PRINTThe guide to recycling in Columbia
Where and how to recycle the odds and ends around your house
SAIT SERKAN GURBUZ
Carpeting is among the lesser known recyclable household items. Carpet can be sold to Dave Griggs' Flooring America for store credit or cash.
May 24, 2012 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Appliances
Many of your old appliances can be recycled, but it’s important to correctly drain the Freon in some household appliances before recycling. The City of Columbia Sanitary Landfill has a certified technician on site who can drain it for you. Fees are $10 to drain an appliance without coolant and $15 to drain an appliance with coolant.
Address: City of Columbia Sanitary Landfill, 5700 Peabody Road
Contact: 474-9145
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Website: gocolumbiamo.com
Carpets
You can drop off all types of carpeting in a bin by Dave Griggs’ Flooring America, and employees will ship it off to the appropriate recycling center for free. The company also offers 3 cents per pound toward store credit or cash for your used carpet pad.
Address: Dave Griggs’ Flooring America, 801 Business Loop 70 E.
Contact: 449-2619
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Website: carpetandtile.com
Compact Fluorescent Lights
The city’s household hazardous waste collection at the Grissum Building accepts compact fluorescent light bulbs. The city only recycles residential bulbs of any size. It’s open the first and third Saturdays in April through November from 8 a.m. to noon.
Address: City of Columbia, Household Hazardous Waste Collection, Grissum Building,1313 Lakeview Ave.
Contact: 874-6291
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: gocolumbiamo.com
Westlake Ace Hardware takes small CFLs during its regular business hours and has two convenient locations on the east and west sides of town.
Address: 1900 Business Loop 70 E.; 1910 W. Worley St.
Contact: 449-7277; 445-4012
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website: westlakehardware.com
Eyeglasses
Both offices of University Optical have a drop-off box for broken eyewear. Boxes can be accessed during regular business hours. All eyewear is donated to the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation.
Address: University Optical, University Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive
Contact: 884-7710
Address: University Optical East, 3215 Wingate Court
Contact: 884-4568
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: muhealth.org
For more than 70 years, Lions Club chapters have donated more than 500,000 pairs of used eyeglasses internationally. Shades are needed, too, because out-of-style sunglasses help impoverished citizens of equatorial nations block UV rays, which can cause cataracts.
Address: Lions Eye Tissue Bank, 404 Portland Ave.
Contact: 443-1471
Website: hleb.org
Greeting Cards
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children recycles used greeting cards, makes new cards and sells them in packs of 10 for $10. The money made goes back to St. Jude’s to help fund its services. You can mail your used cards to the company.
Mailing Address:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program,
100 St. Jude’s St.
Boulder City, NV 89005
Contact: 877-977-SJRC (7572)
Website: stjudesranch.org
Toilets and Sinks
Habitat for Humanity Restore takes household goods and sells them to the public at low prices. The proceeds help Habitat achieve its mission of building homes for families in need.
Address: 1906 Monroe St.
Contact: 815-9836
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Website: habitat.org/restores
