MxCC Hosts Annual e-Cycling Event on April 24

Not sure what to do with your old and unwanted electronics? Middlesex Community College has a free solution on how to dispose of these ancient artifacts, without filling landfills. Just bring your unwanted electronics to campus on April 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during MxCC’s annual e-Cycling event.

Hosted by the College’s Computer Club during Earth Week, MxCC students, along with students from the Vinal Technical High School information systems technology program, will collect a variety of electronics and computers at the lower parking lot at 100 Training Hill Road, Middletown.

At the end of the day, all items will be picked up by Green Monster e-Cycling of West Hartford, and will be fully recycled for parts. Green Monster has a strict zero-landfill policy, meaning all items it collects are broken down into basic components and passed on to refineries and smelters where precious metals are harvested.  By-products of all electronic components are eventually added to items such as concrete, fence posts, or glass. Green Monster partners only with EPA-compliant leaders in the downstream recycling industry that have been audited.

During the e-Cycling event, MxCC’s Computer Club will be collecting voluntary donations for its annual computer giveaway contest. As part of this program, students donate free computers to fellow MxCC students in need. Last semester, Marquis Bawl and Janet Rider each received a brand new computer as a result of an essay contest.

“Donations of any size are appreciated and are used to offset the cost of purchasing new computers for deserving MxCC students,” said Professor Donna Hylton. “The annual computer giveaway allows the Computer Club to offer much needed resources for students who would otherwise not be able to afford it.”

At the e-Cycling event, anything with a cord or battery will be collected including computers, laptops, modems, toners, printers, fax machines, telephones, cables, server racks, batteries, and mp3 players. However, air conditioners, washers/dryers, refrigerators, light bulbs, or household batteries will not be accepted. For a full list of acceptable items, visit mxcc.edu/ecycling.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

The City of Middletown Recycling Program has several opportunities for residents this spring.

SNEAKERS! At the City Recycling Center from April 1st until June 29th you can drop off old, un-wearable sneakers. Your sneakers get ground up into NIKE Grind and used for athletic surfaces such as running tracks and basketball courts. Sneakers should be dry and not tied together. Please don't bring cleats, they don't get recycled. If you have not been to the Recycling Center, you can find it on the corner of Johnson Street and North Main Street. They are open from 7 am to 3 pm Monday - Friday and every Saturday in April, May and June from 7 am to noon.

SHREDDFEST! Saturday April 25th at the Municipal Parking lot (next to City Hall) on deKoven Drive Middletown residents and businesses can bring paper to be shredded and recycled. You can bring up to six boxes, it's free, rain or shine. You can even stay and watch since documents will be shredded on site.

COMPOST BIN and RAIN BARREL sale! Bins and barrels are a great way to save money and make your yard lush; no chemicals needed.

Let's get composting! Composting turns your yard and kitchen waste into black gold that improves your soil and feeds your plants. Made from 51% recycled plastic, Garden Gourmet Compost Bins cost $53.50 each and hold 11 cubic feet. Check them out at www.gardengourmet.com

Rain barrels are the guilt free way to water your garden this summer. Collect the water as it runs off your roof and save it for a dry spell. There are easy and safe ways to keep mosquitoes from laying their eggs so it is safe. The Great American Rain Barrel is made from recycled shipping barrels, comes in four colors, and costs $65 - $70 each. Check them out at www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com

Bins and barrels must be ordered by May 20th. Pick up is June 6th 9 - 11am at the Water & Sewer Department, 82 Berlin Street, Middletown.

Questions about any of these great opportunities? Call 344-3526 or email kim.orourke@cityofmiddletown.com
Brochures can be downloaded from the City website.

Hamlin Factory Salvage Days

From Scott Kessel

Hamlin Factory Salvage Days: Saturday, August 9th : 9 am to 3 pm Sunday, August 10th : 10 am to 4 pm

The Hamlin Factory - Middletown's soon-to-be workspace for artists, is proud to sponsor two Community Salvage, Recycle, Reuse, and Remove Days, August 9th and August 10th.

We have a great opportunity to keep a lot of reusable and recyclable objects out of the landfill. Help us to empty out the old factory building. Salvage stuff that is of use to you - recycle stuff that isn't. Wesleyan University has provided two large dumpsters for the stuff no one is interested in. Come and take what you want (with thanks to Wesleyan) in exchange for a few hours of good hard work.

From the attic to the basement, there are treasures to be discovered. Nearly everything that isn't nailed down (and some stuff that is!) is up for grabs. Junk sculptors, found object artists, tinkers and inventors beware. There's so much cool stuff, you'll wish you had a truck or trailer.
Please bring your own gloves, dust mask, and flashlight if you wish. Wear work clothes you can get dirty in. No kids please. Due to some unfortunate vandalism, it's quite a mess in there. There is electricity, but no running water or toilets. Because we don't own the property yet, everyone entering the building will need to sign a Visit Waiver and Release agreement.

We're looking for volunteers to help coordinate certain aspects of the clean up. Please contact me at kesselarts@gmail.com or by phone at (860)-930-8440 before the weekend if you can help. If you have any extra boxes for organizing and sorting recyclables, please bring them.

Visit our web site: http://groups.google.com/group/hamlin-park for a partial list of the stuff available for salvage inside the old factory, and for the latest information about the progress of the factory project itself.

Please feel free to spread the word to those you might think would be interested. Come by to help or just to see the factory space and show your support.