Guide to Reusing and/or Recycling Locally

Guide to Reusing and/or Recycling Locally2023-03-20T10:32:13-07:00

How to Use the Guide

Look at the alphabetical list of items below or type your key word into the search box. The reuse and recycle suggestions for each item focus on the most local options and are continually under revision.  Always check first to make sure the location is still accepting your item.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, try Kitsap Solid Waste’s What Do I Do with It? guide.

If you don’t see something on the list but do know of a local reuse or recycle option, please contact us.

To give your item to an individual, try posting on Facebook’s Buy Nothing Bainbridge or Free on the Rock or on craigslist or Freecycle.

Aerosol Cans2020-05-31T10:23:56-07:00

Disposal:

Empty Cans: If you cannot hear propellant gas being released from the aerosol can when you hold the trigger, the can is safe to put in the garbage.

Full or Partially-full Cans: If you can’t use up the product, take to Kitsap County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility for free disposal. Visit the facility website for hours and instructions for using this facility.

Rethink:

Use refillable pump spray bottles instead of aerosol cans and sprays.

Last updated 5/31/20

Air Pillows2023-12-01T00:24:17-08:00

Reuse:

Zutto Vintage & Antiques will accept any air-filled ones.
UPS no longer takes.

Recycle:

Pop and place in the plastic bag recycling container at Safeway or T&C.

Last updated 12/1/2023

Appliances (Large)2020-06-06T09:36:01-07:00

Reuse:

The Habitat for Humanity Store, 3451 Wheaton Way, Bremerton
They provide donation pick-up services to all of Kitsap County free of charge. You may also drop off your donation at the store during open hours. Store staff and volunteers will help unload your donation.
Donations are taken at the discretion of the warehouse staff or drivers, they are most familiar with what sells and how much is in stock.
Habitat Store may not accept items that are damaged, broken, missing parts, rusted, rotting, or splintered.

Recycle:

Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – $35 fee for large appliances and air conditioners

Puget Sound Energy – If you have a refrigerator or freezer manufactured in 1992 or before, Puget Sound Energy will haul away and recycle for free. You might even get a rebate. Find out more here.

Last updated 6/6/20

Appliances (Small)2022-12-18T22:18:54-08:00

Reuse:

Goodwill – A Goodwill donation truck is located in the Bainbridge Island Ace Hardware parking lot, 635 NE High School Rd. Drop off only when they are open, which is almost 365 days a year. Hours are, 8:30am-5pm, but it is not uncommon for them to close up early due to a full truck. Do not leave items next to the truck.

Check here for Goodwill’s donation guidelines. Items should be in usable condition and keep in mind, the Bainbridge truck takes items no larger than an end table. (The Silverdale and Bremerton locations can take bigger items.)

The Habitat for Humanity Store, 3451 Wheaton Way, Bremerton
They provide donation pick-up services to all of Kitsap County free of charge. You may also drop off your donation at the store during open hours. Store staff and volunteers will help unload your donation.
Donations are taken at the discretion of the warehouse staff or drivers, they are most familiar with what sells and how much is in stock.
Habitat Store may not accept items that are damaged, broken, missing parts, rusted, rotting, or splintered.

Rotary Auction & Rummage Sale – Donate to the largest rummage sale in the Northwest in late June. Go here to learn about donations and donation week. Proceeds primarily support local organizations.
Post on Buy Nothing or Free on the Rock or Freecycle.

Recycle:

Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – Anything with a cord — except string lights — is accepted. Put in the designated container; do not put in with mixed recyclables.
The flat mixed recycling fee of $13 applies to small appliances.

  • Small household appliances such as microwaves, blenders, coffee pots, crock pots, mixers, irons, tea kettles, toasters, toaster ovens, fans and humidifiers
  • Lamps (remove bulb!)
  • Radios
  • Power tools
  • Vacuums

Staples, 2850 Bucklin Hill NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 20 per month

Best Buy, 9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 3 per day

Best Buy, 9551 Ridgetop NW, Silverdale

Last updated 12/18/22

Arts and Crafts Supplies2023-12-18T15:11:17-08:00

Reuse:

Last updated 12/18/2023

Automotive Products2020-05-21T22:08:26-07:00

Recycle:

Antifreeze
Automotive batteries
Uncontaminated motor oil

Drop-off is free at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station. Look for the designated container.

Last updated 5/21/20

Bags, Paper Grocery2023-09-16T21:45:08-07:00

Reuse:

These places will reuse paper grocery bags with handles:

Persephone Farm at the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market will reuse – Handles not necessary, please neatly fold

Recycle:

Put in curbside recycling cart or Bainbridge Island Transfer Station’s mixed recyclables dumpster.

Last updated 9/16/23

Batteries (Automotive)2020-05-21T22:05:31-07:00

Recycle:

This  item is accepted at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station, not in curbside recycling. Please look for its designated container. Do not put in the mixed recyclables container.

Last updated 5/21/20

Batteries (Rechargeable, Button and Single-use)2024-02-09T16:05:36-08:00

Recycle:

Batteries are accepted at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station, not in curbside recycling. Please look for the designated container — white 5-gallon buckets next to the electronics shed. Do not put in the mixed recyclables container.

According to this Washington Post article, “If you plan to recycle rechargeable batteries, be sure to cover their terminals with tape before you store and transport them [because of the potential for fires]…You don’t need to worry about taping up the terminals on standard AAs and AAAs, but you should for 9-volt batteries and tiny button cell batteries.”

Bainbridge Ace Hardware – They take household batteries: alkaline and rechargeable (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) and lithium-ion (button type).

Here is an interesting video filmed at a lithium battery recycling plant in Arizona.

Last updated 4/6/22

Beauty Products/Cosmetics2023-11-09T16:49:15-08:00

Reuse:

Helpline House accepts unopened cosmetics and toiletries.

Recycle:

> Sephora (many Seattle locations) partners with Pact to recycle beauty or wellness packaging not accepted in regular recycling programs.

You can drop off any beauty or wellness packaging, as long as it’s clean, empty and on the following list:

  • Plastic bottles + jars smaller than a than a fist

  • Plastic + aluminum squeezable tubes

  • Ceramic + porcelain containers

  • Colored glass bottles and jars

  • Caps + closures

  • Pumps + dispensers

  • Droppers + applicators

  • Compacts + palettes

  • Lipstick/lip gloss tubes + applicators

  • Mascara tubes + wand

  • Plastic pencil components for eye/lip liner + brow pencils

  • Toothpaste tubes + dental floss containers

  • Silicone containers

  • Pouches

    Have packaging that’s not on this list? Use their Packaging Drop-Off Guide to see where it goes.

> Nordstrom – Any empty packaging that can’t go into your regular curbside bin can be dropped off in a BEAUTYCYCLE bin in the Beauty department in every Nordstrom and Nordstrom Local location in the U.S. That’s everything from pump caps and hair spray triggers to makeup such as lipstick cases, eyeliner pencils, and mascara tubes. Nordstrom has partnered with TerraCycle, which facilitates the recycling.

They can not accept aerosol cans or perfume, nail polish or nail polish remover bottles.

All brands of beauty product packaging are accepted.

Please remove as much of the remaining product as possible and make sure your items are dry before dropping off.

Last updated 11/9/2023

Bicycles & Accessories2023-08-17T17:38:41-07:00

Reuse:

Rotary Auction & Rummage Sale – Donate to the largest rummage sale in the Northwest in late June. Go here to learn about donations and donation week. Proceeds primarily support local organizations.
Post on Buy Nothing or Free on the Rock or Freecycle.

Classic Cycle also does trade-ins on bikes and bike parts.

Recycle:

If your bike is totally mangled, take to the scrap metal dumpster at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station.

Last updated 8/15/2023

Books2021-05-23T20:57:51-07:00

Reuse:

Donate books that are in good condition. Do not donate (or recycle) if books are moldy, dirty, damp, water-damaged or infested with insects.

  • Bainbridge Public Library – no older textbooks, encyclopedias or Reader’s Digest condensed books
  • Goodwill in Ace Hardware parking lot
  • Discover Books blue metal drop boxes on Hildebrand Lane across from Starbucks and in the McDonald’s parking lot
  • Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station in designated dropbox

Recycle:

If books are damaged, e.g., have broken spines, loose or torn pages, or too many pages that have been written in or highlighted, then recycle. Put mildewed or water-damaged books in the trash. Hardcover books must have the hard cover torn off and discarded. If the thickness of the book is greater than a half inch, tear out the pages in half-inch chunks or less to recycle.

E-books (e.g., Kindles) should be recycled at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station in the E-cycling container.

Rethink:

Consider hosting a Little Free Library in your neighborhood.

