This is your last chance to enter the “Secret Places and Helpful Hints” recycling contest. Submit your recycling tips or those little-known places where you take your recyclables by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, 2010, to Stacie Johnson, education coordinator for the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency. Send your ideas to: SJohnson@solidwasteagency.org or give her a call at: (319) 377-5290 ext. 101.

Stacie will choose one person to win a $50 gift certificate from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Hiawatha.

      She is looking for those “secret” recycling locations in this area as she updates the Home & Business Recycling Companion.  Stacie hopes to find recycling sites that aren’t mentioned in the companion, especially those well-kept, not-supposed-to-be secrets  - maybe a school that collects used cell phones or a business that accepts unwanted computers. How about styrofoam?

    Stacie offered her own example of a recycling hint for peanut butter jars on this post: http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/24/win-with-recycling-in-new-contest-secret-places-and-helpful-hints

    I’ve got my own re-use tip that I use every year for gardening. Now is a good time to collect empty plastic milk jugs. Cut off the bottoms and use the containers as covers for tomatoes, peppers or other seedlings after transplanting  in May. The containers seem to help retain warmth when temps drop low at night. Additionally, they keep critters away from the tender seedlings until they’ve had time to mature. Make sure to remove the containers when temperatures really get warmer.     

    If you have a tip or “secret” place to submit, include your idea, name and contact information in the e-mail to Stacie and write: Recycling Contest in the subject line. E-mail is best, or give her a call at the number listed above. Leave your name and number if she’s not in.