County agency has tips on recycling
Sugar Pine Realty-Better Homes & Gardens has four offices throughout Tuolumne County to help homeowners market their property, and is the only real estate office in the county authorized to use the Better Homes & Gardens name."Better Homes & Gardens is a great name for us," said owner Emmett Brennan, "because it typifies what we do. We represent the home and family."
Emmett started Sugar Pine Realty in a small building in Sugar Pine in 1977. The company franchised with Better Homes & Gardens in 1985.
Mark Rappaport, coordinator for the solid waste program, hopes to educate county residents on how to safely recycle their oil and other hazardous household waste.
The Solid Waste Division handles household hazardous waste, general recycling and waste prevention, and oil recycling programs for the county.
Rappaport coordinates household hazardous waste collection each year, which is funded by state grants, and educates the public on waste prevention and general recycling.
There currently are 11 oil recycling locations in Tuolumne County.
"We'll open five more in the next two months," Rappaport said. "They'll be located near recreational water areas and airports."
The future centers will be in Pinecrest, Pine Mountain Lake, Moccasin recreation area, South Tulloch and Columbia Airport.
Current oil recycling locations are at Cal Sierra Recycling, Country Auto Repair, Jim's Automotive Service, Kragen Auto Parts, Sooter's Quick Lube, Groveland Landfill, Zak's Auto Shack, Wayne's Twain Harte Shell, Big O Tire Sonora Express.
Rappaport said the oil recycling program is fully funded by the state. Four cents of every quart of oil bought in California is given to the Integrated Waste Management Board, which in turn awards grants for recycling programs.
All people have to do is take their used oil to one of the recycling centers, and it will be disposed of properly. Oil drained into the ground poisons the soil and eventually contaminates ground water.
Rappaport will have help at the Home and Garden Show from the Regional Council of Rural Counties and Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority, and do-it-yourself used oil recycling accessories will be given away.
Tuolumne County Solid Waste Division
2 S. Green St., Sonora
533-5588