Recycling in the Community

Recycling | 1102 MacArthur Blvd. | Grand Prairie, TX 75053 | Phone 972-237-8151 | Fax 972-237-9408 | E-Mail

 Recycling Drop-Off Stations

For residents who have large amounts of recycling and/or who live in multi-family living communities where no recycling service is provided, the city makes three drop-off sites available:

The location behind Uptown fire Station #1 has a large 40-yard container that is available for recycling the same items that can be recycled at the curb: bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs, aluminum cans, steel cans, newspapers, magazines, phone books, junk mail and broken-down boxes.

As always, citizens are asked to conserve space by flattening cardboard boxes before placing them in the bins.

Large Venue and Event Recycling

In an effort to support our large venues in their recycling efforts, grant funds will cover the supplies and initial set-up of a recycling operation. The City of Grand Prairie recently received funding through the North Central Texas Council of Governments from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to develop a recycling program for large venues where no recycling program existed. A number of bins have been provided for visitors to recycle at QuickTrip Park (home of AirHogs baseball), Lone Star Park, and at Tangle Ridge and Prairie Lakes golf courses.

Alternatives to Recycling: Reduce, Reuse, Rebuy

reDUCE

• Purchase supplies in bulk or with less packaging.
• Keep mailing lists updated to reduce wasted or returned mail.
• Receive and pay bill electronically.
• Use both sides of paper when possible.
• Set copier for default double-side copying.
• Return or borrow tools and equipment for limited use.
• Lease office equipment.
• Leave grass clippings on your lawn as mulch.
• Buy and use durable items instead of throwaways.
• Encourage your local school to start a compost operation with food scraps.
• Use cloth napkins and towels.

reUSE

• Share magazines and books or donate to retirement homes, shelters or hospital and office waiting rooms.
• Repair used items instead of purchasing new ones.
• Donate usable items to charities.
• Take your own canvas/reusable bags on shopping trips.
• Store leftover food in reusable containers.
• Choose rechargeable batteries.
• Check out books from the library or buy used books.
• Participate in a paint collection and reuse program.
• Use durable coffee mugs and refillable bottles.

reBUY

• Close the loop! Buy products made from or packaged in recycled materials.
• When making purchases, especially when purchasing bulky and/or electronic items, ask the retailer whether the item can be recycled, returned or reused in some way.
• Avoid buying non-recyclable items and find out what items local recyclers accept.
• Ask stores where you shop to stock items made from recycled materials.
• Shop at thrift shops, consignment stores, garage sales, classified ads and online merchandise exchanges services (like Freecycle.com).

Alternatives to recycling information is from Keep Texas Beautiful's Texas Recycles Day 2004 brochure. Visit www.texasrecyclesday.org for more information.