How Do I dispose of .......

Many of us have asked this question.  Listed below are common and some not so common materials and how to dispose of them.

Materials to be disposed of		Method of Disposal
		Appliances - Large
Refrigerator, Washer/Dryer, Water Heaters, Stoves, Dish Washers, etc.		Call Franchised Hauler and request a special pick up.  Hauler will schedule pick up and inform you of time frame.
		Appliances - Small
Microwave Ovens		Place curbside next to but separated from regular garbage.  Driver will log electronic equipment and an electronics truck will come the following day to collect.
Toaster, Broiler, Vacuum, Hair Dryer, Iron, etc.		Dispose of in regular garbage
		Chemical and Hazardous Waste
Ammunition		Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz
Antifreeze		Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz
Auto/Boat/Motorcycle batteries		Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz or at most Advanced/Discount Auto Parts or Walmart and local scrap yards
Cell Phones		Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz.  Cell phones can also be donated to Women's Shelters.
Florescent Bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs		Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz Information on packaging and clean up of broken light bulbs can be found at: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
Gasoline		Ft. Myers Yacht Basin, 1300 Lee St., Ft. Myers, FL  33901 - 332-6898
Household Batteries		Regular household batteries such as flashlight and radio batteries (Alkaline) if produced after 1993 can be disposed of in your regular garbage
Medication		Keep medicines in original container. Mark out your name and prescription number. For pills, add some water or soda to start dissolving them.  For liquids add something inedible like cat litter, dirt or cayenne pepper. Close lid and secure with duct tape or packaging tape.  Place bottles in an opaque container like a coffee can or plastic laundry bottle.  Tape that container closed. Hide container in the trash. Do not put in recycle bin.
Motor Oil		Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz or in limited amounts at Advanced/Discount Auto Parts, Auto Zone or Walmart
Paint Cans Empty		Remove lids, place in sun or sprinkle with sand or kitty litter, and after completely dry, place curbside in containers with regular garbage
Paint Cans Partially Emptied		Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz
Propane Tanks		Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz
Re-chargeable batteries		Place in clear plastic sandwich bags and place on top of recycling in recycle bin or bring to Household Chemical Waste Collection
Smoke detectors		Return to Manufacturer for proper disposal
Used Syringes/Sharps		Go to any designated pharmacy, fire station or listed health department site for your initial sharps container (red box). When container is full, lock lid into place to secure it from opening.  Return sealed container to any participating fire station or health department location and exchange it for a new one.  Always make sure to hand box to a person - never leave box unattended.  Go to www.lee-county.com/healthdept for more information
		Horticultural Waste
Christmas Trees		Remove all tinsel and decorations and place curbside on yard waste pick up day.
Clean pallets		Place curbside with horticultural waste
Grass Clippings/Leaves		Bag, or containerize in bundles weighing no more than 50lbs.
Palm fronds		Up to 50lbs., unbundled can be placed at curb, anything over 50lbs. needs to be bagged/bundled/containerized in bundles no more than 50lbs.
Tree branches, brush		Branches should be cut to no longer than 6 feet in length and bagged/bundled or containerized in bundles no more than 50lbs. in weight
		Large/Bulky Items
Boats		Fiberglass boats with no motor, gas or oil may be disposed of at the Waste To Energy facility at the MSW rate.  Must be able to remove from trailer and dump on tipping floor.  Metal boats should be disposed of at scrap dealer or Gulf Coast Landfill.  GC Landfill will only take the hull of the boat - no seats, appliances, motors, etc.
Bricks		Containerize in boxes,buckets,trash cans, etc. in containers that weigh no more than 50lbs. each and place curbside with regular trash
Cement blocks		Containerized under 50lbs. per container or block and place curbside with regular trash, dispose of as C&D (construction and demolition) material at Gulf Coast Landfill, or at a concrete recycler such as Independence Recycling 437-8111
Couches		Place curbside and call hauler for special pick up.
Engine blocks, large auto parts		These must be brought to a scrap dealer such as Garden Street Iron Works - 337-5865
Fencing, Chain Link		Call Hauler for special pick up, concrete must be removed from bottom of poles
Fencing, Wood		2 yrds. per week may be stacked neatly and placed curbside for pick up with regular garbage.  You may call franchised hauler for special pick up.  Supervisor will come and give you an estimated price for collection and make arrangements for pick up.  If you will have only wood not mixed with anything else you can also arrange with any hauler to have a dumpster dropped off at your residence.
Mobile Homes/Campers		Dispose of at scrap dealer or Gulf Coast Landfill.  Must be just shell - no appliances, furniture, etc.
Mower - Push		Place curbside with regular garbage after making sure there is no gas or oil in the mower
Mower - Riding		Place curbside after removing tires, gas, oil and then call hauler for a special pick up
Pressure-treated lumber, Construction debris		2 yrds. per week from remodeling job that does not need permit may be placed curbside for collection with regular garbage.  Containerize in containers no more than 50lbs. per container if possible.
Roofing material, shingles		Containerize in boxes,buckets,trash cans, etc. in containers that weigh no more than 50lbs. each and place curbside with regular trash
		Miscellaneous Household Waste
Clothing		Regular garbage
Cooking/Frying Oil		Place in container, such as a milk jug,with tight fitting lid that will assure oil will not leak.  Bring to Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz for recycling.
Dead animals (domestic only-no wild animals)		Lee County Animal Control: 239-432-2083 for removal from County Maintained roads - no State roads or Interstates.  Large animals such as cows, horses or hogs can be picked up by Lee County D.O.T. 239-479-8580
Dishes/drinking glasses/pots and pans		Dispose of in regular garbage
Fire extinguishers		Regular garbage
Hard backed books		May be placed in recycling bin if hard covers are removed, otherwise, dispose of in regular garbage.
Music/Computer CD's/DVD's		Regular garbage
Photos		Regular household garbage
PVC Pipe		Containerize in boxes,buckets,trash cans, etc. in containers that weigh no more than 50lbs. each and place curbside with regular trash
Shopping Carts		Call Sheriff's office and report cart illegally dumped on property or return cart to store/shop. You may also bring to scrap dealer such as Garden St. Iron Works on Metro Pkwy. At Hanson St.337-5865.
Styrofoam - packaging		Regular garbage
Styrofoam - peanuts		Regular garbage or bring to pack and ship location for re-use
Tires		Passenger sized tires can be placed 2 per week curbside for regular pick up
Toilets		Place curbside and call hauler for special pick up.
Toys		Regular garbage or donate to charity
X-Rays		Regular garbge or X-Ray recycler - G.E. Walker, Inc. 936-6553
		Recyclable Items
Aerosol cans		Empty cans can be placed in recycle bin with co-mingled material. Partially filled cans bring to Household Chemical Waste Facility Topaz.
Cardboard boxes		Break boxes down, make sure they are no larger than 4 x 6, stack neatly next to or under recycle bin.  Stack may be bundled. Place curbside for recycle collection.
Computers-all components		Place curbside next to but separated from regular garbage.  Driver will log electronic equipment and an electronics truck will come the following day to collect.
Printers, Copiers		Place curbside next to but separated from regular garbage.  Driver will log electronic equipment and an electronics truck will come the following day to collect.
Scanners		Place curbside next to but separated from regular garbage.  Driver will log electronic equipment and an electronics truck will come the following day to collect.
Television		Place curbside next to but separated from regular garbage.  Driver will log electronic equipment and an electronics truck will come the following day to collect.