JOHNSTON, R.I. (November, 2009) - Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) will host Rhode Island Recycles Day on Saturday, November 21 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Central Landfill at 65 Shun Pike in Johnston. Rhode Islanders will be able to recycle the standard e-waste and hazardous household waste items, as well as a wide variety of other items ranging from rechargeable batteries and hard to recycle plastics to personal papers that need shredding and more.

"Rhode Island Recycles Day is a unique, once-a-year opportunity to conveniently recycle many of your hard to recycle items at no cost," said Michael OConnell, Executive Director of Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation. "It's a great, free one-stop shopping event for a host of recycling needs."

Rhode Island Recycles Day features the standard free household hazardous waste drop off (also known as Eco-Depot) and e-waste collection, as well as battery recycling, paper shredding, and recycling of hard to recycle plastics. Rechargeable batteries are commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, two-way radios, and remote control toys. Common hard to recycle plastics include large plastics such as Big Wheels and plastic play structures, plastic lawn furniture, plastic watering cans, laundry baskets, clean plastic buckets (no residue), crates, rigid backyard kiddie pools and plastic trash containers. Examples of paper that can be shredded that day include personal documents, unwanted receipts, checks, pre-approved credit applications, old tax forms, and credit card statements. Each person will be allowed to shred two boxes of material only. (For more information on what items will be accepted and how to prepare recyclables for Rhode Island Recycles Day, go to www.rirrc.org.)

The Call2Recycle Mobile Educational trailer will also be on hand at Rhode Island Recycles Day. The interactive trailer visits rechargeable battery and cell phone collection sites throughout the U.S. and Canada offering the opportunity for attendees to test their recycling knowledge and learn how rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling helps conserve natural resources. Visitors can also play games and win prizes.

"This is a terrific chance for Rhode Island residents to discard multiple unwanted items in and around the home at one central location for free," said Michael OConnell. "It's our standard e-waste and household hazardous waste drop offs plus so much more."

At the Rhode Island Recycles Day e-waste collection, residents can easily recycle unwanted or damaged computers or televisions, as well as computer accessories such as monitors, mouse pointers, hard drives, modems, laptops, and keyboards. E-waste cannot be placed in the trash or recycled through RI's curbside program. Appointments are not required for e-waste recycling.

The household hazardous waste drop-off program is an appointment-only program. To make an appointment online or review a list of household hazardous waste items that are accepted, go to www.rirrc.org and click on the Eco-Depot logo at the bottom of the home page. Household hazardous waste drop-off appointments can also be made by calling 942-1430 x 241. RIRRC, through its household hazardous waste program, accepts waste that cannot be put in the regular trash. Examples include oil-based paints; antifreeze; gasoline; motor oil and filters; propane gas tanks; fluorescent light bulbs and lamps; lawn chemicals, fertilizers and weed killers; varnish; mercury thermometers; and kerosene. If you are unsure if products in your home might be hazardous, look for the words "caution," "hazardous," "danger," "flammable," or "poison" on the labels.

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the quasi-state environmental agency dedicated to providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage waste. The agency helps fund and promote the state's recycling program, and owns and operates the Materials Recycling Facility and Central Landfill in Johnston.

-From Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation