Environment Days are back in Durham, and Whitby residents are being invited to clear out their basements, closets and junk drawers for a good cause.

The Region of Durham, working with its area municipalities, is once again hosting the drop-off events, where residents can bring items for reuse, recycling and safe disposal, the Region of Durham said in a news release.

What can be dropped off

The program is built around the idea of a circular economy — a model that keeps as much value as possible out of resources by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing or repurposing products before they get recycled or thrown away.

On the reuse side, residents can donate clean, dry and odourless clothing and textiles, shoes, bedding, small household items and sporting goods that are in working condition. The Region cautions that materials refused by charities must be taken back by residents, though those items can be disposed of at one of the Region's waste management facilities, where standard fees may apply.

End-of-life electronics are also accepted. That includes cell phones, audio and video players, VCRs, DVD and Blu-Ray players, stereos, computers, televisions, cameras and radios. Recycling old electronics helps recover valuable resources and keeps toxic materials out of the regular waste stream.

Anyone dropping off devices is reminded to erase personal information from hard drives and SIM cards before bringing them in for secure recycling.

Hazardous waste accepted

Household hazardous waste will also be collected at the events. Acceptable items include antifreeze, batteries, brake fluid, motor oil and filters, fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, cooking oil, medication and mercury thermostats.

Properly managing these items prevents toxic materials from entering local ecosystems and water sources, according to the Region. Commercial, institutional, agricultural and industrial waste will not be accepted.

Bring a food donation

Residents heading to an Environment Days event are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to a local food bank. The Region asks that any boxes and cans be checked to make sure they are not damaged, opened or expired.

A complete list of accepted items, along with dates, locations and tips for preparing to attend a collection event, is available at durham.ca/WasteEvents or through the Durham Region Waste app.

Residents with questions can also call 311 within region limits, or 905-668-7711, for more information.