Recycling More than Paper and Plastic at Southampton Library

For regular patrons of the Southampton Free Library, it may be easy to miss the two boxes sitting in the antechamber as they go in and out of the library.

Each box has the possibility of making lives better, as each box is used for recycling. But, instead of recycling the familiar paper, glass and plastics, the boxes ask for items that aren’t as widely recycled.

According to library staff, the boxes have been available to the public for quite some time now.

The larger box asks patrons for their spent ink cartridges. According to the benefits-of-recycling website, inkjet cartridges are made out of plastic, and, like other plastic items, can take up space in landfills. In addition, the site states that remanufactured or recycled cartridges are just as good as new ones. 

The box, as well as a bin to its right, also accepts used toner cartridges and cell phones.

The other box is a part of the Southampton-Warminster Area Lions Club’s ongoing mission to help preserve and improve vision, by repurposing old pairs of eyeglasses to those in need.

The box, labeled, “Lions Recycle for Site,” sits on the ground by the stairs leading to the basement level of the library. Patrons may drop off their eyeglasses for Lions Club volunteers to later sort, determine prescription of the donation, and distribute to the community.

For more information about the Southampton-Warminster Area Lions Club, visit www.southamptonpa.lionwap.org/.

The Southampton Library may also be in the works to accept Amercian Flags for proper disposal. More on that story likely to be posted on Upper Southampton Patch soon.