Our office often receives requests from residents about being able to recycle more items and where to take them. People are looking to reduce the waste, do something for the environment and save money. There are examples of how this is being accomplished, and I found some interesting related articles.

I receive many requests for computer Web sites and other sources of information, but most require you to register. This is a new junk mail gimmick and whenever you register your name, address and e-mail you can expect dozens of junk e-mail messages in the near future. I will provide some really nice Web sites for you to access in future articles but hesitate to list many of them for this reason.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (the computer/printer/scanner manufacturing company) has developed a process that recycles plastic soda bottles into new printer cartridges. The process uses recovered polyethylene terephthalate and returned inkjet printer cartridges remanufacturing them into brand new inkjet cartridges. The recycled content of the new cartridges varies between 70-100 percent. The process has even saved the company money.

If you have used printer cartridges, there should be a way to recycle them. We have a program that uses small plastic bags that are self-addressed and postage-paid so they get returned for recycling. Often times the company you are purchasing your toner and ink jet cartridges from will take the old ones back. Be sure to ask before you buy.

Check the owner’s manual in the glove box of your car. Changing oil at 3,000-mile intervals might be unnecessary and even bad for the environment. There are fewer vehicle manufacturers that recommend changing the motor oil and filter every 3,000 miles and many auto makers say you can go much longer in today’s cars. Used motor oil poses a risk to the environment. With better-made cars and the rise of synthetic oils, the 3,000-mile standard is not as common. Contaminants including lead, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium and arsenic can be found in used motor oils. Other contaminants can include chlorides, cadmium and chlorinated compounds. One gallon of improperly disposed oil can contaminate a million gallons of drinking water.

Some service stations heat their shops with used motor oil, and there is also a demand from remanufacturing for used oil. Many local service stations will take your used oil from the lawn mower or motorcycle and there are other used oil disposal sites. Very few people change their own oil in cars because of the inconvenience of dealing with the used oil and filter afterwards and the cheap oil change “specials” local businesses offer.

Before you decide to drive your car longer between oil changes, it would be a good idea to talk with your service technician. In extreme cold weather (Minnesota cold) or the heat of Southern states there may be a reason to continue your current service schedule.

However, many people could save money and do something good for the environment by having fewer changes annually. The Freeborn County household hazardous waste program does not take motor oil or filters because there are so many other options available. We will assist you in finding where to dispose of oil and filters if you contact our office or ask for more information at one of our household hazardous waste collections.

Remember the anti-Coca-Cola Co. campaigns a few years ago? Coke was not using recycled content in their plastic beverage bottles and the cry of foul by the National Recycling Coalition was loud and clear.

Today, Coke uses about 60 percent recycled content in its cans and recently announced a long-term objective to recycle or reuse 100 percent of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles in their new facility being built in North Carolina. They have become a leader in using recycled content and the issue has totally reversed itself.

If you wish to recycle your metal beverage containers they can be placed with your other recycling materials on the curb, or you can take them to R&K Recycling on 12th Street in Albert Lea on Fridays and receive money for them. D&D Recycling in Hollandale also purchases aluminum cans on Saturdays.

Randy Tuchtenhagen is the Freeborn County solid waste officer.