Last updated 5/23/2021

Bottle Caps2022-09-12T13:50:49-07:00

Recycle:

Plastic bottle caps are no longer on the recyclables list for Bainbridge Island/Kitsap County. However, Ridwell, the local special recyclables subscription service, has a semi-annual collection of bottle caps. If you don’t have a Ridwell subscription, find a neighbor or friend who does and ask when the collection is and if you can contribute. The caps are recycled into new plastic pellets for manufacturing new plastic items.

Last updated 9/12/22

Brita Products2023-04-24T10:13:32-07:00

Recycle:

Put any Brita (not Pur, not any other brand) filters, pitchers, dispensers, bottles, faucet systems, and packaging in the maroon Zero Waste box, which has been moved back to the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West.

Last updated 4/24/23

Bubble Wrap2023-12-01T00:22:49-08:00

Reuse:

Zutto Vintage & Antiques, 162 Bjune Dr SE – Clean, no tape
UPS no longer takes.

If your bubble wrap is the silver insulation type, offer it up on a free site: Facebook’s Buy Nothing Bainbridge or Free on the Rock or on craigslist or Freecycle. They make good insulation, e.g., for a water heater.

Recycle:

Safeway and T&C – Clean, no tape. Just the clear type, not silver insulation. Put in the container designated for plastic bags.

Last updated 12/1/23

Calculators2020-05-26T21:07:50-07:00

Recycle:

Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – in designated container

Staples, 2850 Bucklin Hill NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 20 per month

Best Buy, 9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 3 per day

Last updated 5/26/20

Cameras2020-05-23T23:19:35-07:00

Recycle:

Best Buy
9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW, Silverdale

  • Binoculars
  • Camcorders
  • Digital cameras
  • Digital photo frames
  • Lenses
  • Memory cards
  • SLR cameras

Staples
2850 Northwest Bucklin Hill Rd NW, Silverdale

  • Camcorders
  • Digital cameras
  • Digital projectors
  • Webcams

Last updated 5/23/20

Canisters (Camping)2020-05-31T10:19:30-07:00

Recycle:

Navy City Metals, 3805 State Hwy 3 W Bremerton – Canisters must be empty!

Last updated 5/31/20

Car Seats2020-09-14T12:15:10-07:00

Target hosts car seat take-back collections for two weeks in May and in September. The most recent is  September 13-26, 2020.  Drop off in the designated area near guest services. A 20% off coupon for another car seat or select baby gear is available upon trade-in.

All types of car seats are accepted, including infant car seats, convertible car seats, car seat bases, harness or booster car seats, as well as car seats that are expired or damaged.

Materials from old car seats will be recycled by Target’s partner, Waste Management, to create new products like pallets, plastic buckets and construction materials like steel beams and carpet padding.

For complete details, go here.

Last updated 9/14/20

Cardboard2020-05-31T12:33:54-07:00

Recycle:

Curbside or at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station in the designated cardboard container.

Remove all inner packaging. Flatten.
Do not recycle greasy or food-stained pizza boxes. If the top is unstained, tear off and recycle that part.

Last updated 5/31/20

Only recycle corrugated cardboard in the designated cardboard container at the transfer station.
Corrugated is defined by the “squiggle” layer between the top and bottom layers.

Last updated 5/23/20

Cartridges2024-01-25T23:14:29-08:00

Recycle:

Best Buy – 9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW, Silverdale, WA 98383.  Ink or toner cartridges, limit 3 per day. You may receive credit towards future purchases.

Staples – 2850 NW Bucklin Hill Rd, Silverdale. Ink or toner cartridges, up to 20 per month. You may receive credit towards future purchases.

HP – Offers different ways to recycle cartridges for free. Check here.
Canon – Accepts certain of its own products through free mail-in program.

Last updated 1/25/2024

CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes2023-11-09T16:54:31-08:00

Reuse:

Bainbridge Island Public Library accepts donations of CDs, DVDs and audiobooks (no cassette or VHS tapes). They must be in good condition in the original cases.

Recycle:

Disks (CDs and DVDs) may be recycled year-round in the Zero Waste bin, located outdoors at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West. We can also take the cases! To prepare, please separate disks from cases (because they get recycled by different companies) and remove any paper so we volunteers don’t have to. (Recycle the paper in your own recycling.)  If what you have exceeds the capacity of the Zero Waste bin, please set in a bag or box next to the Zero Waste bin and email bizerowaste right away so I can remove it asap.

1 Green Planet in Seattle recycles CDs, VHS tapes and cassettes for ten cents per pound.

You may also pay a fee to GreenDisk to order boxes in which to recycle CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVDs, Blu-ray, 3.5” and 5.25” floppy disks, zip and jazz disks, and cases, plus VHS and audio cassette tapes.

American Shredding in Tacoma accepts CDs, DVDs, hard drives and data tapes for recycling and will provide a certificate of secure destruction on request. Current rates (as of 9/25/22) are 55 cents per pound and walk-in customers are welcome.

Last updated 11/9/2023

Cell Phones2022-02-13T20:52:07-08:00

Cell phones contain rare earth and toxic metals and should be reused, refurbished or recycled.  In fact, a single mobile phone uses 74 kilograms of precious metals. But recycled devices can eliminate that waste. For example, one metric ton of old devices can yield more than 100 times more gold than a metric ton of gold ore mined for new devices.

Remember, before donating, be sure to take the SIM card out of your cell phone.

Reuse:

City Hall –  280 Madison Av N.  There is a box in the lobby.  They give to the YWCA ALIVE program.

Recycle:

Helpline House sends them to Pace Butler.
Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – Place in dedicated electronics container
> Ace Hardware – Place in Call2Recycle box on counter. The rechargeable batteries in the phones will be recycled. Cell phones collected through the Call2Recycle program will be refurbished, recycled or resold when possible, with a portion of proceeds donated to national charities.

Last updated 2/13/22

Ceramics2023-03-20T11:29:26-07:00

We can’t do any better than Zero Waste Washington’s suggestions, so please go to their page on how to repair, repurpose and/or recycle ceramics.

Last updated 3/20/23

Cigarette butts2020-06-27T10:19:51-07:00

Cigarette butts are the #1 littered item in the world. Read why they harmful to the environment.

Recycle:

Terracycle runs a cigarette waste recycling program. Find out more here.

Last updated 6/27/20

Clothing2024-02-20T14:04:22-08:00
The fashion industry accounts for about 10% of our global carbon emissions and 20% of its wastewater, not to mention the millions of microplastics shed into the ocean from washing machines.
Calculate your closet’s climate change impact by taking this short and fun survey.

Rethink:

Clothing and other textiles are primarily responsible for the presence of microplastics in the ocean (accounting for 35%, according to the poster below left). Refer to this exhaustive clothing guide by Fibershed to avoid clothing made from plastic-derived fibers.
To make clothes last longer — and shed fewer microplastics into the environment — simply wear them longer before washing. This Guardian article has good suggestions for how to delay having to wash your clothes. The poster below right offers other tips to reduce microfiber pollution.

Another tip: Avoid using dryers as much as possible. The heat and all that tumbling around wears out the fibers faster,
Ultimately, limiting the amount of synthetic clothing that you buy and wear is key to solving this issue long-term.

Tips for Laundry Day
Excerpted from The Secret to Longer-lasting Clothes Will Also Reduce Plastic Pollution, by Alisha McDarris

Start by separating your clothing items—not by color, but by material. Wash rough or coarse clothes like jeans separately from softer items like polyester T-shirts and fuzzy fleece sweaters. This way, you reduce the friction caused by rougher materials crashing into more delicate ones for 40 minutes. Less friction means your clothes won’t wear out as fast and the fibers will be less prone to premature breakage.

Then, make sure you’re using cold water instead of hot. Heat weakens fibers and makes them more likely to break; cold water will help them last longer. Next, run a short cycle instead of a normal or long one, which will limit the opportunity for fiber breakdown. While you’re at it, reduce the speed of the spin cycle if you can—this will reduce friction even further. One study showed that together, these methods reduced microfiber shedding by 30 percent.

While we’re on the subject of washer settings, avoid the delicate cycle. That may run contrary to your beliefs, but it uses more water than other washing modes to prevent friction—and a higher ratio of water to fabric actually increases fiber shedding.

Finally, skip the dryer altogether. We can’t emphasize this enough: heat can shorten the life of materials and make them more likely to break in the next load of laundry. Fortunately, synthetic clothing dries fast, so hang it outside or over your shower rod instead—you might even save money by not running your dryer so frequently.

Once your clothes are washed and dried, don’t go back to the washer for a while. Many items don’t need to be washed after every use, so put those shorts or that shirt back in the dresser for another wear or two if it doesn’t smell like wet dog after one use. If there’s just one dirty spot, wash it out by hand instead of starting a load.

There are also several tools you can use to reduce microfiber shedding. Guppyfriend makes a laundry bag specifically designed to capture broken fibers and microplastic waste, but also to prevent fiber breakdown in the first place by protecting clothing. Just place your synthetics inside, zip it shut, toss it in the washer, and pick out any and dispose of any microplastic lint that gets caught in the corners of the bag. Even standard laundry bags help reduce friction, so those are an option as well.

