I found this info for people in and around the Olympia Area.The best part of this is they come to you! There is a self haul option, twice yearly and can be found here.

Spring Recycle Days, April 22 - 25, 2008.

There are some rules!

What We Can’t Take: We will not take these items as part of Spring Recycle Days:

I recently read a series of emails concerning pollution and waste relating to idling cars and trucks. A vehicle that is stopped and waiting in line at a fast food restaurant drive through, or at a traffic signal, continues to emit exhaust even though the engine is not working to move the vehicle.

We have problems with pollution (in re: global warming) and gas consumption (in re: foreign wars of aggression over oil resources.)

Recently I returned from a jog; my route had taken me through downtown Olympia. When I got home I realized that I smelled like automobile exhaust. I was kind of grossed out. I also depend on my bicycle for much of my transportation needs. I don't like breathing automobile exhaust while I am out, and I don't like smelling like it after being out. Reducing the amount of exhaust in the air seems like a good idea to me.

Anyway, I was reading this discussion. Former mayor Bob Jacobs had once proposed to turn the city stop lights to blinking yellow status during off hours. I have noticed that the Adams Street and 4th Avenue stop light seems to be passively blinking yellow all the time recently.

Does changing the traffic signals to a passive blinking status during non-rush hours make sense to you?

I was driving to a friends house tonight I noticed a lot of Christmas lights up. This is great, it give Olympia a warm feeling. However, when I was driving back home late tonight I saw most of the lights were still on, this includes the lights downtown. I am a fan of Christmas but this is a waste.

OK so you have the LED lights GREAT, but why not take it a step further and put them on a timer. Have them turn on at 5:00 and turn off at say 11:00. It is just a waste of energy to leave them running. One set of lights might not make that huge of a difference but if everyone did this they would save a huge amount of resources and money. You would hardly notice the change, your in bed anyways.

Lets step up and be the city that actually makes a difference.

P.S. if anyone else has ideas for energy efficient holidays post them here.