There is so much information to share about how to make Collingswood greener. At publicly attended events such information is typically handed out as paper hard copies. Accordingly, as we were planning the Springtime Collingswood Green Festival, we didn’t think it was quite right to add more paper to the waste stream. Hence, this Webpage.

Don’t trash it! There’s more that can be recycled locally than you might know. Use these local recyclers or use the provided links to find out what else can be done to keep unwanted items off our curbs on trash day.

Green is healthy… Find out about the things in your daily life on which you can have a healthy impact - water, renovations, home air quality, etc.

The green scene… If you’re reading this, you probably already care about our environment. So why not spread the sentiment? Send some of these links to people you know who could use some consciousness-raising.

Don’t trash it!

Finally residents can recycle those yogurt containers and plastic grocery bags. Gone are the days when residents had to send anything not marked with a #1 or #2 off to the landfill. Marking another green milestone, Collingswood is the first town in Camden County to give residents an opportunity to recycle plastics #3 through #7 and even un-numbered plastics.

A new dumpster is available for residents to throw in all plastics (except plastic bags and bubble wraps). Recycle your dairy cups, toothbrush packaging (separate the plastic from the cardboard and recycle both), caps from milk and orange juice cartons, spice bottles, clamshell type packages for items like light bulbs, even children’s toys are now accepted for recycling. More examples include cottage cheese containers, lids from salad dressing jars, the plastic spout from paper milk cartons and tetra packs, Styrofoam (block) packing material, plastic pumps from cleanser bottles, clean to-go and roasted chicken containers – practically any plastics that are not labeled #1 or #2.

The effort is a voluntary basis for residents. Simply bring cleaned and dry items to the new plastics recycling dumpster at the Bike Share garage (located on Atlantic Avenue between the Community Center and the Public Works garage). (Plastics, types #1 and #2 should go into your curbside bin)

Also, inkjet and toner cartridges can be recycled to benefit our public schools. Bring them to the Collingswood Public Library at 771 Haddon Avenue.

Provides resources for certified environmentally safe household products. http://www.greencupboards.com/

 

CFLs, aka compact fluorescent light bulbs, may use less energy, but they contain mercury and should be recycled. Learn more here: recycleabulb.com. Local Home Depot stores accept used CFLs.

Paint, chemicals, pesticides, fuels (not motor oil!) and more are collected by Camden County in Collingswood on a specially designated day each spring. To learn more, visit camdencounty.com/community/household.html or call Camden County at 856-858-5241.

Motor oil is collected by the Collingswood Department of Public Works garage, 713 North Atlantic Avenue near the PATCO high speed line.

Computers and components. In town, bring them to CamTech 681Haddon Avenue. Information about recycling electronics is found at mygreenelectronics.org. Also, contact the Camden County Division of Environmental Affairs 856-858-5241.

Cell phones can be brought to the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Avenue. Benefits go to the Collingswood Public Schools.
Also, check out Cell Phone Bank, which provides a postage-free way to send in old phones that benefits nation-wide victim services organizations. Get a free shipping label at 911cellphonebank.org/shipping-label.asp.

Eyeglasses are collected by the Lions Club International. There’s a drop-off box in front of the fire department on Collings Avenue.

Excessive catalogs and mailings can be stopped by registering at Catalog Choice at catalogchoice.org/signup.

Find out where to recycle almost anything. Earth911.com lists over 100,000 recycling locations across the country. Visit Earth911.com at earth911.com.

Green is healthy…
Water filters not only remove unhealthy chemicals and contaminants from the water we use at home but they also enable us to use less plastic. These Webpages let us compare leading brands of filters.

Drinking water filters - waterfiltercomparisons.com/water_filter_comparison.php

Whole house filters - waterfiltercomparisons.com/whole_house_filter_comparison.php

Green living – Learn more from the NSF (formerly the National Sanitation Foundation) an independent organization that develops standards for public health, safety, and protection of the environment. See their drinking water fact kit at nsf.org/consumer/newsroom/kit_water.asp and their green living fact kit at nsf.org/consumer/newsroom/kit_green_living.asp.

Green renovations - Explore the green renovation of a 1915 California Craftsman home in this video with David Gottfried, founder of the US Green Building Council. planetgreen.discovery.com/video/?playerId=1488687257&categoryId=2157663001&lineupId=2156958001&titleId=1917520946

Detox your home; diapers, etc. - Go green room-by-room by watching a series of short videos from the Planet Green Website at planetgreen.discovery.com/video/?playerId=1488687257&categoryId=1488640343&lineupId=1493251850&titleId=1425899648. There’s lots more videos about similar subjects on this site.

Protect neighborhood health - Free our homes and neighborhoods of toxic pesticides. Visit the Beyond Pesticides Website for healthy alternatives for dealing with pests and insects: beyondpesticides.org/alternatives/factsheets/index.htm.

Air quality; avoid radon - The Citizen’s Guide to Radon is an EPA publication to help identify the potential threat of radon in our homes, and to explore testing procedures and remedies. Download PDF file.

The green scene…
How green are you? Calculate your carbon impact at climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator

“The Story of Stuff” - a very popular, fast 20-minute look at the underside of our production, consumption, and disposal patterns. View the video at storyofstuff.com.

The Grist Website - Environmental news and commentary with a wry twist. Grist says this about itself, “You know how some people make lemonade out of lemons? At Grist, we're making lemonade out of looming climate apocalypse.” View the Website at grist.org.

Did you know? - Share this series of short videos about going green. Find them at the Planet Green Website, planetgreen.discovery.com/video/?playerId=1488687257&categoryId=1488640343&lineupId=1493251850&titleId=1425899648.

How-to resources - Planet Green, an online media presence makes it easy to find ways to take action. Check out their Home and Garden Webpages at planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden.

No excuses energy conservation - This Website contains a long list of energy conservation tips – most are easy and a cheap way to join the green movement. See the list at dailyhomerenotips.com/energy-conservation.

Reduce energy consumption and costs.  The Consumer Conservation Handbook is a publication of the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate Division of Rate Counsel. Download the PDF file.

Attachment	Size
Citizen's_Guide_to_Radon.pdf	851.65 KB
conservation_handbook .pdf	1.78 MB