid Waste Transfer - Tues.-Sat. (8AM-3:45PM)
Strafford Recycling Center - Sat. (9AM-12PM)
Thetford Recycling Center - Sat. (8:30AM-12PM)
Vershire Transfer Station - Sat. (8AM-12PM)
Weathersfield Transfer Station - Wed. (12-5PM), Sat. (7AM-4PM), Sun. (12-4PM)
Windsor Fast Recycling Removal by Jeff’s Rubbish Removal - Wed. (4-6:30PM)
Home Pick up Options (all Zero Sort Recycling & Vermont locations)
Casella Waste Systems (Rutland headquarters)
Jeff’s Rubbish Removal -nFast Trash/Recyclables Wed. (4-6:30PM) in Windsor
A.B.L.E. Waste (Plymouth headquarters) - Fast Trash/Recyclables:
Bridgewater - Wed. (2-5PM), Sat. (8AM-1PM)
Hartland - Sat. (8AM-12PM)
Granville - 2nd & 4th Sat. (8-10AM)
Rochester - 1st & 3rd Sat. (8-11AM)
Stockbridge - 1st & 3rd Sat. (12-2PM)
Hancock - 2nd & 4th Sat. (11AM-1PM)
Links for Many Plastic-Free Household Items
Strafford, VT Climate Action
For more information or to join, contact Susan Hodges at sshodges13@gmail.com and visit our blog at https://straffordclimateaction.blogspot.com/
Many plastic free alternatives for bags and wraps: https://zerowasteoutlet.com Many non-plastic household and personal care items, including produce bags, silicone dish covers, bar soaps, wooden & coconut scrubbing tools, etc. https://www.shopetee.com is an additional outlet.
Reviews: https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-reusable-eco friendly-food-storage-bags.html
Make your own sisal or jute dish scrubber:
https://www.papernstitchblog.com/natural-diy-dish-scrubber/
Cloth Bags: Google this to find offers from Amazon to ebay. Or make your own:
https://wholefully.com/reusable-produce-bags-tutorial/ https://www.papernstitchblog.com/reusable-produce-bags/
Plastic wrap alternatives: Beeswax wraps. See
https://www.beeswrap.com and https://buzzeewraps.com for examples, or contact Susan at sshodges13@gmail.com for directions to make your own.
Laundry detergent sheets – avoid plastic bottles and carbon costs of shipping liquids:
Tru-Earth https://www.tru.earth (Has other products also) EarthBreeze laundry detergent eco-sheets
Dishwashing soaps etc. :
https://www.sustainablejungle.com/zero-waste/zero-waste-dish soap/
Bar Soaps and shampoo, also available at Coops in Hanover and Lebanon, Liggett is a local brand, and see other links: https://www.iherb.com/pr/j-r-liggett-s-old-fashioned-shampoo-bar original-formula-3-5-oz-99-g/5825
Toilet paper: Toilet paper is not full of water, but most of it comes wrapped in plastic, and if made of virgin paper, costs many trees: “Every day, 27,000 trees are cut down just to make regular toilet paper.” Who Gives a Crap toilet paper:
https://us.whogivesacrap.org/ All recycled paper, no plastic wraps. Check out their website. They also have TP made from bamboo. Toilet Paper options and reviews:
https://earthfriendlytips.com/best-eco-friendly-toilet-paper/ This site also mentions other eco-friendly products for your bathroom, including bamboo-based products.
“Kleenex” alternatives: Purchase cloth handkerchiefs, or make your own from used clothing or new fabric (preferably organic cotton). More ideas: https://ofthehearth.com/alternatives-to-facial tissues/ and https://www.self.com/gallery/cute-handkerchiefs
Clorox wipes: The convenience of Clorox disinfecting wipes can be recreated at home. https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the cheaper-greener-alternatives-to-clorox-wipes?utm_source=pocket newtab
Trending Reuse Initiatives
VT Can Carrier Reuse Program
https://www.americancraftbeer.com/vermont-breweries-champion-can-carrier-reuse-initiative/
Foam Alternatives
https://mushroompackaging.com/faqs
https://planetprotectorpackaging.com
We Recycle Food
Music Mountain Compost
https://www.musicmountaincompost.com
Willow Tree Compost (mostly in WRJ and Hartford)