A separate lint filter that attaches to your washing machine’s discharge hose is another effective and endlessly reusable option, shown to reduce microplastics by up to 80 percent. But don’t spring for those laundry balls that are supposedly meant to catch microfibers in the wash: the beneficial results are comparatively minimal.

Here are eight tips for giving socks a longer life.

Repurpose:

Cashmere, silk, linen, wool, leather – If you have holey or stained clothing made of these fibers, or if you have fabric scraps of the same, Amos Staffler will gratefully accept them.

Please drop off at 309 Wallace Way NW (off Grow) or she can pick up from you if you email her.

She notes that when cashmere with a hole or silk with a stain is donated to Goodwill, it doesn’t get sold as a garment for a second life; it gets diverted to be ground up as fiber filling because it isn’t saleable as a garment. So keep those pieces local and give to Amos. She snips and puzzles cashmere and silk together to make new creations and gives the precious fibers a second life. From quilts to all sorts of garments, it’s become a sustainable form of expression that she feels good about. In fact, she recently donated a cashmere & linen all-season baby blanket (pictured right) to the Seattle Children’s Thrift Store on Bainbridge.

Reuse:

A Zero Waste guide for where to give second-use clothing

A Zero Waste guide for where to buy/rent second-use clothing

To read about the pros and cons of various second-hand shopping online sites, go here.

This blog has plenty of ideas for reusing and upcycling old t-shirts.

Check with local thrift stores to donate gently used items.

Order a “Clean out Your Closet” kit from thredUP.

Recycle:

Good and bad condition, damaged, torn, stained, and worn clothing, shoes, and fabrics. Nothing wet wet, moldy or having hazardous material traces.

  • Goodwill (Ace Hardware parking lot) – Open every day, 8:30am-5pm, or until the truck is full. Unwearable items may become wiping and polishing cloths or are turned into fibers for things like upholstery, insulation and furniture stuffing.
  • Northwest Center dropboxes – Located in Eagle Harbor Church parking lot, Via Rosa parking lot
  • Marine Layer – 319 Pine St., Seattle.  Give them your old t-shirts and receive $5 credit up to $25. Clothing in the store is very environmentally friendly.

Compost (maybe?) :

If reuse or recycling is not possible, consider composting natural fabrics. Please read this very useful article first.

NEVER put them in curbside or transfer station yard waste. However, if you have backyard composting, you may want to give it a try.

Last updated 5/1/2023

Coffee Capsules and Coffee and Tea Packs2024-01-21T22:31:14-08:00

Recycle:

Put in the Zero Waste box at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West:

  • Plastic coffee capsules*
  • Coffee and tea aluminized pouches
  • Coffee and tea aluminized packs

*Please empty as much as possible.

Note: Nespresso pods are aluminum. They can be recycled in the scrap metal dumpster at the transfer station or in the scrap metal collection bin at the Senior Center.

Last updated 1/21/2024

Commingled (mixed) Recyclables2023-09-09T19:10:08-07:00

Mixed recyclables are collected curbside through a subscription service with Bainbridge Disposal or may be taken to the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station. At the transfer station, garbage or recycling is $13 the first can and $5 for each additional can.

Make sure containers are RINSED and EMPTY; paper should be dry.
Recycle loose, NEVER in a plastic bag.

These items are accepted in the Bainbridge recycling program:

Aluminum

  • cans – Do not crush. Flattened cans may end up in paper bales and then are thrown away at the paper mill.

NO aluminum foil or food trays

Glass

  • bottles & jars (no lids)

NO drinking glasses
NO window panes

Glass food storage containers – If you can’t reuse or gift them, put in the grey Terracycle bin at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West.

Metal

  • food cans

NO scrap metal (goes in the scrap metal dumpster at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station)

Paper

  • junk mail
  • magazines and catalogues
  • newspaper
  • copy paper
  • construction paper
  • wrapping paper (not embossed, metallic foil or glittery)
  • paper or frozen food boxes (no liners, PLEASE flatten)
  • paper bags
  • phone books
  • milk and juice cartons (not Tetrapaks)

NO paper cups, plates or bowls (put in trash)
NO non-tearable paper (put in trash)
NO stickers or sticker backing (put in trash)
NO shredded paper (put in compost if free of plastic)
NO greasy pizza boxes (put in compost)
NO tissue paper (put in compost)
NO tissues, paper towels or paper napkins (put in compost)

Plastics

  • bottles & jugs & jars (put caps in trash)
  • dairy tubs (no lids)

Last updated 12/31/22

Click the button above for the Bainbridge Disposal/Kitsap County poster of what is accepted in curbside recycling and in the mixed recycling container (although there is a separate container for cardboard) at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station.

Computers and Accessories2024-01-25T23:19:27-08:00

Recycle:

  • Accessories/adapters/cables
  • All-in-one computers
  • CD/DVD/Blu-ray players
  • Computer speakers
  • Connected home devices
  • Desktop computers
  • eReaders
  • Flash drives
  • Hard drives
  • Keyboards & mice
  • Laptops
  • Modems
  • Monitors (including CRT, LED/LCD, plasma)
  • Printers (not cartridges*)/multifunction devices
  • Routers
  • Scanners
  • Small servers
  • Stereo receivers
  • Tablets
  • UPS/battery backup devices
  • Video streaming devices (Apple TV®, Roku Player, etc.)
  • Webcams

Take to the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station and place in the designated recycling for electronics.

Staples, 2850 Bucklin Hill NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 20 per month

Best Buy, 9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 3 per day

Last updated 1/25/2024

Construction Materials2020-05-30T11:09:24-07:00

By weight, this is the single largest category of materials that go into the landfill.

Reuse:

Pallets (wooden) – They are popular on give-away sites.  Otherwise, Bay Hay and Feed or Bainbridge Gardens will take back a few to reuse. Bay Hay will give them to their truck drivers and Bainbridge Gardens will add them to their stack. But they both think giving them away is the better alternative.

The Habitat for Humanity Store, 3451 Wheaton Way, Bremerton
They provide donation pick-up services to all of Kitsap County free of charge. You may also drop off your donation at the store during open hours. Store staff and volunteers will help unload your donation.
Donations are taken at the discretion of the warehouse staff or drivers, they are most familiar with what sells and how much is in stock.
Habitat Store may not accept items that are damaged, broken, missing parts, rusted, rotting, or splintered.

Recycle:

Concrete – Recycling can be less expensive than disposal.  Zimmer Pit, 26500 Highway 3 NW Poulsbo, WA 98370

Last updated 5/30/20

Contact Lenses2022-10-20T13:14:31-07:00

Recycle:

Bainbridge Vision
345 Knechtel Way NE # 104, Bainbridge Island

Island Family Eyecare
164 Winslow Way West, Bainbridge Island

Includes blister packaging.

Last updated 10/20/22

Cooking Oil2024-02-20T17:15:01-08:00

Never put fat, oil or grease down the drain or toilet. It can clog not only your pipes but also the city sewer mains. You should also not add oil to a septic system. It can clog pipes and, even worse, your distribution lines and drainage field.

Effective 2/20/2024, residents can no longer take cooking oil to any Kitsap garbage and recycling facility, including Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station, nor does the Kitsap County Household Hazardous Waste Facility collect cooking oil.

Check out this Serious Eats article about how to properly and safely reuse fry oil.

Kitsap Solid Waste provides this additional information:

Reason for the change

Regional cooking oil recycling companies will no longer accept cooking oil from residents due to new traceability guidelines. Traceability refers to the ability to track the origin of the oil collected. This change affects public recycling centers across Washington.

Kitsap County Solid Waste and the Washington Department of Ecology are actively researching and working with the cooking oil recycling industry to find solutions.

How to handle household cooking oil

Avoid cooking with large amounts of oil at home. Cook with small amounts, and then use paper towels, napkins, newspaper, flour, baking soda or kitty litter to absorb the oil before disposing in your garbage. You can also search online to find other methods for hardening cooking oil.

Throw away small amounts of oil frequently; don’t save it up into one large container.

For larger quantities of cooking oil (e.g., from a deep-fat fryer), solidify it with a cooking oil solidifier or stearic acid before disposing it in your household garbage. These products are available for purchase online.

Absorbing and solidifying oil is necessary to prevent dangerous oil leaks onto the roadway during trash collection. Liquid oils may be rejected for disposal.

What to avoid

  • Do not pour cooking oil, fat or grease down the sink or drains, as it can clog pipes.
  • It is illegal to dump oil, fat and grease into the environment, down storm drains or other outdoor drains, or into water bodies. This pollution is harmful to fish and wildlife, and it can lead to penalties and costly cleanups.
  • Oils, fat and grease are not accepted in curbside compost bins.

