By Chris Comer

Spring is almost here and it is time to clean out those closets. It is amazing the things that you do not use that can be recycled in some way. You may find many things you forgot you had; many things that may be useful to someone else.

This is the perfect time of year to go through things and donate items that do not fit into your household anymore. Good Will, Next Step Ministries Thrift Store, and many different Consignment Stores in town would love to have the clothing and other items that are not useful to you anymore.

Things that are broken or outdated are great to recycle so they can be turned into many different items. For instance, paper and cardboard are sent to paper mills to be shredded and then mixed into a pulp. This pulp is made into new products. Papers can be turned into newspapers or paper packaging material. The cardboard boxes recycle into paper bags and new cardboard boxes. Believe it or not, recycled notebook and computer paper is often changed into toilet paper, tissue, paper towels, and napkins.

All those aluminum cans you use are shredded and melted into new aluminum and aluminum foil. Aluminum is the fastest to be recycled, the turnaround could be just a few months, which means you could be using a recycled product that was just thrown out. Tin cans are processed so that the steel can be separated from the tin. The steel is then used to make bicycle and car parts, household appliances, or new cans.

Glass can be recycled many, many times over. Using recycled glass uses fewer resources than starting from the beginning of the process for new bottles or jars. The glass is melted and molded into new containers. Some glass is able to be crushed into a product called cullet that can be used to make bricks, paved surfaces, or even sports surfaces.

Plastics are separated by resin type and then sent off to the recycling plant to be shredded and melted into pellets. The pellets are used to make new plastic products. That laundry detergent bottle that you recycle could be made into buckets or toys. Milk and juice containers recycled are great for plastic lumber and are also used to make new milk and juice jugs. Did you know that your fleece blankets or winter jacket insulation could be made from recycled soda or water bottles? Add carpet to that list and it is crazy to think about all that can be done if we just take a moment to recycle what we are throwing away.

Your recycling efforts make a difference:

Old cell phones and computers contain gold and silver. Some say that only ¼ of the cell phones and computers are recycled. Wow, that is a lot of gold and silver going to the junk yard, dump, or just laying around.

Things that we think we should take to the dump can actually be recycled such as old appliances, yard equipment, extension cords, office equipment, and the like.

Documents that you have been putting off getting rid of can be shredded. Many times you can watch your documents shred, especially if they are of a sensitive nature.

If you can, do not throw batteries in the garbage. Batteries of all types including sealed lead acid, wet batteries, devices, and NiCAD NiMh can be recycled, and if placed in the right hands, will be disposed of properly.

We have the opportunity in our community to recycle. The Town of Kernersville recycles at your curb. Forsyth County has recycling centers on Lindsay Street in Kernersville as well as in Pfafftown and Winston-Salem. Depending on if you are a town resident or a county resident will depend on where you will take your recyclables.

Town of Kernersville Recycling Center:

• Town residents can recycle at 720 McKaughan Street. For more information, call 336-996-6916. Open 7AM – 4PM Monday-Friday (closed 12-1PM daily).

Forsyth County Residents can recycle at:

Forsyth County Recycling Centers:

• Hanes Mill Road Landfill – 325 Hanes Mill Rd., Winston-Salem. Please call 336-661-4900 for hours of operation.
• Forsyth Co. Center #1 – 445 Lindsay St., Kernersville. For more information, call 336-723-2784.
• Forsyth Co. Center #2 – 6328 Yadkinville Rd., Pfafftown. For more information, call 336-723-2784. Centers are open Tuesday-Saturday, 8AM – 5PM.

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The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce, with the help of sponsor Grease Monkey, offers a free recycling day each year. Volunteers will take everything out of your car for you. All you have to do is drive up! Located at 134 East Mountain Street, just behind the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce; this year the event will be held Saturday, April 8 from 9AM – 1PM.

The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce / Grease Monkey Annual Recycle Day will have on hand:

• Document Shredding
• Metal Recycling: Appliances, Yard Equipment, Copiers, Extension Cords, Aluminum Cans, Sheet Metal, Copper, and More
• Battery Recycling
• Town of Kernersville Solid Waste Recyclables: Glass, Plastic, Cereal Boxes
• Information on pill medication disposal with the Kernersville Police Department

For more information on Recycle Day visit www.KernersvilleNC.com or call the Chamber at 336-993-4521.