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1. How should I recycle batteries?

Rechargeable batteries and vehicle batteries can be recycled at all businesses where they are sold per state law.

Batteries of all types EXCEPT non-rechargeable alkaline (please see below) may also be brought to the town’s household hazardous waste collection events in the spring and fall for recycling. Collections are usually held the first Saturday in May and the last Saturday in September (check the town calendar on the web site) from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the town highway garage, located at:
74 Elm Ave. East
Selkirk, NY 12158

NOTE: Alkaline batteries no longer contain mercury or cadmium. Please throw alkaline batteries into the regular trash. Alkaline batteries include non-rechargeable A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9 volt and 6-volt, and lantern.

As of December 2011, per the new state law, it is illegal to dispose of rechargeable batteries in the trash. All retailers that sell rechargeable batteries are required to collect them for recycling. Please recycle at your choice of retailers.

2. How do I donate clothing and other textiles for reuse or recycling?

Almost all types of clean and dry clothing and other textiles can be donated. Wearable clothing will be reused, but you may also donate worn, torn, ripped, stained, or damaged items for recycling in marked bins placed throughout the town.

Recycling Textiles, Clothing and Footwear+

3. How do I recycle electronics such as computers and televisions?

Bring unwanted electronics to the Rupert Road Transfer Station for recycling throughout the year (fees may apply--see web page for details), or save them to bring to the town’s household hazardous waste and electronics recycling events held each spring and fall.

Collections are usually held the first Saturday in May and the last Saturday in September (check the town calendar on the web site) from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the town highway garage, located at:
74 Elm Ave. East
Selkirk, NY 12158

4. How do I dispose of household hazardous wastes, such as paint, chemicals, and auto fluids?

In typical years, these items may be brought to the town’s household hazardous waste collection events in the spring and fall. Collections are usually held the first Saturday in May and the last Saturday in September (check the town calendar on the web site) from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the town highway garage, located at: 74 Elm Ave. East Selkirk, NY 12158

NOTE:  For 2020 we have had to cancel our HHW collections due to safety concerns and budget constraints from the Covid-19 pandemic

However, there are options for recycling or disposing of some of the items before our next event.

Rechargeable batteries and lead acid (vehicle) batteries can be recycled at all retail stores where they are sold. Fluorescent Bulbs and CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs) can be recycled at some retailers like Lowes in Glenmont.

Computers, televisions, and most other electronics can be recycled year round at the Transfer Station on Rupert Road (fees may apply--see web page for details).

Used motor oil can be brought to any shop that performs oil changes such as Valvoline or Jiffy Lube.  Antifreeze can also be brought to any shop that performs radiator service.

Latex (water-based) paint is non-hazardous, and can be dried out and disposed in the regular trash.  There are low cost "paint hardener" products for waste paint available for purchase for $2 - $3 that work for 2 - 3 gallons of paint.  Or mix with cat litter or sand to help soak up the liquid, remove the lid, and set it in the sun.  Once completely solidified, latex paint can be disposed in the regular trash (leave the lid off to show there is no liquid paint, as latex paint, while non-toxic, can gum up machinery and spill down the road).

That leaves items like oil-based paints, solvents, and lawn chemicals. The town recycling coordinator recommends using or storing these items until next year, seeing if any neighbors or friends wish to use them, and consider less toxic alternatives. There now exists water-based paints and stains for most applications, and information is available on the Internet about alternatives to pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

5. How do I recycle books and telephone books?

Softcover books and phone books can now be recycled in your single stream recycling can curbside, or taken to the paper/cardboard bins at our community recycling stations at the Elm Avenue CDTA Park and Ride and the Kenwood Avenue Municipal Lot next to Hughes Opticians. Hardcover books can be donated for reuse at our spring and fall collection events (please see events page), or taken to the community recycling stations cardboard/paper bins.

6. I am remodeling my home. What can I do with my old cabinets, appliances, windows, fixtures, etc.?

Donate to Capital District Habitat for Humanity at the Town of Bethlehem's Transfer Station in the special storage container there. Donations may be made during all regular Transfer Station hours of operation.

Capital District Habitat for Humanity accepts donations of new and gently used building materials and home improvement items. All donations are tax deductible. The ReStore is always looking for cabinets, appliances (less than 10 years old and in good condition), windows (not single pane), doors (not hollow), furniture (good condition), light fixtures, vanities and more. For details see the brochure or call 518-275-6638.

