Tips to spring clean with sustainability in mind

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With March in the rearview, April showers will soon lead to May flowers and the perfect time to kick off one’s spring cleaning season.

For those who want to properly get rid of items prior to the arrival of summer, Clark County Green Neighbors will host several events so people can clean in a sustainable way and not add to growing landfills.

Two upcoming events in April will allow people to properly dispose of household hazardous waste. A collection event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, at S. 11th St. in Ridgefield, while a similar event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, in the parking lot of Yacolt Primary School.

“It is important to properly dispose of household hazardous waste so that they aren’t going into our landfills or somehow into our waterways,” Clark County Green Neighbors stated in an email. “These events are offered because it may not be as accessible for county residents to visit the West Vancouver and Central transfer stations.”

At the events, people can drop off batteries, fertilizers, fuels, gas cylinders, poisons, paint and other items. Items like ammunition, asbestos, biological waste or smoke detectors will not be accepted.

A detailed list of items that will be accepted at both events can be found online at clark greenneighbors.org under the community events page section for the specific event.

For people who want to get rid of household appliances, they can be recycled at Clark County transfer stations like the West Vancouver Materials Recovery Center and Central Transfer and Recycling for a fee.

Clark County Green Neighbors said the RecycleRight app and recyclingdoneright.org are good resources to find places that accept special disposal items and locations where people can drop off items so they are recycled.

Instead of throwing out household items or clothing, they can be donated to area nonprofits, consignment or thrift stores so they can find a new life. Donating items helps reduce waste in landfills and benefits the environment in return.

People can also hold garage or yard sales to earn some extra cash for the items they want to clear out while spring cleaning.

Those who want to learn about curbside composting can attend an event at the Ridgefield Community Library from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, April 1.

During the event, those within city limits who have a green organics cart can learn where the material goes after it is picked up from the curb as well as what is accepted and not accepted in their green organics cart.

To learn more about sustainable cleaning, go to the Clark County Green Neighbors’s website at clarkgreenneighbors.org.