Earth Day 2014: Save the Date and Your Stuff

The Earth Day 2014 Celebration at UMass Chan Medical School is set for Tuesday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature three collection efforts—so now’s the time to start looking around to see how much of that old stuff you’ve been storing could be put to better use. 

The collections will feature the ever-popular electronics recycling station, plus a clothing and fabric collection to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England, and the collection of building materials for Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore program. 

“Reusing material that still has value instead of burning or burying it in landfills is one of the best things we can do as a community to promote sustainability,” said Melissa Lucas, energy and sustainability manager at the Medical School. “So I hope people will start planning now for what materials they could bring to campus on Earth Day.” 

The electronics collection will take most any device with a plug. (There will be a small charge for televisions or monitors.) The Epilepsy Foundation will collect fabrics such as towels, sheets, blankets, curtains, clothing, etc. The ReStore program will accept: 

• Kitchen cabinets 
• Bathroom vanities 
• Appliances (must be in good condition) 
• Lighting fixtures 
• Siding (full boxes) 
• Plumbing fixtures 
• Sinks 
• Tools 
• Doors 
• Electrical fixtures 
• Windows 
• Flooring 
• Ceramic tile (full boxes) 
• Hardware 
• Lumber and millwork (including molding and trim) 
• Furniture (wood) 
• Housewares 
• Books 
• Clothing and shoes 

ReStore will not accept: 
X Upholstered furniture 
X Pressboard or particleboard furniture 
X Mattresses and bedding 
X Sofa beds 
X Televisions and electronics 
X Children’s furniture and toys 
X Used toilets 
X Unframed/unpackaged mirrors or glass 
X Smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors 
X Flammable chemicals 
X Futon frames 
X Dishwashers 
X Hot water heaters 
X Faucets 
X Plumbing supplies used to carry drinking water 
X Curtains and window treatments