Restaurants and food trucks must recycle or solidify cooking oil

Restaurants, food trucks and other food establishments should subscribe to a FREE commercial cooking oil collection service. Search online to find a list of available service providers. Or use a cooking oil solidifier or stearic acid to harden the oil before throwing it in the trash. These products are available for purchase online.

Last updated 2/20/2024

Electronics2024-01-25T23:16:04-08:00

Reuse:

Donate working electronics and accessories to the following organizations. Check their donation guidelines to make sure they will accept the item.

To find out when, why and how to donate a used computer, check out TechSoup’s tips page.

Rotary Auction & Rummage Sale – Donate to the largest rummage sale in the Northwest in late June. Go here to learn about donations and donation week. Proceeds primarily support local organizations.
Post on Buy Nothing or Free on the Rock or Freecycle.

Goodwill – A Goodwill donation truck is located in the Bainbridge Island Ace Hardware parking lot, 635 NE High School Rd. Drop off only when they are open, which is almost 365 days a year. Hours are, 8:30am-5pm, but it is not uncommon for them to close up early due to a full truck. Do not leave items next to the truck.

Check here for Goodwill’s donation guidelines. Items should be in usable condition and keep in mind, the Bainbridge truck takes items no larger than an end table. (The Silverdale and Bremerton locations can take bigger items.)

Recycle:

Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – Place in the designated recycling box for electronics. Because of Washington state’s E-cycle program, electronics are recycled responsibly and free-of-charge.

  • Accessories/adapters/cables
  • All-in-one computers
  • CD/DVD/Blu-ray players
  • Computer speakers
  • Connected home devices
  • Desktop computers
  • eReaders
  • Flash drives
  • Hard drives
  • Keyboards & mice
  • Laptops
  • Modems
  • Monitors (including CRT, LED/LCD, plasma)
  • Printers (not cartridges)/multifunction devices
  • Routers
  • Scanners
  • Small servers
  • Stereo receivers
  • Tablets
  • UPS/battery backup devices
  • Video streaming devices (Apple TV®, Roku Player, etc.)
  • Webcams

These stores take everything listed above, plus ink toner and cartridges:
Staples, 2850 Bucklin Hill NW, Silverdale, up to 20 per month
Best Buy, 9551 Ridgetop NW, Silverdale, up to 3 per day

See this page for CD, DVD and VHS tape recycling.

Last updated 1/23/24

Eyeglasses2021-10-01T21:27:19-07:00

Reuse:

Donate your prescription or reader (drugstore) glasses and non-prescription sunglasses to the following places:

Ace Hardware has a Lions Club box (no cases) at one of the counters.

Bainbridge Vision, 345 Knechtel Way, has a Lions Club box (no cases).

Island Family Eyecare, 164 Winslow Way West donates to a charity.

Last updated 10/1/21

Flag (American)2020-05-31T01:22:51-07:00

Disposal:

  • Ace Hardware, collection box inside the store
  • American Legion Colin Hyde Post 172, 7880 NE Bucklin Hill Rd – Look for the collection box upon turning in.

Last updated 5/31/20

Food2024-02-20T17:21:17-08:00

STOP FOOD WASTE

If food waste were its own country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind China and the United States. The water, land, processing and transport that went into getting our food to market — make it all count by eating what you buy.  Also, wasted food = wasted money.

The National Resources Defense Council “Save the Food” initiative has excellent resources, including tips on meal planning and recipes for using up leftovers and food scraps.  At epicurious.com, you can type in ingredients you have on hand to find a dish to make.

ReFED is a national nonprofit working to end food loss and waste across the U.S. food system.

Pages 4-11 of this guide by Seattle Public Utilities show how to store 100 fruit and vegetables to prevent spoilage, or check out UC Davis’ one-sheet or tips from Oregon’s “Don’t Let Good Food Go Bad” resource page.

This page from The Cool Down encapsulates a lot of the advice above.

Except for infant formula, dates on food/drink packaging do NOT mean, “throw away” (Source: Food and Drug Administration):

  • “Best if Used By/Before” indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
  • “Sell-By” date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
  • “Use-By” date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula as described below.

Reuse:

Helpline House is the local food bank. Place donations in the drop boxes of the local grocery stores, Safeway and T&C. You may also drop off canned (pull-tops preferred) and boxed food and fresh produce at Helpline during modified donation hours, 9-11am, Monday-Friday, not Wednesday.

West Sound Wildlife Shelter accepts expired frozen meat. Please call 206-855-9057 before bringing.

Compost:

Why compost?

More than 30 percent of what gets thrown away every day is food waste that could have been composted. When you compost, you keep valuable resources out of the landfill and avoid methane emissions that contribute to climate change. When compost is returned to the soil, it adds nutrients, retains water, increases yields when growing food and stores carbon. Using compost on lawns and gardens also reduces pesticide use, reduces stormwater runoff and returns important nutrients to the soil so more fruits, vegetables, trees, grasses and other plants can thrive.  Scroll down to see a great poster.

Bainbridge Disposal offers a curbside subscription service for yard waste, which includes food.  (We are lucky: only 5% of U.S. compost facilities accept both yard waste and food.)

You can also drop off food in the yard waste receptacle at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station. There is a minimal charge.

Through Bainbridge Disposal, any type* of food may be composted, including…

  • Coffee grounds and paper filters
  • Tea bags (remove attachments)
  • Nutshells
  • Thin shells and bones (no ham bones or oyster shells)
  • Produce (remove stickers!!!)
  • Dairy
  • Meat
  • Baked goods
* NO cooking oil or grease.  Household cooking oil must be put in the garbage. (It is no longer collected for recycling  at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station due to new state recycling regulations.) See this page for how to properly dispose of cooking oil.

Food may go into your commercial compost cart or to the transfer station yard waste in a BPI-certified compostable bag, such as any that you see on this page.
Just remember: Do NOT knot your bag. The thickness of the knots keeps them from decomposing in a reasonable time frame.

Last updated 2/20/2024

Furniture2020-05-30T11:41:25-07:00

Reuse:

Check with local thrift stores to donate gently used items.

Order a “Clean out Your Closet” kit from thredUP.

The Habitat for Humanity Store, 3451 Wheaton Way, Bremerton
They provide donation pick-up services to all of Kitsap County free of charge. You may also drop off your donation at the store during open hours. Store staff and volunteers will help unload your donation.
Donations are taken at the discretion of the warehouse staff or drivers, they are most familiar with what sells and how much is in stock.
Habitat Store may not accept items that are damaged, broken, missing parts, rusted, rotting, or splintered.

Games2020-06-03T10:42:39-07:00

Reuse:

Make sure games have all their pieces.

Bainbridge Island Senior/Community Center – Donate to the Puzzle Room and take a new-to-you puzzle home! (Or take without swapping.)

Bainbridge Island Friends of the Public Library – Donations to Bainbridge FOL support programs, services, physical expansion and operation of library facilities. They also provide funding for children’s programs, magazine subscriptions, support for the staff and other services as needed.

Check with local thrift stores to donate gently used items.

Order a “Clean out Your Closet” kit from thredUP.

Last updated 6/3/20

Hazardous Waste2023-04-26T11:15:07-07:00

Once every two years Kitsap County Solid Waste holds a household hazardous waste collection on Bainbridge Island. In 2023 it will be held in Poulsbo on a date in June, tbd.
If you can’t hold onto something that long, take it to the Kitsap County Household Hazardous (HHW) Collection Facility.

What is household hazardous waste? If the product label has one or more of the following words on it, chances are you should take your product to Kitsap’s HHW facility.

  • danger
  • caution
  • flammable
  • warning
  • toxic
  • poison
  • combustible

For a list of what is and is not accepted, go here. Fire extinguishers are not on either list, but they are accepted.

Empty containers belong in the garbage.

And congratulations to Kitsap County Solid Waste’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) team, which received a 2021 “Program Excellence” award from the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association!

Last updated 4/26/2023

Jewelry and Beads2021-06-30T19:58:47-07:00

Reuse:

The Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project accepts donations of any and all jewelry — even broken — to sort, clean, repair, and give to Seattle-area women’s shelters and the YWCA Dress for Success Program. Members of the Seattle Metals Guild, and their friends, volunteer to do the sorting and cleaning.
Bainbridge locations for drop-off during open hours:
Esther’s Fabric Store, Bainbridge Arts and Crafts, Bay Hay and Feed, and Sole Mates.

Check with local thrift stores to donate gently used items.

Order a “Clean out Your Closet” kit from thredUP.

K-Cups2022-02-28T22:05:58-08:00

Recycle:

Sign up for an office recycling service through Grounds to Grow on.