7. How do I recycle mercury containing devices – fluorescent light bulbs and thermostats?

Mercury Thermostats
NYS law now requires mercury thermostats to be recycled. It is illegal to throw these highly toxic devices in the trash.

Any person, HVAC contractor, or Demolition Contractor is required to recycle all mercury thermostats removed from service—so if you’re having your old mercury thermostat replaced with a digital model, the contractor is required to recycle it for you. If you are replacing an old mercury thermostat yourself, you can take it to any of the following locations:
http://www.thermostat-recycle.org/zipsearch/results/12054

The Town of Bethlehem accepts mercury containing thermostats and thermometers at the Bethlehem highway garage weekdays during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Fluorescent Bulbs
Spent fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) bulbs may also be brought to the town’s household hazardous waste collection events in the spring and fall for recycling. Collections are usually held the first Saturday in May and the last Saturday in September (check the town calendar on the web site) from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the town highway garage, located at:
74 Elm Ave. East
Selkirk, NY 12158

NOTE: We no longer accept fluorescent bulbs for recycling at the town hall or highway garage at other times throughout the year.

Some retail stores such as Lowes in Glenmont do accept CFL bulbs for recycling throughout the year. Contact your local home improvement retailer for more details.

When transporting fluorescent bulbs for recycling, please pad them well with newspaper and/or bubble wrap to prevent breakage and place them in a tight-fitting box or bag, or their original packaging.

8. How do I recycle or reuse polystyrene foam?

Polystyrene packing peanuts, and often the foam blocks as well, can be given to shipping companies like Ship, Copy, and More in Delmar.

Alternatively, white expanded polystyrene blocks or forms that are clean and contain no paint or tape can be saved until you have a quantity, then taken to Shelter Enterprises for recycling (you can identify polystyrene as expanded foam if is composed of numerous tiny foam beads and will separate into little balls when broken apart). You need to contact Don Bertolucci by calling 518-237-4100, ext. 16 first to make an appointment to drop it off at:
8 Saratoga St.
Cohoes, NY 12047

There is no good local solution for recycling foam trays, take-out containers, or cups at this time, unfortunately. Try to avoid purchasing or obtaining these materials. Bring reusable mugs when buying coffee, talk to restaurants about switching to aluminum or plastic for takeout containers (or ask if you can bring your own reusable containers, such as Pyrex or other reusable containers for leftovers when dining in), and avoid purchasing grocery or other items that use foam packaging.

9. How should I properly dispose of household sharps?

In Bethlehem, the Four Corners Pharmacy in Delmar offers free sharps (needles, syringes, and lancets) disposal for their customers during their normal business hours through a sealed metal drop-chute machine. The sharps must first be placed in a proper red bio-hazard container (these are available free of charge at the pharmacy).

Please dispose of needles, syringes, and sharps only. Do not include medications or garbage. The machine does not accept containers larger than a 2-liter bottle.

For a list of other disposal sites in New York State including Albany County, please visit http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/harm_reduction/needles_syringes/sharps/docs/hospital_collection_sites.pdf

10. How do I properly dispose of expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications?

The town holds a pharmaceutical collection each year. Check the recycling events page for upcoming event details.

Also, Four Corners Pharmacy, located at 360 Delaware Avenue in Delmar, now has a secure drug disposal box.  This box allows people to dispose of unwanted and unneeded prescriptions and controlled substances (solid only, no liquids) in a manner that is both anonymous, and safe for community and environmental health. The secure, “one-direction” medication drop box is located inside the pharmacy, and therefore only accessible during business hours. For store hours or contact information visit http://4crx.com/.

Residents can bring unwanted medications to all New York Police Headquarters for anonymous disposal at any time, 24/7. Troop G Headquarters is located at: 760 Troy Schenectady Road Latham, NY 12110

After entering the building, place the meds in the clear bag provided on-site, and drop it in the mailbox. For more information, call the headquarters at 518-783-3211.

Or to dispose of pharmaceuticals safely at home:

1. Place in an empty container such as an old liquid laundry detergent bottle or plastic coffee can
2. Mix with something undesirable to ingest such as cat litter, dirt, or coffee grounds
3. Add water and shake to dissolve meds
4. Screw on cap and tape container closed to safeguard leakage
5. Toss in your household garbage

NEVER flush medications down the toilet or other drains as they can pollute drinking water and waterways.

