Wait, You Can Recycle That? 5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Recycle

Sure, it’s easy to put your plastics and papers by the curb, but there are lots more ways in Middletown to recycle and some might even save you money or clear out the clutter for spring cleaning.

Here are five items that you could recycle that might surprise you:

1. Collecting rainwater recycles a natural resource, helps save the environment's natural water supply and saves money on the water bill. With a simple and affordable rain barrel collection system, rainwater is nonpotable but can be used on the lawn, flower gardens and in general landscaping. The Town of Middletown holds a this time every year. Orders currently are being taken for their pickup on April 23.

2. Motor oil. The Middletown Department of Public Works facility has a used motor oil collection station available to the public located just behind its facility at 19 Berkeley Avenue.

3. Scrap metal, including used car parts. Each item must be larger than a breadbox and magnetic, DPW officials said. These also can be dropped off at the DPW facility for recycling.

4. Electronics. Old or non-working computer monitors, TVs, radios, kitchen appliances, you name it, are collected behind the DPW facility inside the two large while shopping containers available to the public. An at Second Beach is also scheduled for April 16 to encourage more people to dispose of these items properly. When these products are separated at recycling facilities, many precious metals can be reclaimed for other uses.

5. Plastic bags and plastic wrap. These are collected throughout town at supermarkets in handy disposal and collection bins typically located at each store entrance. They also make great pet waste disposal bags that you don't have to buy!

While Rhode Island recycles, the state recycling facility in Johnston does not accept as wide of a variety of plastics as some other states.

So be sure to check the attached recycling brochure for a comprehensive list of the do's and don'ts for recycling locally, provided by the Town of Middletown.

Here are some quick examples that might surprise you:

• Do's: We all know that Rhode Island accepts recyclable plastics numbered as 1’s and 2’s, but did you know that automatic dishwasher liquid containers and the plastic dishes from inside many frozen food meals usually fall in this range?
• Don'ts: Most cardboard boxes from many grocery products, especially frozen foods, are NOT recyclable due to the anti-moisture protective chemical coating on the cardboard.
• Don'ts: Garden hoses.
• Don'ts: Plastic lawn furniture.

for events on April 16 and April 23 around Middletown.

Open to Middletown kids ages 5-12, Patch invites you to create a craft using at least 5 acceptable recyclable paper AND plastic items listed on the Town of Middletown's attached brochure.

Enter by 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, and we'll announce the winner on Earth Day, April 23.

The winner gets a $25 gift card to a local book store of your choice (Barnes & Noble or Island Books).

For the submission instructions, rules and guidelines, click here.