Safely dispose of the old equipment and household items cluttering your basement or garage at the annual fall recycling event from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Mercer Island Boat Launch (3600 E. Mercer Way).

This year, instead of rain barrels, residents can pick up a free counter-top food scraps container (gallon size) to use with your curbside yard/food waste service. You can also bring non-perishable food items or cash donation to the event and support the city’s Food Pantry.

You can bring: alkaline, rechargeable, and cellphone batteries; appliances/scrap metal ($5 for water heaters); cardboard (please flatten); confidential document shredding (limit five file-size boxes per participant); electronic/computer equipment (DVD players, VCRs, stereo equipment, printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, cellular phones and computer peripherals such as keyboards and mice); household goods and clothing (items in good condition only); lead acid batteries; mattresses, clean only ($10/mattress/box spring/futon cash only); motor oil, filters and antifreeze; porcelain toilets and sinks ($10 cash only); propane tanks, 5-gallon size ($5 cash only); refrigerators/freezers/air conditioners ($15 cash only); styrofoam blocks and packing peanuts in bags (must be clean and dry); tires (limit 10 tires per household; fee for oversize, or on-rim); and clean scrap wood, not treated or painted (milled lumber, plywood and pallets).

Do not bring: computer monitors and televisions; construction/demolition debris; garbage; furniture; plastics; plastic toys, hoses, etc.; window glass; cleaning products; fluorescent lights; household chemicals; paint; pesticides/herbicides; oil based paint/solvents; and solvents and thinners.

There are new rules for latex paint. Latex paint is no longer considered hazardous waste and the household hazardous waste facilities in King County (the Wastemobile and Factoria) no longer accept it. Residents who cannot use up latex paint, please dry it out and put it in the garbage with the lid off. Visit the King County website for more information on how to dry out latex paint.

Mercer Island recycling events happen twice per year and are provided for the convenience of Mercer Island citizens as a service of the city of Mercer Island. For more information, call 206-275-7608.