The INDEPENDENT, December 18, 2008
Tips available from “Oregon Winter Driving Guide”
The “Oregon Winter Driving
Guide” contains information on
Oregon’s laws that govern use
of tire chains, tips for driving in
icy or snowy conditions, and a
checklist of equipment for road-
side emergencies. The free
guide is available at visitor in-
formation centers and conven-
tion bureaus, welcome centers
and information kiosks, Les
Schwab Tire Centers, Depart-
ment of Transportation offices,
and from members of the Ore-
gon Lodging Association. The
guide is also available online at
tripcheck.com, traveloregon.
com, oregontic.com, and ore
gonlodging.com.
Oregon State Police and
Oregon Department of Trans-
porttion recommend the follow-
ing travel safety tips to help get
you safely to your destination:
• Expect the unexpected. Be
informed and prepared when
traveling on any of our high-
ways.
• When traveling anywhere,
plan ahead and take known
routes if possible. Our weather
has been changing quickly and
sometimes without warning.
For road conditions in Oregon,
call 5-1-1 or 800-977-ODOT
(6368). Outside Oregon, dial
503-588-2941. Visiting Trip
Check.com on the Internet pro-
vides information on road and
weather conditions, incidents
and traffic delays, and links to
numerous cameras on many
mountain passes and major
routes.
• Take the time to keep up on
current and future weather con-
ditions in the area you are trav-
eling, especially if going to or
through higher elevations and
mountain passes, areas where
your vehicle needs to have ap-
propriate traction tires or de-
vices.
• If considering a remote
route that you have never trav-
eled on, don't hesitate to con-
tact available road and weather
condition phone numbers or In-
ternet resources, or contact po-
lice or highway department offi-
cials.
• Prepare an emergency kit
to place in your car for longer
Recycling program set for computers, TVs
To help reduce the amount
of electronics waste tossed in
the trash, and to encourage re-
sponsible recycling, the Ore-
gon E-Cycles program launch-
es statewide on January 1,
2009.
Oregon E-Cycles provides
free and convenient recycling
of computers, monitors and tel-
evisions in all Oregon counties
and in all Oregon cities with a
population of at least 10,000.
The Oregon Department of En-
vironmental Quality will over-
see the program, which was
made possible through legisla-
tion in 2007.
Electronics manufacturers fi-
nance the program, and many
manufacturers support it by
paying operating fees. Some
operate their own statewide re-
cycling program. All of these
programs meet the same envi-
ronmental management stan-
dards and operate under the
Oregon E-Cycles umbrella.
The program does not in-
clude free recycling of cell
phones, computer peripherals
such as keyboards and mice,
and other electronic items.
Oregonians can learn more
about the program and how it
works through a new Web site,
www.oregonecycles.org. Start-
ing January 1, site users will be
able to find the nearest recy-
cling/collection site to drop off
unwanted computers, monitors
and televisions.
The Web site also offers in-
formation targeted specifically
for consumers, manufacturers
or retailers, and includes fact
sheets and answers to fre-
quently asked questions. Ore-
gonians will also be able to ask
questions through a toll-free
hotline, 1-800-5-ECYCLE (1-
800-532-9253), which also will
be available starting Jan. 1.
“This program is important
for Oregon’s efforts to manage
solid waste more responsibly
and to expand the state’s recy-
cling opportunities,” said DEQ
Director Dick Pedersen. “Na-
tionwide, people are seeing
more opportunities to recycle
and properly dispose of their
unwanted electronics. This is a
big step for Oregon.”
Here’s how the program
works:
• Beginning Jan. 1, anyone
may recycle seven or fewer
items (computers, computer
monitors and televisions) at no
charge at participating collec-
tion sites. Households, small
businesses and small nonprofit
organizations (those with 10 or
fewer employees) may be able
to bring in more than seven
items at one visit, but should
call the collection site ahead of
time before doing so. Oregon
E-Cycles also plans to hold
special collection events during
the year.
• People interested in recy-
cling electronics devices not
covered under the E-Cycles
program (such as cell phones,
DVD players, computer periph-
erals, scanners, etc.) should
check with the collection site to
see what their policy is for tak-
ing in these items. Some sites
may charge a fee to accept
these items and some may be
unable to accept them. A com-
plete list of collection sites and
contact information will be
available on the Web site.
• Retail outlets selling com-
puters, computer monitors and
televisions will be required to
sell only brands that are listed
as “compliant” or “pending” on
DEQ’s manufacturer compli-
ance list. Retailers will provide
consumers with information
about Oregon E-Cycles when
they purchase new computers,
monitors and televisions.
Have a Happy Holiday
Don’t Drink & Drive
trips and keep track of how
much fuel is in your tank, espe-
cially if traveling unfamiliar
routes or into remote locations.
• Let friends and family know
what routes you plan to take
when on a trip, keeping them
updated and letting them know
if these plans change.
• Drive to the conditions. If
it’s icy or wet, increase your fol-
lowing distance and reduce
your speed. Use your head-
lights to improve not only your
visibility, but also so others can
see your vehicle.
• In bad weather, don’t use
cruise control.
Page 5
County seeking
volunteers for
Planning board
The Columbia County Board
of Commissioners is seeking
applicants from county citizens
to fill two vacant positions on
the seven-member Planning
Commission, plus two vacan-
cies for the Alternate positions.
All applicants will be reviewed
and considered.
If you are interested in serv-
ing on this committee, contact
the Board of Commissioners
office at 503-397-4322 or ob-
tain an interest form on the
website www.co.columbia.or
.us For detailed information
about the Planning Commis-
sion, contact Todd Dugdale,
LDS Director, at 503-397-
1501.