A: Dear Richard, Thanks for your question. The following link lists all the materials acceptable in your curbside pick-up - http://www.ssc-inc.com/recycling_residential.php#prepare. Basically all cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic containers and buckets up to 1-gallon size are ok in your blue bin, PLUS all the lids from all those cans, glass, and plastic containers. Single serve plastic cups and lids are also included now. Plastic clamshells, plant pots, "blister packs", and larger buckets can be recycled at SSC's office at 1001 Roeder during regular business hours; $5 per 30-gal bag. As far as how we're doing in Whatcom County, we continue to grow recycling faster than population, and overall garbage volumes are dropping, so we're moving in the right direction. More to do? Buy carefully - long lasting, well-made, repairable items; chose less packaging; buy locally made items that require less transportation. Support systemic changes that help our whole economy waste less - regional fuel sources, alternative transportation, energy conservation, smart urban planning, etc.

A: Dear Dave, Most grocery stores in Whatcom County accept clean plastic bags for recycling or in some cases, reuse through Food Banks, etc. Please check with your local grocery manager for more details.

A: Dear Andrew, There is no local recycling for incandescent bulbs, so they go in the garbage when they no longer work. This is yet another reason to buy and use fluorescent bulbs at home and at work.

A: Dear Krystal, Bellingham Public Works has had an SSC garbage container on the Railroad Trail at Woburn for some time now, and it works well. As new dog poop stations are installed, they may not need the SSC container at that location. Chad Bedlington, 676-6850 would be the Public Works manager to call about possibly getting it relocated to your favorite trailhead.

A: Dear Ed, The plastic lids from coffee cups can be recycled in the bottle/can/plastic recycling at home or at work. Plastic straws go in the trash. If you can avoid using a straw, you'll save that, too! Some vendors will fill up your reusable mug with whatever drink you like - that's the most earth friendly approach of all.

A: Dear Brooks, SSC does offer low cost business recycling for plastic film, including bags, bubble wrap, pallet wrap, etc. A 1-yd container is $13 for monthly pick-up, and is roughly 2.5 feet wide by 7 feet long by 3 feet deep. If you have room ,the container could sit at either business and be shared by both. It does have to sit on a paved surface so the driver can safely roll it to the truck for emptying. Larger generators can order dumpsters up to 6-yd, or drop boxes from 15- to 40-yd for recycling film plastic, or other materials like wood, scrap metal, and cardboard.

A: Chad Bedlington, Supt. of Maintenance with Bellingham Public Works, 676-6850, would be the best person to start with. The city is exploring a number of ideas to bring more recycling to the public sphere, and Mr. Bedlinton can give you an overview of those efforts.

A: Dear Aleen, Rechargeable batteries of all types should be recycled at the Disposal of Toxics, 3505 Airport Drive, 380-4640, because they contain potentially toxic materials. The DoT also handles fluorescent lights, solvents, old pesticides, and old fuel. Non-rechargeable batteries (standard, alkaline) go in the regular garbage. With the mercury removed, public funds to support battery recycling dried up, so there is no longer recycling available for these batteries. Vehicle batteries from cars, boats, etc can be placed next to your curbside recycling. Cracked or leaking vehicle batteries must be taken to the Disposal of Toxics - put in a heavy plastic bag inside a sturdy box for transport. Thanks for recycling!

A: Dear Gerry, You raise an excellent point. We encourage customers who call about electronics recycling to donate their items for reuse, or repair them through RELectronics (although they have not been open for several months now). The reality however, is that probably 75% of what we receive for electronics recycling are computers older than 4-5 years (the cut-off for reuse), or older TV's and monitors that are generally more costly and difficult to repair. Those same TV's and monitors are also costly to recycle (through RELectronics or SSC)because they each contain many pounds of lead in the picture tube. Safely handling that lead is a critical step in any electronics program - SSC chose our Canadian recycler (Genesis Recycling) because they dismantle each electronic item, preserving much more of the material for recycling, and they have verifiable markets for the lead they recover. We do not use companies who simply run all the items through a giant shredder, because that process generates far more waste which cannot be recycled. However you choose to reuse or recycle your electronic items, be sure to ask questions and do your homework to make sure your material will be handled responsibly. Recent electronic recycling events in Washington State have had some serious problems - if it sounds too good to be true, it just may be.

A: Dear Charles, I spoke with Far West Fibers and they actually don't take it any longer. They said they thought Total Reclaim in Portland was gearing up to accept block styrofoam. http://www.totalreclaim.com/oregon.html Thanks for your note!