Last updated on 2/28/22

Light Bulbs2024-02-09T10:02:06-08:00

Recycle:

If you subscribe to Ridwell, you may recycle LEDs and incandescent bulbs through them, in addition to mercury-containing lights. Otherwise, LED and incandescent bulbs can safely go in the trash.

Lights with mercury (look for the Hg element symbol) need to be properly recycled. LightRecycle Washington explains why it is important to safely dispose of mercury-containing bulbs.

Where to recycle compact fluorescents (CFLs) and high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs:
Limit 10 per day

Ace Hardware
Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – Give to person at the kiosk
Home Depot

Where to recycle fluorescent tubes:
Limit 10 per day

Bainbridge Island Ace Hardware

Where to Recycle Strings of Lights

 Bainbridge Island Ace Hardware – Drop off between mid-November to mid-January. They are then picked up by a Kingston metal recycler.

Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – Put in scrap metal dumpster. There may be a charge.

Last updated 2/9/2024

Linens2023-03-17T16:41:00-07:00

Reuse:

Goodwill will take just about any clean, usable linens except for bed pillows.

Last updated 3/17/2023

Mailing Envelopes (Mailers)2023-01-11T22:52:35-08:00

Reuse your mailers, if possible. Otherwise…

  1. Plastic bubble wrap – Recycle with other plastic film at the grocery store. Cut out the paper mailing label first.
  2. Paper with bubble wrap lining – Put in trash.
  3. Plastic film – Recycle with other plastic film at the grocery store. Cut out and trash the paper mailing label first.
  4. Tyvek – Recycle with other plastic film at the grocery store. Cut out and trash the paper mailing label first.
  5. Paper with padded (fiberfill) interior – Compost after removing the plastic strip and cutting out the paper mailing label.
  6. Flat paper – Put in with your paper recycling.
  7. Paperboard – Put in with your paper recycling.
  8. Paper with white glue dots – Put in with your paper recycling.

Below are the corresponding mailers:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Masks, disposable2023-01-08T16:16:28-08:00


Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church has purchased a box through the Terracycle recycling program in which disposable masks — not cloth — will be sent away to be recycled. Cedars invites the Bainbridge community to keep these disposable masks out of the landfill. There is a collection bucket located outside the Cedars Church office at 284 Madrona Way NE #128. The office building is on the north side and east end of the street.

Terracycle accepts non-woven disposable plastic-based masks including   

  • 3-ply surgical
  • dust masks
  • KN95
  • N95 masks

The plastic and metal components are recycled into new products.

Washable fabric face masks can go in the threads bag of a consenting Ridwell account holder.

Last updated 1/8/23

Mattresses2023-05-18T22:15:23-07:00

Reuse:

If your mattress is in usable condition, try giving it away on local Facebook sites, such as Buy Nothing Bainbridge or Free on the Rock, or try Craigslist or Freecycle.

Recycle:

Washington State has not yet passed a producer responsibility law that provides ease of accessibility to mattress recycling for the consumer, such as it has done for big electronics and light bulbs.

Kitsap Solid Waste has started holding mattress recycling collection in conjunction with Styrofoam collection. Go here for the next joint collection.

For Seattle locations, go to Earth 911.

Rethink:

When it’s time for a new mattress, go eco-friendly with this buying guide .
See how your mattress gets recycled here.

Last updated 5/18/2023

Medical Equipment2022-09-12T13:34:20-07:00

Reuse:

> Knights Community Hospital Equipment Lend Program, KC HELP, 360-329-2461
The local drop-off spot is 7252 NE Carene Lane, Bainbridge Island. Leave in front of the big white door of the shop.

  • Wheelchairs (manual* and motorized)
  • Walkers
  • Bath and shower benches
  • Commodes
  • Bed rails
  • Medical grab bars
  • Hospital beds
  • Over-the-bed tables
  • Lift chairs
    * Manual wheelchairs are always especially needed.

Helpline House’s borrowing program has been suspended for now.

Last updated 9/12/22

Medication2024-01-21T22:05:12-08:00

NEVER FLUSH MEDICATIONS DOWN THE TOILET.

They adversely affect aquatic life and have shown up in drinking water.

There are three medication take-back locations on Bainbridge:
> Rite Aid Pharmacy, 301 High School Rd NE – Open during pharmacy hours
> Safeway Pharmacy, 253 High School Rd NE – Open during pharmacy hours
> Bainbridge Island Police Station, 625 Winslow Way E – During open hours, 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday. Keep pills in bottles and deposit in the dropbox in the lobby.
Check here for other Kitsap County dropbox locations.

To find out how to recycle empty pill bottles, go here.

What medications are accepted?

Most prescription and over-the-counter medicines can be returned, but medical sharps (needles, etc.) will not be accepted. Drugs sold in any form (solids, liquids, patches) and used by individuals (not businesses) are accepted, including:

  • Prescription and non-prescription drugs
  • Brand name and generic drugs, and
  • Drugs for veterinary use
  • Pre-filled auto-injectables (such as EpiPens) are accepted via mail-back envelope

Medicines NOT accepted – and how to dispose of

  • Medical sharps (needles, syringes) and used (empty) auto injectables (such as EpiPens) – Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station booth, seal safely
  • Covid tests (go here for extended expiration dates of certain home Covid tests) – trash
  • Medical devices
  • Vitamins or supplements – trash
  • Illicit drugs
  • Batteries – Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station battery (buckets) section
  • Mercury-containing thermometers – Household Hazardous Waste collection facility in Bremerton
  • Herbal-based remedies and homeopathic drugs, products or remedies – trash
  • Cosmetics, shampoos, sunscreens, toothpaste, lip balm, antiperspirants or other personal care products – trash
  • Pet pesticide products contained in pet collars, powders, shampoos, topical applications, or other forms – HHW facility in Bremerton

In late 2017, the Kitsap Public Health Board approved an ordinance establishing secure medicine return regulations throughout the county, including on Bainbridge.  It is free for all county residents.  Those who are homebound may dispose of unused medicine by mail at no cost.  Go here for all the details.

For a deeper dive into the negative ramifications of flushing drugs, please see here. (Do not use this link for what meds to turn in or where to turn in.)

Last updated 7/29/23

Metal (Scrap)2023-10-05T20:35:58-07:00

Do not put scrap metal in your recycling bin.

Zero Waste has begun partnering with the BI Senior Center to set up a year-round collection of small pieces of metal that are not allowed in curbside or transfer station mixed recycling. The Senior Center is open Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

Look for this display and drop in keys, hardware, lids (make sure they are clean), beer caps, etc. Do not include food or drink cans, as these go with regular recycling.

Or take metal (big and small) directly to the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station and put in the scrap metal dumpster. A fee may apply.

Kitchen examples:

  • jar lids
  • can lids (or crimp the lid inside the can it came off of and put in regular recycling)
  • bottle caps
  • screw-off metal caps
  • clean aluminum trays

Other examples:

metal hangers
nuts & bolts
keys

Last updated 10/5/23

Nature items2020-08-07T20:26:54-07:00

Reuse:

Scrappy Art Lab – Takes natural materials like small wood scraps (1 inch to 5 inch squares, or longer sticks to be cut down), shells, interesting rocks and twigs, decorative papers, and old paint or drawing sets.

Last updated 8/7/20

Office Equipment2020-05-24T14:23:59-07:00

Recycle:

  • Copiers (not floor models)
  • Cordless phones
  • Fax machines (not floor models)
  • Printers (not floor models)/multifunction devices
  • Scanners
  • Shredders

There is a designated box for “anything with a cord” at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station.

Staples, 2850 Bucklin Hill NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 20 per month

Best Buy, 9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 3 per day

Last updated 5/24/20

Office Supplies2024-01-21T22:16:11-08:00

Rethink:

Can you turn your single-use office supply items into reusable ones? There are refillable pens and markers, liquid glue and paint, and permanent tape dispensers.

Recycle:

The following can go in the Zero Waste box at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West.

  • Pens
  • Markers
  • Glue sticks
  • Watercolor palettes
  • Plastic tape dispensers

Last updated 1/21/2024

Paint2023-04-06T11:09:31-07:00

In April of 2021, Washington State’s Paint Care program, borne of extended producer responsibility legislation passed in 2019, went into effect. The law provides collection points for residents to turn in latex paint and oil-based paint and certain other items.

Reuse/Recycling:

To avoid having too much leftover paint, use this paint calculator to determine how much is needed for a project. And for basecoat, use your leftover light-colored paint.

Peninsula Paint Company – 937 Hildebrand Lane NE, Suite 100, Bainbridge Island.
Peninsula Paint is a collection point for the Paint Care program. Here is what they accept:

  • Interior and exterior architectural paints: latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based, enamel (including textured coatings)
  • Deck coatings, floor paints (including elastomeric)
  • Primers, sealers, undercoaters
  • Stains
  • Shellacs, lacquers, varnishes, urethanes (single component)
  • Waterproofing concrete/masonry/wood sealers and repellents (not tar or bitumen-based)
  • Metal coatings, rust preventatives
  • Field and lawn paints

Go here for what is not accepted.

