Fairbanks Recycling Guide

2014 ~ Vol. 4, No. 1

Brought to you by Interior Alaska Green Star

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Dear Fairbanks North Star Borough Resident,

Welcome to this issue of the Fairbanks Recycling Guide—your guide to reducing waste in the Fairbanks area. You may already be familiar with “The Three Rs” of waste reduction, which include reducing the amounts of waste created, reusing materials whenever possible, and recycling materials that cannot be reused.

The 2014 Fairbanks Recycling Guide is published by IAGS. IAGS is a nonprofit organization which encourages households and businesses to practice waste reduction, energy conservation and pollution prevention. This guide provides current information about recycling and waste prevention in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Scan the QR Code at the right for changes and updates to this guide.

Let us know if there are topics you’d like to see in this guide or questions you’d like to ask. Send your thoughts to info@iagreenstar.org.

The Fairbanks Recycling Guide – Volume 4, Number 1, 2014 is published by Interior Alaska Green Star (IAGS) with support by grants from Design Alaska and the FNSB Recycling Commission. Design by 5th Avenue Design & Graphics, Inc. Illustrations by Scott Hansen.

3 Recycling Spotlight

3 Local Recycling Resources

4 Common Household Recycling

5 Recycling Locations

5 Business Recycling Options

6 Reuse Options

7 Hazardous Wastes & Special Recycling

8 Electronics Recycling

Scan and bookmark this QR Code for an on the go reference.

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Recycling At a GlanceLocal Recycling ResourcesAlaska Wastewww.alaskawaste.net 452-2009

Alliance for Reason and Knowledgea-r-k.us 799-7045

C & R Pipe and Steelwww.crpipesteel.net

456-8386

Fairbanks North Star Borough Recycling Commissionwww.co.fairbanks.ak.us/boards/recyclingcommission 459-1482

Fairbanks North Star Borough Solid Waste Divisionwww.co.fairbanks.ak.us/solidwaste 459-1482

Fairbanks Rescue Mission – Recycling Centerwww.fairbanksrescuemission.org/frmrecyclecenter.htm 452-5343 ext 110

Interior Alaska Green Starwww.iagreenstar.org 452-4152

K&K Recyclingwww.kandkrecycling.us 488-1409

Northern Alaska Environmental Centerwww.northern.org 452-5021

Project Fairbanks687-1048

UAF Office of Sustainabilitywww.uaf.edu/sustainability 474-5070

For the last 32 years, the Fairbanks Community Food Bank (FCFB) has provided food for those in need by distributing surplus food that would ordinarily be discarded. Faithful volunteers pick up 2-5 tons of surplus food from local grocery stores six days a week, recycling at least a million pounds of food every year that would otherwise be thrown away.

However, the Food Bank’s culture of waste prevention and pollution control goes well beyond transferring surplus food into the hands of the needy. In fact, the FCFB received a Green Star Award from Interior Alaska Green Star (IAGS) in 2010 for their admirable efforts toward sustainability:

• recyclingoldandunwantedelectronicsthroughIAGS’ e-waste recycling program

• recycling200-300eggcartonsandcardboardboxes every day and re-using plastic liners from banana boxes as trash bags

• re-purposingfoodunsuitableforhumanconsumption by feeding livestock or composting it

• usingnaturalgastoreduceairpollutionandinstalling low flow toilets to conserve water

• securingfundingforamicroturbinethatgeneratesboth heat (500,000 BTUs) and power (65 KWs) for use within the facility, and selling overage to GVEA

• encouragingtheuseofalternativemodesoftransportation such as busses, carpools and bicycles

Interior Alaska Green Star applauds FCFB’s voluntary implementation of these environmentally conscious efforts that help to reduce waste and prevent pollution in our community.

The Fairbanks Community has a culture of sharing and caring for one another, which is why the Food Bank is still going strong after three decades of service. Last year, the Food Bank served over 27,000 clients and distributed 1,392,000 pounds of food thanks to 16,700 volunteer hours.

Would you consider volunteering with the Food Bank to help end hunger in the Tanana Valley? Please call FCFB at (907) 457-4273 or visit www.fairbanksfoodbank.org today to learn more!

Fairbanks Community Food Bank

Recycling spotlight

food waste accounts for 21% of america’s garbage. to learn more about diverting food from landfills, refer to the following link:www.epa.gov/foodrecovery

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RECYCLABLE MATERIAL WHAT TO INCLUDE WHAT TO LEAVE OUT

CARDBOARD ~ ~ ~ Brown, corrugated (not shiny or colored) cardboard boxes

Waxy cardboard, non-corrugated paper, pizza/cereal boxes

NEWSPAPER ~ ~ ~ Newspapers, newspaper inserts Plastic bags

MIxED PAPER ~ ~ ~ White/colored paper, glossy paper, junk mail, cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, gift wrap, books, magazines, phone books, paper egg cartons, shiny/waxy cardboard, pizza box tops

Food residue, paper cups/plates, napkins, tissues, milk cartons, juice boxes, hardcover books (unless binding and cover are removed), binder clips, plastic or metal bindings

PLASTIC #1 ~ Rinsed #1 bottles: beverage bottles, salad dressing bottles, etc.

