Recycle as much as you can, or reuse products that are not worn out PDF Print E-mail

Background

Recycle as much as you can Each ton of garbage emits about 2000 pounds of carbon. (Source: eia.doe.gov) The Anchorage regional landfill alone can hold 19.8 million tons of garbage, which means nearly 40 BILLION pounds of carbon! Many rural villages have landfill issues, and the less we put into them, the less we will have to worry about them filling up. If everyone in the U.S. only recycled their Sunday paper, half a million trees would be saved each week alone. (Source: Vanity Fair, April 2006)

  • Consider giving old items that you no longer need but are still usable to charities instead of throwing them out.
  • The Salvation Army also accepts donations of household goods, which go to be sold in thrift stores, with proceeds benefiting their community improvement programs.
    • Salvation Army has thrift store locations all over Alaska. Find your nearest thrift store here. Contact your local Salvation Army thrift store about donation pick-ups/drop-offs.
  • The ARC of Anchorage will pick up clothing and household items directly from your home so you don't have to do any work. Visit their website for more information.
  • Recycling tip sheets can be found at GreenStarInc.org

Carbon Savings

Recycling half the aluminum, glass, plastic, and paper that you use each year can save up to 2,400 pounds of carbon. (Source: globalgreen.org)

Take Action Now!

  • For details on what we recycle in Anchorage and how to recycle here, please visit ALPAR . Recycling doesn't have to be hard—check out this map of recycling drop-off sites in Anchorage.
  • For recycling in the Mat-Su region, visit here.
  • For recycling in Fairbanks, visit here.
  • For recycling in Juneau, visit here.
  • For recycling on the Kenai Peninsula, visit here.
  • Tips on rural recycling can be found here and here.
  • The State of Alaska has a listing of recycling organizations in Alaska and what they accept.
  • For fun info on the benefits of recycling and more subtle ways to recycle, visit the federal government's recycling site.
  • Green Star offers a large variety of recycling resources. Visit this page for recycling signs to download or purchase, frequently asked recycling questions, and helpful recycling links.
  • The Freecycle network has many groups all over Alaska. “When you want to find a new home for something—whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door—you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group. Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.” -Freecycle Network.
    • To find a local chapter of Freecycle, visit here.
  • The Alaska Materials Exchange offers a similar service to the Freecycle network except that it is for business supplies .
  • To recycle electronics, try Green Star's annual electronics recycling event. Usable computers can be donated through the Cristina Foundation , which will match you up with a local charity who can use your computer.
    • Computer manufacturers Dell, HP, and Apple also have programs for recycling old equipment. Learn more here.
    • Computers can also be recycled in Anchorage by Total Reclaim.
  • To find out where in Alaska you can recycle various types of hazardous waste, including electronics, visit earth911.org.
  • Habitat for Humanity has a ReStore in Anchorage, which sells donated home building and home improvement items. Visit their website to learn about donating your leftover home building materials.
  • Your old cell phones can be given to women's shelters to help those at risk of domestic violence through the Call to Protect program. Here are cell phone drop-off sites in Alaska.
 
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