With temperatures approaching 60 degrees this weekend, you may be ready to tackle a big job, like cleaning out the garage or the shed.

Yes, I know, I’d rather sit on the deck in the sun with a cold drink in my hand, too, but the overflow of junk in the garage is making it hard to pull in the minivan.  It’s time to get rid of some stuff.

Rather than grabbing a trash bag, and in turn filling up landfills, there are places waiting to take my Lodge Brown oil-based deck stain, the leftover lawn mower gasoline, and the broken fold-up travel chair with its bag in a coordinating color.

Enter Montgomery County Recycles. Their electronics and hazardous materials program offers monthly drop-offs from April through October (none in July) from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.:

• Saturday, April 16—Upper Perkiomen High School
• Saturday, May 14—Upper Merion High School
• Saturday, June 25—Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell
• Saturday, Aug. 20—Spring-Ford High School
• Saturday, Sept. 24 —Temple, Ambler Campus
• Saturday, Oct. 22—Lower Merion Public Works

If you’ve got old tires to throw out, there are two dates and locations that will accept up to four tires each:

• April 30— The Montgomery County Building in Norristown
• Sept. 10—Montgomery Mall in Montgomeryville

The hazardous waste collection sites will accept items such as oil-based paints, swimming pool chemicals, antifreeze, gasoline, rug cleaners and other household cleaning products. The sites will also take cameras, fax machines, printers and TVs smaller than 30 inches.

The sites don’t take everything. Latex paint is not considered hazardous. Open the can, throw in some kitty litter to absorb the leftover paint, and then throw it out with your regular trash. Batteries made after 1996 are also not hazardous and may be thrown out with your trash.

Call the Montgomery County Recycling Hotlink at 610-278-3618 if you have additional questions about acceptable materials.

Nonhazardous materials may be taken to Recycle Services, Inc. (RSI)  in Pottstown.  The nonprofit recycling and energy center is celebrating its 40^th year this April. The center is open Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. After March 16, RSI will be open Tuesdays as well from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

There is a gate fee of $8 per vehicle, so load up the car with all your paper, glass, plastics, metal, clean fabric, eyeglasses, fishing line and more. While the center does accept tires and larger electronics, there may be an additional fee.

RSI is a great place to visit with the kids. It is bustling with activity and an eye-opener to those who have never seen a recycling center in operation. RSI also sells items, some that are made with recycled materials. You may be able to pick up a rug, some patio furniture or a bicycle. You know the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

Looking to recycle some less common things, like your hair or rainwater? Earth 911 has all the answers. Enter the item you want to recycle and your zip code to find a place that will take your items. The site also offers a very cool three-minute video of a recycling center in Arizona that processes 24 tons of materials every hour!

So grab your old paint cans, your pesticides, your used motor oil, your hair and some rainwater, and take it for a ride.

Then come home, sit on the deck and enjoy the sunshine—and your clean garage.