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The garage and storage building are filled with cans of old paint, the old television has stopped working years ago and some pesticides you no longer want to use.

Or do you have a box or two of important personal papers you didn’t want to put in the garbage or recycle because they could get into the wrong hands?

Saturday’s recycling drive in Suffolk can help with these and more of the items around the house that need to go. 

Keep Suffolk Beautiful is bringing together many location groups and organizations to help from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 5 at Nansemond River High School, 3301 Nansemond Pkwy.  

The most recent recycling drive held in March of 2023 was successful in keeping more than 40,000 pounds of waste, recyclables and used items from reaching local landfills.  Best of all, it’s free.

The list of items that will be accepted include common ones such as plastic bottles and jugs No. 1 and No. 2, cardboard, paper, magazines, plastic bags and glass containers. The event also offers the opportunity to dispose of large appliances, electronics (no tube TVs or ones larger than 42 inches), gently used clothing, wares and batteries.

Southeastern Public Service Authority’s Waste Solutions will be onsite to collect household hazardous waste including oil, gasoline, cleaners, propane tanks, paint, pesticides, CFL light bulbs and more. This free disposal is limited to either 75 pounds or five liquid gallons and Suffolk residents must provide proof of residency.

And there’s more.

The Lion’s Club will collect eyeglasses and hearing aids. The Boy Scouts will accept U.S. flags in need of being properly decommissioned. Plus, Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center will accept and disperse food and toiletry donations.

For those important documents that need to be disposed of properly, the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office and the Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will again provide free shredding services, accepting up to three grocery bags of documents if conditions become exceptionally busy. Deputies also will be available to answer any questions about identity protection. 

“Every year, Americans are targeted and become victims of identity theft, usually from someone stealing their personal identifying information,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Narendra Pleas said. “Shredding records and outdated materials is a great way to refrain from becoming a victim.”

Suffolk Mosquito Control will be on hand to help residents battle the pesky insects with information and two dunks to prevent them.

Goodwill, one of the recycling drive’s longest-serving vendors, will accept donations of electronics, shoes and clothing. Chief Communications Officer for Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia Laura Faison said they accepted more than 50 million pounds of items at their stores and through partnerships such as this across the region.

Talk about a win-win situation, Saturday’s recycling drive is one. Residents have a chance to clear out all those unwanted items while reducing what ends up in the landfill, helping others through their donations and preventing identity theft.

More information can be found online at suffolkva.us/339/recycling-drives, by calling 757-514 7604 or emailing ksb@suffolkva.us.

Don’t miss out on this great community service offering, and offer all those participating a word of thanks before heading home.