It’s hard to believe it’s the end of the school year already and we are quickly approaching summer. Whether or not you have school age kids, you may have some school or office supplies you are wondering what to do with.

Remember that reuse always comes before recycling, so any items or materials that are in good condition should be saved for future use or donated.

Folders (paper only, no plastic), notebooks (any spiral bindings should be removed and discarded in the trash), books (any hardcover books should have covers removed and discarded in the trash), and papers (all colors) can be recycled with your household recycling.

For those hard to recycle items that aren’t accepted with your household recycling, there are actually programs that can earn you rewards to recycling.

At Staples you can earn rewards for recycling certain items. These rewards can be used in store or donated to a teacher, classroom, or school. To participate you just need to download the free Staples Connect app. Store employees are happy to assist with getting you set up. See the full list of items that can be recycled here. The list includes some electronics/tech items, including but not limited to phones, tablets, laptops, CD/DVD/Blu-ray discs & players, coffee brewers (less than 40 lb.), and speakers. You can also recycle printer cartridges, batteries (including single-use alkaline!), writing tools (pens, makers, etc.), and phone & tablet cases. For full details about the program, click here.

TerraCycle has resources to make your school a recycling hub. They recycle many materials that you can’t dispose of with your household recycling. They have both paid and free programs. They have resources to help your school get started with a program and offer rewards for participating schools. Click here for all the details.

This Memorial Day you may find that the stars and stripes you display each year are looking a little past their prime. It is disrespectful to our country and our military to display or fly a tattered American flag. But would should you do with your flag that’s ready for retirement? If your flag cannot be repaired it should be taken to a U.S. flag drop off location. According to the United States Code, U.S flags should be disposed of in a dignified way, not in the garbage. They represent those who worked, fought, and sacrificed their lives for our rights and freedoms and should be treated with respect.

What can you do with your flag that is ready for retirement?

• Drop off at the Ontario County Municipal Building at 20 Ontario Street, Canandaigua NY 14424
• Take your flag to your local American Legion or VFW post. They will be happy to retire your flags in their next disposal ceremony.
• Contact your local Boy Scout Troop to see if they accept flags for retirement.
• Home Depot locations accept flags for respectful disposal.

Flags that are still usable can be donated to cemeteries and funeral homes for reuse.

It’s that time of year where we are pulling our garden hoses out in anticipation of the spring and summer planting season, filling pools, cleaning outdoor furniture, and so many other things. When you pull your old hose out, you may find that it didn’t weather the winter as you had hoped. So what now? Your hose should never be placed with your household recycling. It gets tangled in the sorting equipment and can cause dangerous situations for the workers. Instead, try to find a way to repurpose it.

1. Make a soaker hose- use a small drill bit to make evenly spaced holes along the length of the hose. Put a hose cap on one end and attach the other end to the spigot. Soaker hoses are more efficient because they deliver water directly to the base of the plant. That means less water gets wasted or evaporated. It can also protect plants from certain molds and mildews. The best part? It’s less work for you. You can turn your soaker hoses on and walk away while they work. Just don’t forget to turn them off, or use a timer to make it even easier. (You can also use this method to make a sprinkler for kids or dogs).
2. Make a sheath for sharp blades- measure the length of the blade you want to cover, cut a length of hose to match, and use a utility knife to cut a slit in the hose piece from end to end. You can then slide over the blade of axes, hatchets, saws, or other bladed tools to help keep them sharp and protected.
3. Organize the shed or garage- make a loop large enough to hold the handle of a rake/shovel/broom or whatever else you want to hang, screw the piece of garden hose near one end, then screw the other end of the hose into the wall. By hanging your tools on the wall, you can create more space as well as have easier access to them. No more rakes hitting you in the head while you navigate the shed or garage.
4. Make a door stop- cut a small section of hose and squeeze it under the door. Once it expands it will fill the gap and hold the door in place.

If you can’t find a way to reuse or repurpose your old damaged hose, it should be disposed of in the garbage.