Resolve to recycle better in 2008

With a new year ahead, Waste Management would like to remind its customers and all Ventura County residents that recycling is an important component of protecting the environment and helping the local community.

In most cities in Ventura County, the following materials should be put in the recycling bin:

•Clean paper, including newspaper and inserts, junk mail, white and colored office paper, wrapping, art and craft paper, telephone books, magazines, paper bags, catalogs, envelopes (including those with windows), shredded paper in a closed paper bag or box, note cards, Post-it notes.

•Cardboard boxes and chipboard, including cereal boxes with liners removed, frozen food boxes, shoe and detergent boxes, paper and toilet rolls, and flattened corrugated boxes.

•Aluminum, tin, metal and bimetal cans (rinsed if possible), soda, juice, soup, vegetable, and pet food cans, pie tins, wire hangers.

•Glass bottles and jars (rinsed if possible), including soda, wine, and beer bottles, food jars.

•Plastic bottles and containers (No. 1 through 7), including soda, juice, detergent, bleach, shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, dishwashing containers, milk jugs, tubs for margarine and yogurt, plastic planters.

•Plastic bags and film bags bundled in a tied bag, including grocery and store bags, dry cleaner bags.

These materials should be thrown away in the regular trash.

•Contaminated paper, including juice boxes, coated milk cartons, all soiled papers or bags with oil and food waste, paper cups, paper towels, wax paper and unclean food boxes.

•Broken glass, including window glass, mirrors, auto glass, light bulbs, fluorescent lights and ceramics, drinking glasses and mugs.

•Other plastic materials, including laundry baskets, garden hoses, plastic wrap, packaging materials and old trash containers.

•Miscellaneous materials, including cloth, appliances, carpet and padding, computer parts, diapers, dryer lint, food waste, packaging materials, lawn furniture, pens and pencils, phones, clocks, water pipes, wood/lumber and construction materials.

Household hazardous waste should never be thrown in the trash or recycling bin. Take these materials to a household hazardous waste facility.

Hazardous materials include batteries, syringes, electronic items, all partially filled aerosol cans and containers for cleaning fluids, automotive fluids, pesticides, paint, garden chemicals, and pool cleaners.

For information on recycling, reuse and where to dispose of household hazardous waste and electronics waste properly, see the following websites:

•The Ventura County Materials Exchange program, www.vcmax.org.

•Earth 911, www.earth911.org.

•State of California's Integrated Waste Management Board, www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ HHW.

•The Freecycle Network, www.freecycle.org.

•Waste Management, www .keepingventuracountyclean.com.