Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health’s Solid Waste Education and Outreach team encourages the community to celebrate this holiday season by properly disposing of items that cannot go in curbside garbage or recycling carts.

The holiday season often means more garbage and more types of waste. Community members can use the RecycleRight app and RecyclingA-Z.com to find local disposal options for hundreds of items, as well as view curbside collection schedules, sign up for service reminders, and receive information about holiday schedules and winter weather service alerts. 

Follow these tips to ensure proper disposal of items that cannot go in curbside garbage or recycling carts:

• Batteries: Take batteries to designated disposal sites; do not place them in garbage or recycling carts. Batteries that end up in household garbage or inside of recycling carts can explode and pose a significant fire risk. Several retail stores across Clark County now offer free battery disposal for household batteries, including lithium-ion batteries and cell phones. Find locations at RecyclingA-Z.com or on the RecycleRight app.  
  
  Household batteries can also be recycled by covering each battery terminal with tape, putting them in a clear sealable bag and placing them on top of curbside recycling carts. Batteries accepted for curbside recycling include single-use and rechargeable AA, AAA, C, D, button batteries, hearing aid and watch batteries. 
   
• Block foam: To recycle block foam, drop it off at Earth Friendly Recycling in Vancouver. Block foam can also be placed in curbside garbage carts, but it cannot go in curbside recycling carts.
   
• Air pillows, bubble wrap, bubble mailers and plastic packaging: These plastic film products can be placed in bins for recycling at many local grocery stores and all three Clark County transfer stations. Plastic film cannot go in curbside recycling carts because it can get tangled in the machinery that sorts recyclables.
   
• String lights: Holiday string lights can be taken to a specialty recycler or should be placed in the garbage. Holiday string lights cannot go in curbside recycling carts. Find specialty recyclers at RecyclingA-Z.com or on the RecycleRight app.
   
• Gift wrap and ribbon: Gift wrap with non-paper decorations, such as glitter, foil and plastic elements, should be placed in the garbage because the decorative pieces are not recyclable. Plain gift wrap that does not have glitter, foil or other non-paper decorations can be placed in curbside recycling carts. Ribbon should always be placed in the garbage. 
   
• Electronics: Electronic products contain valuable materials that can be recycled and toxic chemicals that should be kept out of the landfill. Take electronics to a free E-Cycle drop-off location in Clark County. Find locations at RecyclingA-Z.com or on the RecycleRight app.
   
• Excess recycling and cardboard: Set out extra cardboard and other recyclables for free pickup on your regular curbside recycling collection day. Place extras in a cardboard box or paper bag; do not use plastic to bag extra recyclables. Extras can also be dropped off for free recycling at Clark County transfer stations.  

For more holiday waste-reduction tips, visit the Clark County Green Neighbors website.