11. Why is proper disposal important?

Medications, if not properly disposed of, can fall into the wrong hands and endanger human health and our communities. If flushed down the drain or otherwise improperly discarded, they can also pollute drinking water and the environment, and further compromise human health.

As one example, a nationwide study conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) found low levels of drugs such as antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives and steroids in 80% of the rivers and streams tested.

Read more information about medication disposal.

12. Holiday Recycling and Green Shopping

Wrapping paper and cardboard tubes: Consider reusing wrapping paper and gift bags! To recycle, all types of wrapping paper (unless it’s made of plastic rather than paper) and cardboard may be placed in your Single Stream curbside recycling. If you do not have this service, all types of paper and cardboard can be recycled in the Cascades Recovery recycling dumpsters located at the Elm Avenue CDTA Park & Ride or the Town Municipal Lot at 407 Kenwood Ave, Delmar (near Four Corners).

Alternatively, at the Town’s Rupert Rd. Transfer Station, cardboard tubes from wrapping paper can be recycled with cardboard boxes. Wrapping paper can be recycled with office, home papers as long as they are not shiny.

Cardboard boxes: Single or triple layer cardboard must be flattened, and either recycled curbside with your waste hauler, at the Rupert Road Transfer Station, or placed in the Cascades Recovery recycling dumpsters located at the Elm Avenue CDTA Park & Ride or the Town Municipal Lot at 407 Kenwood Ave, Delmar (near Four Corners).

Gift packaging: Hard plastic packaging, such as the clear plastic clamshell containers, can be recycled with your Single Stream curbside recycling, or with the comingled plastic/glass/metal containers at the Rupert Road Transfer Station.

Christmas tree recycling: Set real trees out curbside after the holiday, remove all ornaments and tinsel. No plastic bags please. The Town picks up trees after the holidays.

Holiday lights: When purchasing new lights, consider energy saving and long-lasting LED lights. You can also recycle your old broken lights at the Ben Weitsman scrap metal yard, 300 Smith Blvd, Albany, NY 12202. Phone: (518) 462-4444.

Or, HolidayLEDs offers customers a chance to recycle their old incandescent holiday lights and receive a 15% coupon discount on any purchase of new, energy efficient LED holiday lights from their website. NOTE: According to their website, the program opens in October and closes at the end of February. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.holidayleds.com/christmas-light-recycling-program.aspx.

Light strands are barely biodegradable (if at all). Plastic and wire can take hundreds or thousands of years to decompose. Not to mention the risk to the animals that rummage in and near our landfills. Just as the plastic rings that bind 6-packs of cola can strangle small creatures, so can Christmas lights, turning a thing of joy in our homes into a killer in nature.

Plastic merchant gift card recycling: Did you know you can recycle plastic gift cards from your favorite merchants? Here’s how!

Plastic Bags and other Film Plastic: Plastic shrink wrap, plastic dry cleaner bags, cling wrap, zip-lock bags, cereal bags, and most other types of clean, dry “plastic film” can be recycled with store bags at your local grocery store, or stores like Target, CVS, Lowes or Walmart. Just place inside a store bag and recycle in marked location in the store.

Polystyrene (Styrofoam) packaging: Clean and dry packing peanuts can be given to shipping companies like Ship, Copy and More in Delmar.

White “Expanded Polystyrene” blocks or forms that are clean and contain no paint or tape, etc. can be saved until you have a quantity, then taken to Shelter Enterprises for free recycling (you can identify polystyrene as “expanded foam” if is composed of numerous tiny foam “beads” and will separate into little balls when broken apart). You need to contact Don Bertolucci first to make an appointment to drop it off: Phone: 237-4100 extension 16. Address: 8 Saratoga Street, Cohoes (at the north end of Route 787).

Green gift purchases: Sustainable gift ideas include home-made items; cleaning service, restaurants and other gift cards; food and drink; house plants and donations to non-profit organizations. See the Town's 2-page Donating Reusables Brochure for a list of local charities which accept donated items.

Shopping recycled: This can be done in the grocery store as well as the toy or department store. Look for items with less packaging or at least recyclable packaging. Remember to bring your cloth bags to the store with you when shopping. Keep in mind, beware of "greenwashing" (false or misleading environmental claims about products)—research claims on the internet, and if terms like “green” or “eco-friendly” aren’t substantiated, then they are probably meaningless.