Special Waste Disposal Options
Special Waste
Disposal Options
ecomaine

Free E-Waste Recycling

Goodwill, Staples, and Best Buy will recycle your computer and related products at no charge. It doesn't matter what brand, where you bought it, or what condition. Staples and best Buy also take camcorders, digital cameras, shredders, mobile phones, GPS devices, and digital music players.

Goodwill Industries free disposal option
Goodwill will accept any computer brand in any condition at no cost. There is no volume limit and the parts will be recycled. For more information contact David Crossman at Goodwill:
david.crossman@goodwillnne.org  
207-774-6323

Motorola brand disposal option
Motorola's take-back program applies to batteries, cell phones and other equipment in any quantity. Please read their Web page for details and instructions.

Don't throw it in the trash. Recycle it for free!


Fireworks Disposal Safety

Click here for instructions provided by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection: http://www.maine.gov/dep/how-do-i/how-do-i.html?id=440736

Home Medical Waste Disposal
For ecomaine Communities

Sharps (e.g. needles), bandages, prescriptions and other medical waste in small quantities from your home, may be disposed by including it with your residential trash. It is necessary to your safety, and to others in your household, and to those handling the trash that these items be securely contained before discarding. Both ecomaine and the law require the following disposal steps:

        • Sharps
          You must choose a rigid, leak-proof, puncture resistant container - such as a hard-plastic bottle with a screw-on or tightly secured lid (a liquid detergent bottle with a large opening is a good choice, or you may purchase a disposable container at a pharmacy). Then, store the container near where the sharps are generated, but out of the reach of children.

          To dispose of the container, label it using masking tape or duct tape and write "Do NOT Recycle." Screw the lid on tightly and secure it with tape to prevent accidental opening. Then, it can be included with your regular household trash.

          Don'ts
          • Don't use glass, milk jugs, milk cartons, or clear plastic containers (they may break, be punctured or taken for illicit use).
          • Don't put sharp objects in a container that will be recycled or returned to a store.
          • Don't forget to follow these rules when traveling, too!

        • Medications & Prescription Drugs
          Residential prescription drug disposal may be done in free mailer envelopes sponsored by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, which are available at participating Maine pharmacies; click here for more information and a list of pharmacies.

          As an alternative, residents of municipalities using ecomaine for trash disposal may discard medications and prescription drugs in their household trash because our wate-to-energy plant destroys trash at 2000 degrees (F). As a precaution, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency recommends first mixing prescription durgs with kitty litter or coffee grounds to prevent removal and misuse.

        • Other home medical waste
          Soiled bandages, disposable sheets, and medical gloves should be placed in securely fastened plastic bags before you put them in with your other household trash.

          For more information, contact:

          Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Biomedical Waste Program, 207-287-2651
          American Diabetes Association,www.diabetes.org or 207-774-7717
          Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1-800-311-3435

Universal Waste Disposal Options

CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) local disposal locations

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Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Clean Harbors Environmental Services
17 Main Street, South Portland
1-207-799-8111

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