Spring into sustainability: your ultimate guide to spring cleaning
As the days grow longer and nature begins to awaken, spring is officially here in Marion County. If you use this time of year to spruce up your spaces with some spring cleaning, we've got some tips and tricks to help.
Take Advantage of Free Electronics Recycling
If you're cleaning out old electronics you no longer use, you can recycle them for FREE at the Salem-Keizer Recycling & Transfer Station and the North Marion Recycling & Transfer Station.
Both locations accept:
Computers
Televisions
Monitors
Laptops
Televisions
Photocopy Machines
Microwaves
Cables
Wires
Mice and Keyboards
Circuit Boards
Stereos
VCR/DVD Players
Cameras
Printers
Projectors
Telephones
properly dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW)
Many everyday household products contain hazardous chemicals that need to be handled and disposed of properly. Items labeled Danger, Warning, Caution, or Poison should not be tossed in your residential garbage, as this increases the potential for release of these substances into the environment, which can cause serious illness or harm the environment.
You can dispose of these products for FREE at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at the Salem-Keizer Recycling & Transfer Station. Please bring your household hazardous materials in the original retail containers with good fitting lids. If original container is not available, place products in a resealable container like a milk jug, water jug, or a 5 gallon bucket with a lid.
Here's a list of common items that are accepted at the HHW Facility:
Antifreeze
Pesticides
Weed Killer
Herbicides
Fuels
Pool chemicals
Solvents
Spot Remover
Turpentine
Mercury
Paint Thinner
Wood Preservatives
Rust Remover
Degreasers/Solvents
Engine Cleaners
Paint - up to 10 gallons per visit
make your own green cleaners
We all want our homes to be free from dirt, grease and bacteria. Cleaning well doesn't have to mean using harsh chemicals found in many store-bought products. In fact, homemade natural cleaners are safe to use around kids and pets while being just as effective at getting rid of dirt and grime. These cleaners are better for you and your family, better for the air in your home and better for the environment.
These natural cleaner recipes are safe and easy to make - and more affordable than many store-bought products. All you need to start are some basic ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. So, grab your sponges and spray bottles and try out these recipes.
prevent pollutants from entering storm drains
On the rare sunny spring days in Marion County, it's tempting to get outside and clean. If you plan to wash your car or do any power washing outdoors, make sure to keep the runoff out of our storm drains. Our stormwater system returns rain or snow melt directly back to waterways without treatment - so any pollutants it picks up along the way go to our rivers and streams.
Do all your outdoor washing on grass or gravel to prevent pollutants from washing directly into the stormwater system .This extra level of filtration can help keep our waterways clean and aquatic life healthy.
get creative!
Prevent the need to purchase new or throw old items in the trash by getting creative with what you already have. Old t-shirts that you no longer wear can be cut up to make reusable cleaning rags. Toothbrushes can be repurposed to clean small spaces.
You can also make small switches to help the environment beyond your spring cleaning. Skip unnecessary washes for your clothes - articles like jeans and sweaters can usually be worn multiple times before you need to wash them. Hang-dry clothing when possible to make it last longer and reduce your energy use. Unsubscribe from reoccurring mail services to prevent junk mail from piling up. Do you have other creatives ways to reduce waste while spring cleaning? Let us know in the comments!
