The hazardous cleaning products that may be in your cabinets are also in the air — and they may release toxins long after you’ve finished scrubbing. Before your next cleaning spree look for natural cleaners and avoid products with labels reading “danger”, “warning”, or “caution”. Non-toxic brands Method and Seventh Generation are widely available. It’s also easy to make your own effective cleaners with ingredients like white vinegar, peroxide, and baking soda, and best of all you can scent them to your liking.
Recycle & Reuse
According to Metro, our region recovers a whopping 59% of our waste, which makes us some of the best recyclers in the nation. So what’s that other 41%? Styrofoam and plastic bags are common waste that can’t be recycled curbside, so we used the sleek interactive search at metro-region.org to find a recycler nearby. You can also call the Metro Recycling Information Hotline at 503-234-3000. We found that most grocery stores recycle plastic bags, including New Seasons and Wild Oats — both stores also recycle plastic food-grade tubs. Other difficult items, such as block packaging foam, can be taken to Far West Fibers (3 close-in locations), which accepts cell phones and more (some for free), including all athletic shoes as part of Nike’s reuse-a-shoe program, which makes turf from them. In Eugene, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (call for specific locations, 541-687-5820) accepts furniture, mattresses, and more and employs families in crisis to refurbish or recycle the materials.
E-waste is a part of our modern lives, so be sure to recycle it ethically. Most computer manufacturers have take-back programs, for example you can take iPods to any Apple store. Portland is fortunate to have Free Geek (1731 SE 10th Ave), which wipes computer hard drives then recycles or refurbishes them to provide equipment and computer training to those in need. In Eugene, the Next Step Recycling Center (2101 W 10th Ave) accepts computers and peripherals.
Any arts supplies in good condition can be donated to the School & Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP, 3901A N Williams), which also accepts design material samples and some office supplies. In Eugene, visit the Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts (43 W Broadway).