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TUCSON - The City of Tucson Environmental Services (ES), in partnership with Tucson Clean & Beautiful, Inc., is kicking off the second annual 'Know Where to Throw' waste diversion collection event.

The goal of 'Know Where to Throw' is to increase the community's' awareness about recycling and reuse opportunities available in Tucson beyond the blue barrel.

"The three R's of protecting the planet are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle," said Councilor Regina Romero. "Our residents do a great job on blue barrel recycling, so 'Know Where to Throw' gets information to them about other ways they can reuse and recycle in our community."

This year, ES will hold a community drive to collect recyclable and reusable 'stuff' that is often overlooked. For this drive, ES has identified four items - plastic bags, bicycle tires and tubes, blue jeans and garden hoses - that will be collected from October 3 through November 2.

•Plastic bags will be collected through Bag Central Station, an initiative of the Arizona Food Marketers Association. Plastic Bags will be delivered to local grocers where they ship them to be recycled into new plastic bags or made into composite lumber.

•Jeans will be shipped to Phoenix Fibers in Chandler where they are shredded and made into building insulation or delivered to local thrift shops for recycling.

•Bicycle tires and tubes will be taken to BICAS to be repaired for reuse or made into various other items.

•Garden hoses will be delivered to Habistore and reused as soaker hoses and made into other items.

Nancy Petersen, Environmental Services Deputy Director said, "So many of our residents want to recycle these materials and they can't be put in the blue barrel. We want to help people to learn how they can maximize their recycling by using local resources."

If you would like to help and clear some space at home, bring your items to any City Council Ward Office. The drop-off locations are as follows:

•Ward I Office, 940 W. Alameda St.
•Ward II Office, 7575 E. Speedway Blvd.
•Ward III Office, 1510 E. Grant Rd.
•Ward IV Office, 8123 E. Poinciana
•Ward V Office, 4300 S. Park Ave.
•Ward VI Office, 3202 E. 1st St.

This year, ES will promote the program through its Facebook page, 'Do More Blue Tucson', with frequent updates and information. The recycling drive will kick off the first week of October and continue for one month. The results of the collection drive will be presented to Mayor and Council on November 15th, 'America Recycles Day'.