Don’t Dump And Run, Donate And Recycle, Says City of Arcata

Press release from the City of Arcata:

The City of Arcata is reminding community members to keep Arcata neighborhoods and public spaces clean by properly disposing of, recycling or donating unwanted items.

With the end of the spring semester approaching, Arcata experiences a seasonal surge in discarded furniture, household goods and trash left on sidewalks and street corners as students move out.

Abandoned, unwanted items and unmanaged free piles on street corners not only detract from the beauty

of Arcata’s neighborhoods and open spaces but also turn potential donations into trash.

Instead of dumping and running, consider donating unwanted items to second-hand stores, sharing them with loved ones, participating in clothing or furniture swaps or recycling through appropriate channels. Diverting waste from landfills conserves the energy, materials and labor used to produce and transport those items while also avoiding harmful emissions. Together, we can protect the local environment, conserve natural resources and keep Arcata clean and beautiful.

SHARE AND SWAP. Share items with friends, family, neighbors or post to online platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. This gives unwanted things a second life while keeping them out of the streets and landfills. Community members can also share items during local clothing or furniture swaps. Look for any upcoming events or take the initiative to organize one.

DONATE. Donating keeps usable items out of the landfill and supplies second-hand stores with affordable goods for community members. Many local businesses and thrift stores accept clean, gently used items like clothing, furniture, household goods, small appliances and knick-knacks. Some stores even offer free pickup or delivery. Be sure to contact stores in advance to confirm what they accept and their donation hours. A list of donation centers is provided in the City’s “Don’t Dump and Run” brochure at cityofarcata.org/790/Waste-Prevention-Resources.

Some items, such as mattresses, large appliances or damaged goods, are not accepted for donation and must be recycled or properly disposed of.

RECYCLE AND DISPOSAL. Waste disposal and recycling centers around the County can accept a variety of items that are not accepted in curbside trash and recycling collection including bulky items, hazardous materials and special waste. Learn how to properly and safely dispose of hazardous or special waste materials to save resources and landfill space. A list of recycling centers is provided in the City’s “Don’t Dump and Run” brochure and a Hazardous and Special Waste Materials List with disposal

recommendations is available on the City’s website at cityofarcata.org/1065/Material-List-Hazardous-or-Special-Waste.

For those residing in a single-family home, Recology Arcata offers two bulky item pickups per year at no additional cost for large items that don’t fit or belong in the bins like old furniture, appliances, mattresses and more. Call ahead to schedule a pick-up at (707) 683-4853. Do not leave large items at the curb without arranging for pickup in advance.

“FREE PILES” on PRIVATE PROPERTY ONLY. Residents should refrain from putting out “free piles.” It is illegal to leave items in the City right-of-way (e.g., roadways, sidewalks, gutters, street corners, alleys). Any free items must be treated like yard sale items; they must be well-maintained on private property in a way that will not create a mess or become a hazard. It is the responsibility of the person who puts the items out to donate or properly dispose of anything not taken.

To report illegal dumping, call the Arcata Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch line at (707) 822-2424. To learn more about waste prevention programs and resources, contact the Environmental Services Department at (707) 822-8184 or visit cityofarcata.org/275/Recycling-Garbage-and-Organics.

###