Caps, other numbered plastics, items with food residue, produce and take-out containers

PLASTIC #2 ~ Rinsed #2 jugs, with necks and screw tops: milk jugs, laundry detergent jugs, etc.

Caps, other numbered plastics, items with food residue, cups, tubs, oil/chemical containers

GLASS JARS & BOTTLES

~ ~ Rinsed glass: food and beverage bottles, jars, etc.

All lids, items with food residue, Pyrex and other heat-resistant glass, plate glass, drinking glasses

ALUMINUM CANS

~ ~ ~ ~ Rinsed beverage cans Items with food residue, aluminum foil, pie pans, food cans, aerosol cans

STEEL CANS ~ ~ ~ Rinsed food cans Items with food residue, labels

SCRAP METAL ~ ~ Aluminum scrap, brass, copper, stainless steel, radiators, lead, tin, cables, appliances, etc. Call for more details.

Refrigerants, oils, fuels, antifreeze, hazardous or toxic substances, non-metallic materials

ELECTRONICS ~ Batteries, cables/cords, cameras, cell phones, computers, modems, monitors, printers, TVs, speakers, etc.

VHS/Cassette Tapes, smoke detectors, exit signs, vacuum cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs

Recycling Options for

Common Household Materials

during the 2013 tanana Valley state fair, interior alaska green star volunteers recycled 2,112 pounds of discarded plastic bottles and soft drink cans. consider volunteering for next year’s fair! Visit http://iagreenstar.org/volunteer or call IAGS at 907-452-4152 to learn more.

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Fairbanks Rescue Mission 452-5343 ext 110Local businesses may drop off recyclables Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Commercial pick-up service is also available; email recycle@fairbanksrescuemission.org for more information.

Fairbanks North Star Borough 459-1482Local businesses can drop off hazardous wastes every Tuesday through Saturday from 9am until 4pm. Note: Solid waste regulations prohibit the disposal of used cooking oil and grease in the FNSB Solid Waste Facility. See FNSB Solid Waste’s online resource sheet for information about proper recycling or disposal of these materials from businesses: http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/solidwaste/HHWHome.htm.

Interior Alaska Green Star 452-4152Local businesses may drop off electronics the 3rd weekend of every month - Fri & Sat. Check out their website for more information: www.iagreenstar.org.

K&K Recycling 488-1409Local businesses may drop off material any time. Commercial dumpster services are also available. Call for more information.

Recycling Options for Businesses

Recycling Locations

A University of Alaska Fairbanks taku parking lot across

from the fnsb transfer site on farmers loop road. 474-5070

B Interior AK Green Star 1855 marika road

(uaf property/central receiving warehouse) 452-4152

C Fairbanks Rescue Mission Recycling Center 723 27th avenue 452-5343

D C & R Pipe and Steel 401 e. Van horn road 456-8386

E K&K Recycling 2040 richardson highway north pole 488-1409

the fnsb used oil recovery program began october 24, 2002, becoming the primary heat source for the main solid waste facility building, and the recycling/household hazardous waste facility beginning december 2007. approximately $130,000 is saved each year by eliminating used oil disposal costs and significantly reducing the need to purchase heating fuel. Source: “FNSB Solid Waste Facility”

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Drop-Off Locations & Pick-Up ServicesThese organizations accept donations of various materials for reuse through drop-off locations and/or pick-up services.

FRA Closet Collections805 airport way 451-7766

Clothing, shoes, linens, small appliances, furni-ture, household goods. Call to schedule free pick-up service, or drop off anytime at bins in the following parking lots:~ Bentley Mall, 32 College Road~ Fairbanks Resource Agency, 805 Airport Way ~ Fox General Store, 2226 Old Steese Highway~ North Pole Plaza, 301 North Santa Claus Lane~ UAF Recycling, Taku Parking Lot.

Gulliver’s Books3525 college road 474-9574

Paperback books Drop off during store business hours for credit towards used book purchases.

Literacy Council of Alaska Forget-Me-Not Books517 gaffney road 456-6212

Books, computers, flat screen monitorsDrop off during bookstore business hours. Call before dropping off computers or monitors, as special requirements apply.

Salvation Army2222 south cushman street 456-2085

Cars, appliances, clothing, furnitureDrop off Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Call to schedule pickup for large items.

Thrift and Consignment StoresA sampling of options for buying, selling, or trading used items in the Fairbanks area.

Designers Closet 201 old steese hwy, #2 457-4199

Clothing and accessories

Fireweed Consignment Boutique3677 college rd #12 374-7910

Clothing and accessories

Once Upon a Child250 third street 457-5444

Baby gear, clothing, footwear, furniture, toys

Play it Again Sports160 old steese highway 457-7427

Sporting equipment

Used-A-Bit2740 picket place 455-8733

Sporting goods, books, movies, cookware, furniture, tools, and more

Value Village3027 airport way 474-4828

Books, clothing, furniture, household items

Food DonationsHere are some options for donating food to local charities in the Fairbanks area.

