greenHILLhome: Local Hazardous Waste and Clothing Drive This Saturday

uploaded to flickr.com by Bree Bailey

Got clutter?

As a follow up to a recent greenHILLhome column on recycling of household electronics I received an email from a Hill resident who has organized a “Drive of Drives” this coming Saturday, December 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  Scott Christian and neighbors on the 1200 block of G Street SE will be collecting a number of items to help local families clean out their closets and basements responsibly.  The following details the items being accepted on Saturday; the drop off location is 1224 G Street SE.

Christian and others will be collecting household hazardous waste such as small electronics, batteries, paint, automotive fluids, etc.) and delivering them to the Fort Totten Transfer Station later that day (and keeping them out of our landfills).  As the DC DPW went from weekly to monthly collections of hazardous household waste, this drive coincides with the monthly collection for the city (and saves you the trip to Fort Totten).  For a list of accepted materials, please click here.   Some additional rules for this drive: no medicines, no major kitchen appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators, and no paper for shredding.

The Drive of Drives will also be collecting winter coats, clothes, gently used toys, strollers, and new diapers for the DC Homeless Family Shelter at DC General Hospital.  As the colder months are upon us, warm clothes and coats are especially needed.  There is also an urgent need for diapers and strollers at the Shelter, as over the winter up to 240 children may call the location home.    Toiletries are not needed though, so please don’t bring them to the Drive.

Finally, if you have an outdoor party tent you could lend to the drive, the organizers would appreciate it.  The last attempted collection was rained out and they would like to hold this year’s event rain or shine.   They are also looking for volunteers with trucks or SUVs to help transport collected materials.  If you can help for an hour between 11:00 and 1:00, please stop by with your vehicle.

The Drive of Drives is a neighborly and responsible event—unwanted items get recycled or repurposed instead of thrown away and others can benefit as winter arrives.