If Peninsula Paint is continually “full” and cannot accept your load, you can always take it to the Household Hazardous Waste facility in Bremerton. See their web page for open days and times.

Peninsula Paint also has a shelf of various quart to gallon-sized “mistinted” paint (mixed for clients but not bought by them) at a greatly reduced price. What a great reuse deal for customers!

Disposal:

Oily rags are hazardous and should not go in the trash. Follow the instructions for disposal of oily rags before taking them to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Last updated 10/17/22

Paper (Compostable)2022-12-20T14:37:50-08:00

Reuse:

Paper egg cartons – Butler Green Farms

Compostable:

Some types of paper are not recyclable but are suitable for composting in commercial service yard waste bins.
The following are compostable, not recyclable, because their fibers are too short to make new paper or because they are food-soiled.

  • Molded paper egg cartons (bottom part only if top has paper label)
  • Paper towels
  • Shredded paper (NO shiny paper, NO plastic) – Put in a paper bag to keep from flying away when emptied into the truck. Envelopes with plastic windows or glossy paper mailers have plastic coatings. Recycle these instead.
  • Tissue paper
  • Tissues
  • Pizza boxes (recycle if clean)

Note: Do not compost paper tea bags. The majority of paper tea bags contain plastic fibers used in the sealant, as well as a potentially troubling chemical called epichlorohydrin that is added to prevent the bag from breaking.

Last updated 12/18/22

Paper (Recyclable)2023-08-10T20:06:45-07:00

Put in your curbside recycling bin or take to the Bainbridge Island Transfer Station.  There is an $14 flat fee at the transfer station that covers mixed recyclables, cardboard, scrap metal and one can of trash.

Recycle:

  • Junk mail
  • Magazines and catalogues
  • Newspapers
  • Office paper
  • Writing paper
  • Colored paper
  • Construction paper
  • Greeting cards (just plain – no batteries, plastic, glitter, 3D objects)
  • Wrapping paper (non-foil)
  • Toilet paper tubes
  • Paper towel tubes
  • Food boxes (no liners, PLEASE flatten)
  • Paper bags – Look under “Bags (Grocery)” category for reuse options
  • Phone books
  • Softcover books (tear apart if more than 1″ thick) – Donate if possible.
  • Paper envelopes (no bubble-padded envelopes)

Make sure paper is…

  • Flat, dry and clean
  • Larger than a postcard
  • Without glue, glitter, or other 3D decoration
  • Loose, not in a plastic bag
  • Envelope windows, staples and labels are okay

DO NOT recycle:

  • Milk and juice cartons – Put in trash. (Go here for another use for milk cartons.)
  • Dirty or wet paper – Put in compost if paper has no gloss.
  • Moldy paper or moldy softcover books – Put in trash.
  • Paper smaller than a postcard (e.g., Post-it notes or scraps) – Put in trash.
  • Shredded paper – Put in compost ONLY IF it is regular copy paper or writing paper.  Nothing with plastic or plastic coating is allowed.
  • Paper covered in glue, glitter, or paint – Put in trash.
  • Receipts – Put in trash.
  • Stickers or backing to peelable paper – Put in trash
  • Paper egg cartons -Put bottom half in compost; if top half has a paper label, put in trash.  Or give cartons to Butler Green Farms at the farmers market.
  • Tissue paper – Put in compost; put in trash if has glitter specks.
  • Shiny/glossy gift wrap – Reuse or trash.
  • Padded paper bubble mailers – Reuse or trash.
  • Laminated paper – Put in trash.
  • Paper you can’t tear (ferry tickets, etc.) – Put in trash.

Reduce:

Reduce the amount of unwanted mail filling up your mailbox:

  • Use CatalogChoice.org to stop catalogs and junk mail from coming to your home.
  • Register at YelllowPagesOptout.com to stop receiving phone books.
  • Follow the FTC’s instructions to stop receiving credit card offers and other marketing junk mail.
  • You can also call the phone number listed on catalogs, or contact the company online, and asked to be removed from their specific mailing list.

Use FormsPal to create an array of free, online legal and formal documents for both personal and business use.

Learn:

Here is a good explanation of the paper recycling process, types of paper, and percentage of post-consumer content recommended for various products.

Last updated 8/10/23

Personal Care/Hygiene2023-11-09T16:42:48-08:00

Reuse:

Helpline House takes the following unopened:

  • Diapers (adult or child)
  • Wipes
  • Tampons and pads
  • Oral care products (toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss)

Last updated 11/9/23

Pet Waste2020-05-28T21:17:33-07:00

Pet waste belongs bagged in the trash. Never put in with yard waste.
Dog feces can transmit disease to other pets, children and adults. Pick up your pet’s poop!

Lasat updated 5/28/20

Pill (Prescription ) Bottles2024-03-11T21:56:07-07:00

Recycling

Amber prescription pill bottles are not allowed in residential or transfer station recycling

Ridwell collects them (must have #5 inside the recycling symbol) as a featured category. If you know someone with a Ridwell subscription, save up your bottles (remove label if possible or black out personal information) and ask if you can contribute to their collection.

Non-prescription, over-the-counter pill bottles (empty) are accepted in curbside recycling if they are bigger than 4 ounces. If smaller, throw in the trash because they are too small to make it through the sorting process at the MRF (materials recovery facility, or “murf”), where our recycling is sorted and baled.

Last updated 3/11/24

Pillows2022-10-29T08:20:40-07:00

Reuse:

Pillows (bed):

St. Vincent de Paul of Bremerton, 1117 N Callow Ave 98312 – Must be in good condition.

Pillows (throw): Gently used. Goodwill truck in Ace Hardware parking lot.

Some people make dog beds out of them. Try Facebook Buy Nothing or Free on the Rock or Nextdoor.

Last updated 10/29/22

Plant Pots2024-01-25T22:38:55-08:00

Reuse:

At the Bainbridge Farmers’ Market, Saturday, 10am-2pm, April-October:

  • Persephone Farm – 4″ square pots (plus rubber bands, green paper molded or plastic berry baskets, plastic bags that produce comes in, and neatly folded grocery-sized paper bags with or without handles)
  • Butler Green Farms – 4″ square pots and 1 gallon or larger round pots (and paper egg cartons)
  • Central Valley Nursery – 1 gallon or larger round pots

Nurseries:

  • Bay Hay and Feed – 10-gallon or larger pots  and plant trays in reusable condition.
    See manager before dropping off.
    Drop off plastic plant tags, too! They recycle them.
    They also take back any Blooming Nursery plant pots. (They are a maroon color.)

  • Bainbridge Gardens –  5-gallon or larger pots and plant trays in reusable condition.  See manager before dropping off.

Recycle:

Home Depot Silverdale – All pots and trays – drop off in garden section.

Last updated 1/25/2023

Plastic #6 Cups2024-01-21T21:54:52-08:00

Recycle:

Drop off any #6 polystyrene (PS) plastic cup (no Styrofoam cups) in the maroon Zero Waste box at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West.  The cups will be recycled through a special program run by Terracycle.  You can also tell it is a #6 cup by squeezing it — it  tends to crack.

Plastic and paper cups do not belong in curbside or transfer station recycling bins.

Last updated 1/21/24

Plastic Bags (and Other Plastic Film)2023-12-01T00:26:16-08:00
Keep your plastic bags and other plastic film out of the landfill and instead drop them at the grocery store to be made into plastic lumber!  Trex is the leading producer of alternative lumber and buys #2 & #4 plastic film nationwide as feedstock for their product.
You can drop off the following types of #2 and #4 film at either T&C or Safeway in their designated plastic collection container.
→ It must be clean, dry, empty and have no tape or labels on it. ←   No crinkly plastic.

What you can recycle:

  • Plastic grocery bags
  • Produce bags
  • Bread bags
  • Ice bags
  • Wood pellet bags
  • Dry cleaning bags
  • Garbage bags (CLEAN)
  • Newspaper/magazine sleeves
  • Pallet wrap
  • Case/Bulk item overwrap
  • Shipping air pillows (pop first) OR take to Zutto unpopped for their reuse
  • Bubble wrap (clean and no tape) OR take to Zutto for their reuse
  • Tyvek mailing envelopes (remove label)
  • Mailers made exclusively of bubble wrap, like Amazon’s (remove label)
  • Furniture & electronic wrap
  • Chicken feed bags (WITHOUT webbing)
  • Cereal & cracker box liner bags (these are chemically congruent with Trex processing)
  • Saltine cracker sleeves
  • Zip lock/Resealable bags (remove hard plastic zip)
  • Racing bibs (remove electronic chip, no safety pins)
  • Plus these two types of packing material:

                           
                      Not thicker than 1/4″                                                    Must have “4” inside recycling symbol

What NOT to recycle:

  • Any plastic film with food residue on it
  • *Saran wrap
  • **Frozen food bags
  • Candy wrappers
  • Snack cheese wrappers
  • Chip bags
  • “Crinkly” plastic (eg, pre-washed salads bags)
  • Pet food bags
  • Six-pack rings
  • Degradable/Compostable bags
  • Styrofoam
  • Zippered bedding/comforter bags
  • Paper mailers with bubble wrap liner
  • Hard plastic
  • Potting soil and compost bags
  • Produce pre-packed #5 bags (have air holes)

* While Saran wrap is stretchy and film-like, it CANNOT be accepted.  Rather than one type of plastic, Saran wrap is a combination of plastics that makes it unacceptable for the recycling process.
** While frozen food bags look like regular resealable bags, these bags are not.  Apparently, frozen food bags are lined with a preservative that renders the plastic incompatible with the plastic film recycling process.

