The City of Newcastle’s annual Spring Recycling Collection Event on Saturday, April 19 proved successful, collecting nearly 17 tons of recyclable materials from 290 vehicles. Hosted in partnership with Olympic Environmental Resources (OER), the event offered residents a convenient way to responsibly dispose of a wide range of items.

In total, 33,571 pounds of materials were collected - averaging 116 pounds per vehicle. The collection included common household and electronic waste, Styrofoam, and even mattresses and plumbing fixtures.

Key totals included:

• 16,240 pounds of appliances, scrap metal, electronics, printers, and copiers

• 1,750 pounds from five used refrigerators and freezers

• 3,300 pounds from 66 TVs and 2,160 pounds from 54 computer monitors

• 7,250 pounds of confidential documents shredded on site

• 564 pounds from 5,640 household batteries and 397 pounds from 11 lead acid batteries

• 625 pounds from 25 used tires

• 650 pounds from 13 mattresses and box springs

• Additional items included propane tanks, toilets, sinks, and 24 cubic yards of Styrofoam

Paul Devine, General Manager of Olympic Environmental Resources, praised the event’s efficiency and community participation. “We were happy with the way the event went and the amount of material collected,” he said. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with the City of Newcastle and look forward to future events.”

The City of Newcastle hosts recycling events twice a year (spring and fall) to promote sustainability and provide residents with accessible ways to reduce waste.

Funding for these events is provided by the WA State Department of Ecology Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance Program, the King County Solid Waste Division, the King County Hazardous Waste Management Program, and the E-Cycle Washington Program.