Much of the solid waste deposited in American landfills will take centuries
(at least) to biodegrade and a lot of it contains toxic materials.
In the Bay Area, it’s easy to recycle paper and cardboard—virtually
every community now has curbside pickup programs. Household items and
clothing can be taken to Goodwill or other charities and there are several
organizations that want material that can be used for art projects. Safely
disposing of unwanted high-tech gear and related waste—plastic packing
materials, dead batteries and old CDs—requires a little more initiative.
Here is a list of web sites and organizations that can assist you in your
recycling efforts. ALWAYS contact an organization before sending or
dropping off materials, to be sure the information resented here is still
current.