By Susan Larson. Updated July 15, 2015
When the City of Fredericksburg announced it has been turning away entire truckloads of recyclables due to heavy contamination by plastic bags, it seemed a good time to review where to recycle what.
“Plastic bags present huge problems in the compactor vehicles and in the sorting equipment at the recycling facility,” the city said. “This includes otherwise recyclable items wrapped or contained in plastic bags. We have been forced to abruptly enforce this long-standing rule because the recycling facility has begun turning away entire truckloads of recyclables due to heavy contamination by plastic bags.” (If you have curb pickup, you may request an additional bin for recycling from the city.)
Belman Road Recycling Center
Single stream recycling is still free at Belman Road Recycling Center, 1200 Belman Rd., Fredericksburg, 22401. City of Fredericksburg and Stafford residents may recycle the following items at Belman, without buying a coupon or window sticker.
Aluminum (e.g., beer and soda cans, foil, pie plates)
Glass (brown, clear, and green)
Motor oil
Paper: “anything that tears” (e.g., dry newspaper, paper bags, office/copy/printer paper (shredded or whole), wrapping paper, memo pads and envelopes, junk mail, magazines and catalogs, ad circulars and TV guides, phone books and notebooks, cardboard, cereal boxes, toilet paper/paper towel cores or tubes, paper backs, shoe boxes, milk and juice cartons.)
Plastic: #1 – #7, look for the number on the bottom of the container (e.g., milk jugs, water or soda bottles, mayonnaise jars, party cups, yogurt/cottage cheese/margarine/butter/dip containers)
Scrap metal
Steel/tin cans (e.g., soup, vegetable, and pet food cans)
Antifreeze
Auto Batteries
Building materials
Mixed containers and mixed paper
Pallets
Propane tanks-ensure tank is empty and valve is removed
Motor oil
Scrap metal
Textiles: “gently used” clothing, sheets and blankets (no mattresses), towels, table linens, and curtains
Tires
Here’s where to recycle other items.
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags are recyclable at grocery stores.
Ink and Toner
Recycle your old ink or toner cartridges at:
Best Buy (1541 Carl D Silver Pkwy. in Fredericksburg’s Central Park Shopping Center) and save $2 in Recycle Rewards on your next in-store purchase of $40 or more.
Staples (2003 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg, in the Westwood Shopping Center) and receive $2 back in Staples Rewards® for each one, up to 10 cartridges per customer per month.
Batteries and Light Bulbs
Batteries Plus Bulbs, 1918 William St., Fredericksburg, recycles light bulbs and batteries. There is a small fee, beginning at 35 cents, for light bulbs containing mercury — unless the bulbs were purchased at the store.
Rechargeable Batteries
Best Buy accepts rechargeable batteries at the recycling kiosk at the front of the store.
Staples recycles all rechargeable battery types that weigh less than 12 pounds. Lithium and alkaline batteries are not accepted.
Residential Refrigerators and Freezers
Dominion Virginia Power will pick up and recycle appliances at no cost, and customers will receive a $50 incentive for participating. Visit www.dom.com/savenowVA for details.
Electronics and Large Appliances
Best Buy accepts most electronics and large appliances, and will take them at no charge. Recycling is intended for residents only. Products from businesses and organizations, and items that present a health or safety hazard are not accepted. Best Buy will remove an appliance or TV free of charge from a customer’s home when a new product is purchased and delivered by Best Buy. Or, for a fee, Best Buy will schedule a pickup with no product purchase. For more information, visit Recycling at Best Buy
Electronics
Staples accepts any brand, any condition, even if purchased elsewhere. See the chart for accepted technology products.
Staples also offers mail–back and pick–up technology recycling solutions for businesses with 20+ employees. See the Staples Advantage® division.
More
Energy Saving Tips and Rebates from Va. Dominion Power
Marine Conservationist on Plastics Polluting Oceans, Killing Wildlife, Poisoning Food Chain
Friends of the Rappahannock Voices Concern About Fracking
Tree Fredericksburg Receives Diamond Partnership Award
Op-Ed: Help Protect the Heritage Trail
Mill District Rezoning Faces Questions
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