The city offers a drop off recycling center for residents at Parks Headquarters, 11921 Hardy (behind the Fire Station and Time Warner Cable on 119th Street).

The drop off center at 80th and Metcalf closed Dec. 31, 2008. Overland Park is talking with other northeast Johnson County cities about a joint drop off facility to replace it.

The drop off center accepts:

• Papers ~ Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper (staples, paper clips Ok), catalogs and phone book

Bag newspapers in paper grocery sacks - no plastic bags! Magazines and catalogs are recycled together; Phone books are recycled with paperboard boxes.

• Boxes ~ Corrugated cardboard (heavier boxes with wavy middle), paperboard (cereal and household product boxes), and carrier stock (soft drink, beer boxes).

Remove all merchandise, bags and packaging and flatten boxes. Corrugated boxes are recycled by themselves, paperboard and carrier stock are recycled together.

• Plastics ~ #1-7 containers only. No bags, film plastic, toys or un-coded containers are accepted. Labels are Ok, please remove caps and lids from plastic containers.

• Metals ~ Aluminum and steel food and beverage containers. Flatten, if possible. Metal cans are recycled with plastic bottles.

• Glass ~ Food and drink container glass only. No light bulbs, vases, bowls, glassware or window glass. Labels are Ok, but please remove caps and lids.

Glass must be separated by color: brown, green and clear.

• Clothing ~ Clean clothing, coats and shoes in good condition.

Place clothes in a plastic bag. No boxes.

• Scrap metal ~ Ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Acceptable materials examples: Chain link fence, metal shelving, steel poles, sheet metal, aluminum window frames, bike frames, wire, springs, and automotive parts.

Non-acceptable materials examples: Appliances, batteries, gas tanks, spray cans, tanks of any kind, fluorescent light ballasts and water heaters.

• Compact fluorescent light bulbs and rechargeable batteries - Please ask staff at the center to help you recycle these items. No fluorescent tubes or dry or wet cell batteries, please.
  
  
• Other

To volunteer at the center, call 913/895-6273 or e-mail health@opkansas.org.