For a pdf approximating the above list, go here.

Watch what happens to your plastic film after you drop it off at the grocery store.

Read about Sakai Middle School winning the national Trex Recycling School Challenge.

Last updated 3/16/2023

Plastic Containers2024-01-21T22:12:21-08:00

Rethink:

Single-use plastic litters our oceans and roadsides, kills creatures that ingest it, and is becoming more prevalent in human bodies.
Use durable containers when possible.

Recycle:

A recycling symbol on a product does not necessarily mean it can be recycled in every community, if at all. (Read EcoCycle’s excellent guide on greenwashing terms.)
On Bainbridge and throughout Kitsap County, curbside service and transfer stations accept only the following types of plastic.
Recycle only if rinsed, clean and empty.

  • bottles – plastic top in trash*
  • jugs – plastic top in trash*
  • jars –  top in trash*
  • dairy tubs – lid goes to trash

Notes:

  • Empty squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps, any brand, may be put in the Zero Waste box outside the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West.
  • Clamshells are not recyclable except through Ridwell.
  • Dark brown or black plastic bottles are not “read” by the scanners at the recycling center and end up in the landfill, so don’t bother recycling them. Please put them in your trash.

* As of 2022, caps in the trash is a new county rule. However, the specialized doorstep recycling service, Ridwell, will take plastic bottle caps.

Last updated 1/21/24

Plastic Utensils2020-05-28T20:54:04-07:00

Rethink:

Plastic utensils are used for minutes but take hundreds of years to decompose. They are trash, not recyclable. Keep a reusable set on hand instead.
At gatherings, use washable utensils. (The BI Zero Waste Tableware Lending Library has hundreds of pieces of silverware, among other tableware, that you may borrow free of charge.  See info here.)

Plumbing2020-05-31T11:11:42-07:00

Reuse:

The Habitat for Humanity Store of Kitsap County

  • Sinks
  • Bathtubs
  • New commodes
  • Complete faucet sets
  • PVC/metal/copper pipes in 4 foot lengths or more

The Habitat for Humanity Store, 3451 Wheaton Way, Bremerton
They provide donation pick-up services to all of Kitsap County free of charge. You may also drop off your donation at the store during open hours. Store staff and volunteers will help unload your donation.
Donations are taken at the discretion of the warehouse staff or drivers, they are most familiar with what sells and how much is in stock.
Habitat Store may not accept items that are damaged, broken, missing parts, rusted, rotting, or splintered.

Recycle:

Scrap metal pipes can be put in the scrap metal container at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station.

Last updated 5/31/20

Propane tanks2023-08-21T22:35:50-07:00

Recycle:

If they are empty, camping propane cylinders may be recycled in the scrap metal bin at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station.
Propane tanks must have the valves removed before placing in the scrap metal bin. There are youtube videos that show how to remove the valve.

Last updated 8/18/2023

Puzzles (Jigsaw)2024-01-26T23:38:30-08:00

Make sure they have all the pieces before donating.

Reuse:

Bainbridge Island Senior/Community Center – Donate to the Puzzle Room and take a new-to-you puzzle home! (Or take without swapping.)

Bainbridge Island Friends of the Public Library – Donations to Bainbridge FOL support programs, services, physical expansion and operation of library facilities. They also provide funding for children’s programs, magazine subscriptions, support for the staff and other services as needed.

Last updated 1/26/2024

Razors2024-01-21T22:20:17-08:00

Rethink:

Instead of single-use plastic, purchase a metal razor.

Recycle:

In the Zero Waste box at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West

  • Razor blades
  • Razors, any brand
  • The plastic packaging
  • NO electric razors

Last updated 1/21/2024

Rubber Bands2020-05-28T20:43:22-07:00

Reuse:

During growing season (April-September), these growers will take your rubber bands to hold their cut flowers together:

Andi Dillon O’Rourke – Drop off at 831 Eagle Cliff NE in the container in the driveway.

Rebecca Slattery – Drop off at the Persephone Farm booth at the Bainbridge Island Farmers’ Market, Saturday, 9am-1pm.

Last updated 5/27/20

Saw Blades2020-05-31T01:17:33-07:00

Reuse:

Bainbridge Island Lumber (Builders FirstSource) participates in Exchange-a-Blade. When you take back one of EaB’s saw blades, the store exchanges it for a new one at a fraction of the original price.  EaB will either remanufacture or recycle the blade.

Recycle:

If your saw of another brand type is too dull to be resharpened, you can put in the scrap metal dumpster at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station.

Last updated 5/31/20

Sharps2020-05-22T10:10:32-07:00

Sharps are needles, syringes, lancets, blood test strips, EpiPens, and intravenous tubing with needles attached (used or unused).

These cannot go in the garbage or recycling. Follow the safe disposal instructions below.

  • Put sharps into a laundry detergent bottle, bleach bottle, 2-liter soda bottle, or FDA-Cleared sharps container.
  • When container is ¾ full, secure lid or cap. Label container “SHARPS – BIOHAZARD.”
  • Take to Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station and tell the site attendant you have sharps before removing them from vehicle. Disposal is free.

Last updated 5/21/20

Sheets (Bed)2020-05-30T12:35:57-07:00

Reuse:

Must be in good condition, no holes, no stains. Used as backing for quilts by a quilter’s circle at Bethany Lutheran Church. They donate approximately 150 quilts per year to disaster areas and refuge camps. Contact Carol Fenner, 842-1573.

Check with local thrift stores to donate gently used items.

Order a “Clean out Your Closet” kit from thredUP.

Shoes2024-01-02T23:55:30-08:00

Recycle:

Northface – Gently used footwear. Items dropped in their collection bins are sent to their non-profit partner, Soles4Souls.

Last updated 1/2/2024

Sign Stakes2022-07-25T18:49:14-07:00

Reuse:

These H-shaped wire posts are used to hold plastic corrugated (Coroplast) signs. Drop these metal stands off at Herb Hethcote’s house, 1866 Commodore Lane. If they are bent, that’s okay — he straightens them! Herb will lend them back out for anyone’s use. He currently has about 200. Email bizerowaste@sustainablebainbridge.org for his contact information.

Last updated 7/25/22

Signs – Plastic Corrugated2023-01-11T22:37:37-08:00

Reuse:

Drop off at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West behind the maroon Zero Waste box that is for collecting certain Terracycle items.  Email Susan with questions. If your sign has a metal stand, you may leave that, too, but please separate it from the sign first.
The polypropylene plastic will be reused in insulation projects. The stands will be stored for anyone who needs to borrow them for future sign use.

Last updated 1/11/23

Silicone bags2023-04-23T12:10:56-07:00

Reuse:

See this article for ways to reuse silicone bags.

Recycle:

If you use Stasher brand silicone bags, you may recycle them for free through the company’s mail-in program.

Last edited 4/23/2023

Sports Equipment2021-05-03T22:47:52-07:00

Reuse:

Email the coach of a club team to see if they offer usable equipment to their players.

Check back on our Zero Waste events page for the annual ski (and snowboard) equipment and ski clothing swap in November. You may consign or donate.

Recycle:

Go here for tennis ball recycling.

Last updated 5/3/21

Squeezable Snack Pouches2024-01-21T22:15:43-08:00

Rethink:

Single-use is wasteful. Can you buy bulk and serve from a reusable container?

Recycle:

Squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps of any brand may be put in the Zero Waste box outside the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West.
Empty the pouches as best you can.

Last updated: 1/21/2024

Styrofoam Packaging2022-12-19T12:26:19-08:00

Rethink:

There are many alternatives to using Styrofoam block packaging and peanuts, which take hundreds of years to degrade and easily become litter. If your product comes packaged in the stuff, write to the company to ask them to switch to packaging that is easily compostable (e.g., compostable peanuts, molded paper, mushroom packaging) or easily recyclable (e.g., cardboard, air pillows).

Recycle:

Look on the Zero Waste Styrofoam page for recycling options.

