Please Place Small Electronics in Your ReCo Pick Bag This October
136 billion pounds of e-waste is generated each year, yet only 22.3% is properly recycled. E-waste production has outpaced recycling nearly fivefold since 2010. Improper disposal releases 128,000 pounds of mercury and 99 million pounds of toxic plastics annually, contaminating groundwater and the environment.
Electronics, including:
✅ All computer and computer-related equipment
✅ All audio, video, and telephone equipment
✅ All electric small appliances
✅ All cords and wires
✅ All items, whether working or not
Not Included: Flatscreen monitors or desktop printers (these can be scheduled for recycling through your member dashboard for a small fee). Also excluded are any electronics that don’t fit inside the bag.
Partner Spotlight: Triangle Ecycling
At The ReCollective, we’re tackling e-waste in our community by partnering with Triangle Ecycling. Their mission focuses on recycling (145 tons in 2024), donating refurbished computers, and offering technical education internships. Check out their website for deals on refurbished corporate laptops.
The ReCollective Repurposes Empty Pill Bottles
Empty pill bottles can be repurposed for organizing small items, storing craft supplies, or saving seeds. Their durability and compact size make them handy containers that extend their usefulness well beyond their original purpose.
Accepted Materials:
✅ Any empty pill bottles marked with a #5 recycling symbol.
IMPORTANT: Please peel off or completely black out all labels before setting out your pill bottles. This protects your privacy by ensuring no personal information is visible.
🚫 Not Accepted: Pill bottles that aren’t marked with a #5 recycling symbol or that aren’t empty.
Please place empty pill bottles in a grocery-sized bag or smaller, and set it inside your black waterproof bag.
Get Ready for the Upcoming ReCo Picks
Reminder: the main item goes in your ReCo Pick bag. The Bonus item is typically ‘bring your own bag.’ The calendar is your go-to source for all ReCo Pick information.
This November, ReCollective members can donate freezer packs, clean takeout containers (with lids), insulated grocery bags, and silvery plastic padded bags to support local food pantries and community fridges.
ReCo Picks are in addition to all the core materials The ReCollective takes each month!
Outside the Triangle? You Can Still Recycle With Us
You can still recycle with us if you’re outside our regular service area—as long as you’re within 500 miles of Durham.
Order an Almost Anything Bag online. Fill it with almost everything we accept through doorstep service, including any ReCo Picks year-round. Use the prepaid label to mail it back.
If you’re in the Triangle, NC, you can also pick one up at any of our 5 participating local shops.
Reminder: Yes, you may share your bag capacity. Friends, family, and neighbors can put materials in your ReCo bags. The one exception is batteries/lightbulbs since these are the most complex items for our team to manage. Feel free to share your bag capacity for plastic film, textiles, styrofoam, ReCo Picks, and more!
Sharing is a great idea for smaller households. It maximizes the amount of material recycled per pickup, benefiting everyone.