Spring Cleaning for the Earth This Week

Helping the earth is not just a slogan or a one-day party, it's a year-long, every day kind of thing. But this week waste dispaoal of potentially toxic materials - from refrigerators to prescription drugs - are the priority for several local organizations.

During this week, the Healdsburg Waste Management is doing residential curbside cleanup for customers, picking up materials from their homes on regular collection day.

Generally these include up to 14 extra bags of refuse, up to 2 bulky items (one too large for your trash cart, such as an appliance, furniture, TVs, computer monitors, etc), reyclable appliances, yard waste and other materil

NO hazardous waste will be collected, such as propane tanks, baint, batteries, pressure treated wood, tires or e-waste. For more information, contact Redwood Empire Disposal, 707-585-0291.

If it's e-waste you have, Goodwill Indistries offerse free e-waste recycling on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 27-28, at the Goodwill Retail store. All working and non-working electronics are accepted. Information at www.recyclenow.org or call "the eco-desk" at 707-565-3375.

And what about those expired, never-used or mysterious drugs in your bathroom cabinet? The California Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Agency, is accepting unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday April 27, at the Rohnert Park CHP Office located at 6100 Labath Ave, Rohnert Park. Times are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pharmaceuticals should not be disposed of down the drain or any other way they can be transmitted to the water supply or rivers, for human, fish, animal and plant safety.

Live on the earth like you live here.