Last updated 12/19/22

Tablecloths2020-05-31T10:54:15-07:00

Reuse:

Consider donating gently used (no stains) solid-colored tablecloths to the Zero Waste Tableware Lending Library. Email us at bizerowaste@sustainablebainbridge.org .

Bethany Lutheran Church’s quilters’ circle can use them as backing to quilts.  They must be in good condition: no holes or no stains. They donate approximately 150 quilts per year to disaster areas and refugee camps. Contact Carol Fenner, 842-1573.

Last updated 5/31/20

Tennis balls2021-09-10T00:08:38-07:00

Recycle:

The Bainbridge Island Recreation Center is participating in RecycleBalls, a nonprofit that takes old tennis balls. Drop the balls off at the front desk in a bag or box, not in cans.  Some of the balls end up being sold and reused as dog balls. The rest are recycled. Watch the recycling process and find out what they get recycled into here.

Last updated 9/10/21

Textiles2021-04-19T13:29:22-07:00

Reuse:

Fabric:  At least 8″ x 8″ size or anything larger.  Used by a quilters’ circle at Bethany Lutheran Church.  They donate approximately 150 quilts per year to disaster areas and refugee camps.  Contact Carol Fenner, 842-1573.

Knitted items made of natural fiber, such as cotton, wool or alpaca – Andi Dillon O’Rourke takes apart moth-eaten natural fiber knitted sweaters and other knitted items from natural fiber and reuses to make new items.
To donate, drop off in the large, blue plastic bin by the recycling at the base of the driveway. Her house is at 831 Eagle Cliff Rd NE, but the driveway is actually just south of Eagle Cliff on Ferncliff Ave.

Northwest Center dropbox – Eagle Harbor Church parking lot, Via Rosa parking lot

They take all sorts of textiles, including

  • Clothing (all ages, styles, and condition – not wet or mildewed)   See Clothing section for more info.
  • Linens (bedding, towels, pillows)
  • Fabric scraps
  • Shoes and boots
  • Accessories (purses, belts)
  • Outerwear (coats, hats, scarves)
  • Blankets
  • Stuffed animals

Goodwill – A Goodwill donation truck is located in the Bainbridge Island Ace Hardware parking lot, 635 NE High School Rd. Drop off only when they are open, which is almost 365 days a year. Hours are, 8:30am-5pm, but it is not uncommon for them to close up early due to a full truck. Do not leave items next to the truck.

Check here for Goodwill’s donation guidelines. Items should be in usable condition and keep in mind, the Bainbridge truck takes items no larger than an end table. (The Silverdale and Bremerton locations can take bigger items.)

Last updated 8/7/20

Tires2022-04-06T23:43:31-07:00

Many tire shops recycle tires for a fee.

You may also take to Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station for a $15/tire dump fee.

Kitsap Solid Waste usually holds a free tire disposal event annually, usually in the summer. Watch for an announcement on the Zero Waste home page and/or in the ZW newsletter for their event, or subscribe to the Kitsap County Solid Waste email notification system for the news release.

Last updated 4/6/22

Toiletries (Travel-sized)2022-07-12T16:34:16-07:00

Reuse:

Take unopened, travel-sized toiletries to Helpline House Monday-Friday (closed Wednesdays), 9:30am-4:00.

Last updated 7/12/22

Toothbrushes and Oral Care2024-01-21T22:24:23-08:00

Reuse:

Take unopened toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to Helpline House.

Recycle:

Take these oral care products to the Zero Waste box outside the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West:

  • Toothpaste tubes* and caps
  • Manual toothbrushes and outer packaging – NO electric brushes
  • Dental floss containers
  • Any brand

*Empty as much as possible.

Sephora locations in Seattle take the following:

  • Toothpaste tubes and caps
  • Floss containers

Last updated 1/21/2024

TVs2020-05-24T14:27:00-07:00

Recycle:

  • CD/DVD/Blu-ray players
  • Televisions
  • Video streaming devices (Apple TV®, Roku Player, etc.)

Take to the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station and put in designated container.

Staples, 2850 Bucklin Hill NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 20 per month

Best Buy, 9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 3 per day

Last updated 5/24/20

Twist ties and bread tabs2022-09-12T13:42:18-07:00

Reuse and Recycle

The local special recyclables subscription service, Ridwell, has special collections of these items at least once a year. They find organizations that reuse them or companies that recycle them. If you don’t have a Ridwell subscription, find a neighbor or friend who does and ask when the collection is and if you can contribute.

Last updated 9/12/22

Vases2021-11-15T18:35:08-08:00

Reuse:

Flowering Around – They will accept vases and Mason jars (quart size on up) in good condition. If the shop is closed, you may leave them outside the front door.

Town and Country Market floral department – They accept vases in good condition. Please ask for Sarah, manager of the floral department.

Island Volunteer Caregivers – IVC’s program Flowers from the Heart delights islanders with surprise, home-grown bouquets styled by volunteers. They start receiving vases in late spring up till Labor Day. Please drop off at the IVC office, 147 Finch Place, Suite 4 (behind the Marge Williams Center).

Last updated 11/15/21

Video Game Equipment2020-05-24T14:05:11-07:00

Reuse:

GameStop, 3299 NW Randall Way, Silverdale, offers trade-ins on “retro” games, consoles, and accessories.

Recycle:

Place in designated box at Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station.

Staples, 2850 Bucklin Hill NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 20 per month

Best Buy, 9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW, Silverdale – *Plus ink and toner cartridges, up to 3 per day

Last updated 5/24/20

Videotapes and Audio Cassettes2020-06-09T22:01:18-07:00

Recycle:

Greendisk – Mail in VHS, audio cassette tapes, DAT, DLT, Beta, and Digibeta

Last updated 5/26/20

Water Filters2024-01-21T22:16:27-08:00

Recycle:

You may recycle any brand water filter in the Zero Waste box outside the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West.

You may also recycle any of the following only from Brita:

  • Pitchers
  • Dispensers
  • Bottles
  • Faucet systems
  • Packaging

Last updated 1/21/2024

Windows2020-05-31T11:00:36-07:00

Reuse:

Habitat for Humanity. No rot, cracked or fogged glass, or shutters. No wood framed windows, aluminum framed windows or windows larger than 3’x5′.

The Habitat for Humanity Store, 3451 Wheaton Way, Bremerton
They provide donation pick-up services to all of Kitsap County free of charge. You may also drop off your donation at the store during open hours. Store staff and volunteers will help unload your donation.
Donations are taken at the discretion of the warehouse staff or drivers, they are most familiar with what sells and how much is in stock.
Habitat Store may not accept items that are damaged, broken, missing parts, rusted, rotting, or splintered.

Wine Corks2023-01-22T20:52:11-08:00

Recycle:

These places accept natural corks only.  They are recycled through ReCORK.

  • Eleven Winery Tasting Room, 287 Winslow Way East
  • Eagle Harbor Winery,  8897 Three Tree Ln NE
  • Total Wine and More, 11066 Pacific Crest Pl a110, Silverdale, WA 98383

Ridwell collects at least once a year as a featured category.

Last updated 1/22/23

Wood2020-05-30T10:38:29-07:00

Reuse:

Pallets – They are popular on give-away sites. You can also see if Bay Hay and Feed or Bainbridge Gardens will take a few to reuse.

Recycle:

Take to the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station. There is a charge.

Do not recycle painted, stained or pre-treated wood. Small nails are okay.

Last updated 5/30/20

Yard Waste2021-04-19T10:18:05-07:00

Compost:

Subscribe with Bainbridge Disposal for bi-weekly pick-up.

Take to the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station or Tilz.

Accepted by Bainbridge Disposal:

  • Food waste (any type)
  • Grass
  • Leaves
  • Weeds *
  • Prunings
  • Branches under 4′ long and 4″ diameter
  • Wood (goes in separate dumpster) – no painted, stained or pressure-treated; small nails okay

Accepted by Tilz: 

  • Stumps
  • Branches – any size
  • Grass
  • Leaves
  • Weeds *
  • Prunings
  • Wood – no painted, stained or pressure-treated; small nails okay

Not accepted by Tilz: Food waste

NOT accepted by either place:

  • Sod
  • Dirt
  • Gravel
  • Landscape fabric or plastic
  • Manure

* Some invasive species such as tansy ragwort and poison hemlock are too poisonous to compost and/or dangerous to compost. Others such as Japanese knotweed or morning glory/bindweed are able to easily spread via root or stem fragment and can completely contaminate any compost they are put in. Anyone who uses the contaminated compost will get the invasive species. Please landfill these species.

Last updated 4/19/21

FAQ Search results

Found 95 Results
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Propane tanks


August 18, 2023


Silicone bags


April 23, 2023


Ceramics


March 20, 2023


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March 17, 2023


Twist ties and bread tabs


September 12, 2022


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