How to recycle automobile and bicycle tires; hairdryers, curling irons, and flat irons; computers, tablets, and e-readers; clothing; and prescription drugs.   

To my readers: Some of these references are for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. For sites near you, check Earth911.com. 

Bicycle and Automobile Tires

For jurisdictions outside of the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia), check your local jurisdiction’s web site for recycling. There are often listed under departments such as Public Works or Environment. 

DMV Recycling Sites

Here is what is accepted around the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia:

District of Columbia

Drop tires at Fort Totten Transfer Station Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More details here. 

Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Drop tires at a county landfill or recycling center. More details here. 

Howard County, Maryland

Recycle automobile and truck tires at the Alpha Ridge Residents’ Convenience Center. ARL does not accept tires on rims, tires over 4′ in diameter or over 15″ in width.

NOTE: Rims can be recycled in the scrap metal container. Limit of 4 tires per year. 

Montgomery County, Maryland

Residents of Montgomery County may drop tires and inner tubes at the Shady Grove Transfer Station. 

Prince George’s County, Maryland

Prince George’s County’s web site does not reference tires, but residents may drop up to 5 automobile or bicycle tires a year at the Brown Station Road Landfill, 11611 White House Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Tires are sent to Waste to Energy in Harford County. 

Arlington County, Virginia

Residents may place 2 bicycle and 4 automobile tires curbside. Remove the rims. 

Call 703.228.6570 for rim pick up or for any questions. 

Fairfax County, Virginia

Residents may place 2 bicycle tires curbside, but emove the rims.

Take automobile tires to either the I-66 Transfer Station at 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030 OR the I-95 Landfill at 9850 Furnace Road, Lorton.  

Loudon County, Virginia

Take bicycle and automobile tires to 21101 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, VA. There may be charges for automobile tires, but there are no charges for bicycle tires. 

Prince William County, Virginia 

Bicycle and automobile tires may be dropped off at the Prince William County Landfill, 14811 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA. 

Alchemy Goods 

Send bicycle inner tubes to Alchemy Goods. They will upcycle them into consumer goods. While you must pay for shipping, they will trade that for a discount code for web purchases. 

Alchemy Goods
Attn: Tube Upcycling
2500 47th St. Ste 12
Boulder, CO 80301
303-258-1611 ext. 0

Curling Irons, Flat Irons, and Hair Dryers

Drop these at Best Buy. 

Computers

Best Buy will take desk tops, laptops, tablets, e-readers, and more, but there is a limit of 3 items per household per day.

If you have a Mac, take it to the MacRecycle Clinic in Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Clothing

Always aim to donate your clothes to Goodwill, Purple Heart, or your local thrift store. 

If you live in Washington, DC, check out Texiles. There is a $15 pick-up charge. 

Prescription Drugs

Unless medicines have specific instructions to flush them down the sink or toilet when they are no longer needed, you should not flush drugs! Save them for the bi-annual National Prescription Drug Takeback Day which is held in the United States every April and October by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

The next Takeback Day is Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Find a location near you. 

If you can’t make a takeback day, here is how to dispose of medicines at home. 

Montgomery County GreenFest

Saturday, May 5

11am – 4pm

Jesup Blair Local Park in Silver Spring (next to Montgomery College)

Free, family festival for County residents to learn together, and take action together for a healthier environment.

Activities include:

• kids tree climbing
• 100 exhibitors,
• electric car show
• free workshops on
• • beekeeping,
  • container gardening,
  • pickling
  • finding green jobs
  • how to live without plastic
• Visit montgomerycountygreenfest.org for details. 

• About
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Lori Hill

Lori Hill is a plant eater, trash picker upper, climate activist, wife, and mom to 2 human boys, 2 cat boys, and 1 dog boy. On a mission to do all she can to take better care of the planet, Lori created Sister Eden Media, a green lifestyle company, to inspire others to give a damn and live more gently on Earth. She shares tips on her YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and also frequently appears on television.

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