by Kaena Keefer

La Verne residents can recycle through the city’s curbside collection program or drop off recyclables at the Alpine Center at 2363 First Street.

Residential Recycling provides three bins that accept the following in each:

The black bin is for waste. This includes household waste that is not accepted in either of the other bins. All materials must fit inside of the bin, and extra bags, boxes or trash left next to it on the curb will not be accepted.

The green bin is for green waste. Grass clippings, leaves, brush, shrubbery, pruning, sawdust, tree trimmings, and tree limbs (four inches in diameter or smaller) are accepted.

Not accepted are palm tree parts or fronds, cactus and other succulents, dirt and rocks, plastic and paper bags, or animal manure.

The gray/blue bin is for recycling. Aluminum and steel cans, all colors of glass bottles and jars, any plastic containers with numbers one (1) through seven (7), newspapers, junk mail, white ledger paper, corrugated cardboard, magazines, colored construction paper, cereal boxes or other boxed foods (but not plastic liners) and telephone books are accepted.

They will not accept aluminum foil, scrap metal, window or safety glass, mirrors, light bulbs, Styrofoam, wax paper, ceramics, drinking glasses, plastic wrap, food waste or packaging materials.

If one has large items, such as an old appliance, she can schedule a pick-up by calling Waste Management at 909-599-1274. Residents are limited to four larger pick-ups per year free of charge.

Conserving water is imperative to the preservation of the earth’s existing drinking water supply in which the world holds less than 2 percent that is palatable. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

• You can save 20 gallons a day for every leak fixed from faucets and plumbing fixtures.
• Water lawns only when they need it; adjust sprinklers so they only hit the lawn and not the sidewalk. These steps could save up to 1,700 gallons per month.
• Do not let the hose run when washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick rinse at the end. Even better is spending the little bit of money it costs to go to the automated car wash because these businesses recycle their water, saving the city a potential 150 gallons each car wash cycle.
• By installing water-saving showerheads and shortening showers by even two minutes, one can save up to 1,500 gallons per month.
• Run only full loads in the washing machine or dishwasher, and you could save 800 gallons per month.
• Use a broom and not a hose only once a week when clearing your driveway or sidewalk to save up to 600 gallons per month.
• Consider low-flow toilets that use less water in the tank. For information visit www.toiletology.com.

The Public Works Department in cooperation with Three Valleys Municipal Water District also offers rebates for water conservation for devices such as smart irrigation controllers, high-efficiency toilets and washing machines. For more information on rebates visit www.bewaterwise.com or call 888-376-3314.

As far as motor oil or other household hazardous waste products, there are two convenient options, including a used oil curbside collection program for the convenience of the residents by placing a screw-top container next to the recycling bin on the regular trash day for pick-up.

Limits of two, two-gallon containers are taken any week of the year. The other option is taking used oil to a certified collection center, including:

• Auto Zone at 1410 Foothill Blvd. 909-596-0801
• Jr. Schell at 1808 White Ave. 909-593-7015
• Firestone at 2019 Bonita Ave. 909-593-1516
• Quickie’s Oil Exchange at 914 Foothill Blvd. 909-599-5823

The city has also set up four kiosks for proper disposal of batteries. They cab be found at the Public Works Department counter, Business License counter, the Community Center, or the Public Safety House.

By doing your part, you can help save space at our landfills and keep our environment safer as well as cleaner.

For additional information you can visit the city hall website listed in the main article, and click on the City’s Used Oil Collection Program or Household Hazardous Waste. Common household waste products include cleaning products or anything labeled toxic, poisonous, corrosive, flammable, combustible or an irritant.

For participating businesses accepting a variety of items including used appliances, furniture, cell phones, books or sporting goods, there is a list on the city Web site as well.

Compact discs can be repaired or reused, but if you don’t like that idea you can trade them in at music stores, donate them to charity or recycle them. Booklets and paper backings should be recycled as mixed paper, too. The recycled cases and CDs can be made into egg cartons or automotive parts.

Old computers can take up space and are considered hazardous waste. You can find out how to recycle yours by calling the Clean Computer Campaign at 408-287-6707 or visit www.svtc.org. Toner cartridges can be taken to Laser Cartridge Exchange, 909-592-5551, located on 545 W. Allen Ave., Unit 29, in San Dimas. Brands accepted include HP, Epson, Canon, Xerox, Inkjet and Laser.

Cell phones contain a number of toxins and flame-retardants so their disposal in landfills can be potentially hazardous to the environment. Cell phones can be discarded, recycled or reused. The La Verne Police Department Cell Phone Collection Program provides used phones for the House of Ruth to be used by domestic violence victims. For more information, contact Nita Ulloa at 909-596-1913.

Another option is to donate old phones to Verizon’s HopeLine Cell Phone Mail-In and Drop-Off Program by bringing your phone in to your nearest Verizon Wireless provider or visiting www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

Boomerang Boxes is a used cardboard box recover, resell and recycle system that sets up contracts with small companies that do not have a baler in order to pick up their used boxes for free. They also inspect, stock, and resell those boxes to the general public for a percentage of the market price, in order to provide an earth-friendly substitute to buying new boxes. For more information visit www.boomerangboxes.com.