COLUMBIA COUNTY, Got an old mattress in the garage? The county will take it for free on Saturday, Nov. 14. Also this month: a blood drive at the county building, and green lights on county buildings for Veterans Day.
Free Mattress Recycling Nov. 14
Columbia County residents can drop off up to five mattresses or box springs, no charge, at the Columbia County Transfer Station, 1601 Railroad Ave. in St. Helens, from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 14, according to a county release. The transfer station normally charges a fee for mattresses. The event is run with Bye Bye Mattress, a program of the Mattress Recycling Council, the nonprofit the bedding industry set up to run recycling programs in states with mattress recycling laws. It recycles nearly 2 million mattresses a year, per the release.
Accepted: innerspring, foam, fiber, and other upholstered mattresses, and box springs. Not accepted: air mattresses, mattress pads and toppers, bed frames, blankets, pillows, cushions, crib mattresses, sofa and futon beds, and water beds. The county asks that loads be tied down for the drive.
Can’t make it that day? Other Oregon drop-off sites are listed at ByeByeMattress.com.
Blood Drive Nov. 5
County employees are hosting an American Red Cross blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the John Gumm Building, 251 St. Helens St. in St. Helens, according to a county release. Appointments are at redcrossblood.org with the sponsor code ColumbiaCountyOR, or by email to eventscommittee@columbiacountyor.gov.
“This blood drive is our way of giving staff, colleagues, and neighbors an opportunity to help save lives,” said Jacyn Normine, the board office administrator, in the release. The Red Cross says donors of every type are needed, especially O negative, A negative, and B negative.
Green Lights for Veterans, Nov. 4 to 11
County buildings will be lit green from Nov. 4 through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, as part of Operation Green Light, a National Association of Counties campaign now in its sixth year, according to a county release. Residents and businesses are invited to join by swapping one bulb for a green one.
“As an Army Veteran who is married to an Army Veteran, residing in Columbia County, when I see county buildings lit up with green lights, it brings me joy to see that we matter,” said Ashley Taylor, a county resident and veteran, in the release. Erin Nolan, the county’s veterans service officer, said Community Action Team is lighting its properties green too.