COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2019 | 9A
WasteWise holiday tips for recycling some of those holiday items
Before we know it, the
winter holidays will be
over and it will be time to
pack up the reusable items
and pack out the recycla-
ble ones. The Lane County
Master Recycler Program
has collected some handy
tips to help you take care
of the most common items
generated during the holi-
days.
For a list of additional
holiday recycling tips go to
www.lanecounty.org/waste-
freeholidays.
• Electronics recycling:
Recycling and reusing
electronics saves the energy
used in mining and pro-
cessing of raw materials,
conserves natural resources
and reduces environmental
degradation, pollution and
greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), for every 1
million cell phones we recy-
cle, 35,000 pounds of cop-
per, 772 pounds of silver,
75 pounds of gold and 33
pounds of palladium can be
recovered.
Donating unwanted elec-
tronics not only helps to
protect the environment, it
can also provide technical
job skills and ensure access
to contemporary techno-
logical tools for others, re-
gardless of income.
Locally, residents can
recycle electronics at Next-
Step Recycling in Eugene
— and residential drop-off
is free! NextStep staff and
trainees will refurbish it
and safely remove your data
and personal information
before giving it to people
who otherwise wouldn’t
have access to technology. If
they can’t fix it, they will re-
cycle it for you by working
with Oregon Department
of Environmental Quality
approved processors.
NextStep’s Donation and
Training Center is located
at 245 Jackson Street in Eu-
gene. Donations are accept-
ed Monday through Satur-
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541.942.2121
625 N. 9th Street | Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Each office is individually owned and operated.
Serving Cottage Grove since 1986!
day from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Local businesses can call to
schedule free pick up of un-
wanted computers and oth-
er workplace electronics.
To find out more about
the items NextStep accepts,
visit www.nextsteprecycling
.org/residential-recycling.
html or call 541-686-2366.
The EPA also provides
a list of companies that
offer electronic recycling
options. The list can be
viewed at www.epa.gov/re-
cycle/electronics-donation
-and-recycling.
• Christmas Lights
NextStep Recycling ac-
cepts functioning and
non-functioning
Christ-
mas lights for recycling.
Proceeds from the recycled
lights go to a charity of
NextStep’s choosing.
• Packaging: Recycle Block
Styrofoam
St. Vincent de Paul is
Lane County’s source for
recycling white block #6
polystyrene
(commonly
known by the brand name
Styrofoam) and Styrofoam
packing peanuts.
It shreds block Styrofoam
and compresses it into logs,
making it more cost-effec-
tive to transport it to recy-
clers. Styrofoam peanuts
are used at Aurora Glass or
resold in thrift stores.
• Reuse Packaging Mate-
rials
Many area businesses re-
use clean packing peanuts
and bubble wrap, but es-
pecially the pack-and-ship
outlets.
Check with a business
you usually frequent to find
out if they want your excess,
clean packing materials.
Sign up online to receive
WasteWise tips year-round.
WasteWise Lane County
offers education, tools and
resources that residents,
schools, and businesses can
use to reduce waste, con-
serve resources and live
more sustainably.
To find out what can be
reused or recycled, visit
www.lanecountyor.gov/gar-
bageguru.
Take extra care during holiday traveling
Motorists should be ex-
tra careful on Oregon high-
ways over the holidays with
a forecast calling for windy,
cold temperatures through-
out the Willamette Valley
and a chance of snow at
higher elevations.
Here are some travel tips
to keep in mind:
• Even in the best road
conditions, we are enter-
ing one of the busiest trav-
el times of the year now
through Jan. 3. Expect de-
lays, plan ahead, allow ex-
tra travel time and know
before you go.
• Watch the forecast
along your route both for
the holiday trip out and the
trip home.
• Use caution if going
over the mountain passes.
Check the TripCheck.com
cameras for conditions on
your route. Many of the
camera displays include
temperature, elevation and
other helpful details about
conditions.
• Pay attention to the
roadside variable message
signs. They contain criti-
cal information about re-
al-time conditions.
• Perhaps most import-
ant, make sure there’s a
sober, focused and alert
operator behind the wheel
to help you arrive safely to
your family functions and
to get you safely home after.
No matter where you
travel in Oregon over this
holiday, be prepared for
changing conditions.
In case you haven’t heard, we’re the place to be on New Year’s Eve.
Join us for a festive celebration of food, drinks and fun.
New Year's Eve Party
in the Lounge!
Dinner Specials
Drink Specials
Music & Dancing
Party Favors
Champagne for all at midnight!
El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant
725 Gibbs, Cottage Grove, (541) 767-0457
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