Fairbanks Community Food Bank725 26th aVenue #101 457-4273

Fairbanks Rescue Mission723 27th aVenue 452-5343

Stone Soup Café507 gaffney road 456-8317

Reuse Optionsdo you offer reuse opportunities and don’t see your business on this list? contact interior alaska green star at 452-4152 or info@iagreenstar.org

for every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. SOURCE: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm

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FNSB Recycling Servicesrecycling or waste-to-energy utilization of household hazardous waste

http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/SolidWaste/HHWHome.htm

The FNSB Recycling/Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility accepts hazardous wastes to be recycled or used for waste-to-energy programs every Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 4pm). Limit is 220 pounds per month (approximately 26 gallons). Businesses must call to schedule an appointment and fees will apply; residents may drop off materials anytime free of charge.

Residents may also drop off hazardous wastes at the FNSB Solid Waste Facility during open hours, or at most transfer sites. See website for a list of transfer sites that accept these materials.

http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/solidwaste/SWReuse.pdf

Types of Waste AcceptedAntifreezeCar BatteriesCorrosivesDieselsGasolineMotor OilsOxidizersPaintPCB BallastsPoisonsSolvents

Specialized Reuse & RecyclingIn addition to the standard household recyclables accepted through various drop-off sites, there are many other items that can be reused or recycled in Fairbanks. Here is a list of just a few of those items and where they can be recycled. Please contact these businesses directly for more information.

Batteries ABS Alaskan (Lead Acid), 452-2002 Interior Alaska Green Star (All Except Lead Acid), 452-4152

Building Materials Habitat for Humanity (materials accepted by appointment only), 452-1685

Cell PhonesBridge Program, 474-2144Interior Alaska Green Star, 452-4152Joy Elementary School, 456-5469UAF Office of Sustainability, 474-5070

Egg CartonsAlaska Feed Company, 451-5570Cold Spot Feeds, 457-8555Fairbanks Community Food Bank, 456-2337

EyeglassesEye Clinic of Fairbanks, 456-7760 West Valley Vision Center 479-4700

Light BulbsHome Depot (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs), 451-9003 North Coast Electric (Fluorescent Tubes), 456-4410Fees range from $65 and up.

Plastic Grocery BagsFairbanks Community Food Bank, 456-2337Fred Meyer, All locationsSafeway, All locations

Packing MaterialsQuick Mail, 452-6179

Plastic Bottle CapsElements Salon & Day Spa, 456-8877

Printer Ink & Toner CartridgesBridge Program, 474-2144Interior Alaska Green Star, 452-4152Joy Elementary School, 456-5469UAF Office of Sustainability, 474-5070

recycling is popular! 86% of residents in the fnsb would recycle at transfer sites, if available, according to the results of 2012 survey sponsored by the fnsb recycling commission.

The FNSB Recycling Commission works with the community to increase recycling and public awareness. Their mission is to: “Achieve greater economic and environmental sustainability in the Borough by supporting ongoing actions to reduce and recycle resources from the waste stream with the ultimate goal of zero waste.”

For more information about how the Recycling Commission can serve you: http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/Boards/RecyclingCommission/

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Interior Alaska Green Star accepts ALL electronics FREE OF CHARGE once per month, thanks to the FNSB Recycling Commission’s recommendation of sponsorship (subject to change after September 2014). For more information, contact IAGS at: info@iagreenstar.org, 452-4152, or online at www.iagreenstar.org

Location1855 marika road (subject to change, check website for updates)

Dates and Hoursthird weekend of eVery month – friday and saturdayopen 10 am to 4 pm

2014 DatesJune 20/21July 18/19Aug 15/16Sept 19/20Oct 17/18Nov 14/15Dec 19/20

2015 Dates Jan 16/17Feb 20/21Mar 20/21April 17/18May 15/16Jun 19/20Jul 17/18

What can I recycle?Batteries Cables/Cords/Wires Calculators CamerasCell PhonesComputer CPUs CopiersDiscs—CD, DVD, Floppy DVD PlayersGame ConsolesLaptop ComputersMicrowave OvensMonitorsPrintersRadiosScannersSmall Kitchen AppliancesSpeakersStereosTelephonesTVsVCRsAND MORE!

Visit our website for the full list of what we accept.

Why should I recycle my old electronic devices?The use of electronic products has grown substantially over the past two decades. The negative side of our advances in technology is that old devices will be thrown away. Consumer electronics waste—or e-waste—constitutes as much as 5% of the solid waste stream and is increasing every year. E-waste contains toxic materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. Aside from the toxic issues surrounding electronics disposal, many of the materials are recoverable, such as gold and copper. Rather than throwing away these valuable resources, it makes sense to recycle the devices and reuse as many of these materials as possible!

IAGS’s Electronics Recycling Depot is supported by the FNSB’s Recycling Commission’s recommendation of sponsorship.

ElectronicsRecycling

iags has recycled a total of 332 tons of electronics since the program began. that number continues to increase thanks to the support of our community!