City to Host Spring Recycling Day

The event, which is being sponsored by the City of Newport’s Clean City Program, Waste Management, The East Bay Met School, the Newport Energy & Environment Commission and Troop 3, Newport, is part of Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup, which takes place nationally from March through May.  

The following items will be accepted on a first come, first served basis:

• Paper shredding service (paper will be recycled): bring up to four banker size boxes of paper to be shredded. Waste Management will also be available to recycle your cardboard box.
• Electronic waste:  Computers/CPUs, monitors, televisions and more. No small appliances.
• Rigid plastics not normally collected in the curbside recycling program: old recycling bins & trash barrels, plastic toys, buckets, milk crates, laundry baskets, plant pots and more. NO PLASTIC FOOD PACKAGING. Plastic accepted by Waste Management.
• Styrofoam (polystyrene): All Styrofoam packaging must be labeled with “PS” with a “6” below it.  No packing peanuts. Plastic utensils will also be collected, but must be packaged separately and rinsed.
• Clothing & household items for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State: gently used items such as: anything made of cloth - clothing, blankets & more, household items & small appliances. Many restrictions – please see above referenced website.
• Books for Reading Tree: hardcover, paperback, any age - child or adult, DVDs, VHS tapes. NO magazines, phonebooks, catalogs, or books that have mold or mildew.
• Bicycles/bikes: working and “salvageable” bicycles will be accepted for recycling for the East Bay Met School to teach students & community how to fix bikes.
• Plastic bags: plastic grocery & shopping bags, clean & dry produce bags, newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning film, toilet paper & paper towel packaging; bread, bagel & sandwich roll bags. Collected by the East Bay Met School. Bags must be clean and dry.
• Cooking oil: Newport Biodiesel will be accepting all vegetable cooking oil for recycling, which is turned into biodiesel for vehicles and home heating oil.

 This event is NOT the Eco Depot collection for hazardous waste, therefore, items such as paints, fluorescent bulbs and other hazardous waste will NOT be collected at this event. No scrap metal or other items not listed above will be collected.  

Other services offered at the Spring Recycling Day:

• Buy recycling bins, or exchange an old one: The Clean City Program will also be selling recycling bins to Newport residents at a discounted rate of $5 per pair. This discounted recycling bin price will only be valid during the event to Newport residents on a first come, first served basis. Recycling bins are also available for $5 each at City Hall during normal business hours. Please bring a check for payment and proof of Newport residency. Cash and credit cards will not be accepted.
• Exchange your broken recycling bin: Broken recycling bins may be exchanged for a new one, free of charge. The City of Newport has the right to deny a free bin based on the above criteria. First come, first served.
• Buy a compost bin: the Earth Machine compost bin will be available for just $45 each (retails at over $100). Visit www.earthmachine.com to see the exact bin that will be available for sale. Compost bins are also available for purchase at the Clean City Program office during normal office hours. Please bring a check for payment and proof of Newport residency. Cash and credit cards will not be accepted. First come, first served.
• Free coffee & other goodies: Event attendees may also enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee from Custom House Coffee in Middletown. Attendees are encouraged to bring their reusable coffee mugs. Also, the Clean City Program will be encouraging “Earth Day is everyday” by giving away pens that have the phrase printed on them, as well as other goodies that encourage recycling.