NO COST-This Sunday will be the second and final free day of the year at the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. On that day, Simi residents and nonprofits can drop off rubbish and recycling from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. without being charged. On 363 days out of the year, a trip to dispose of unwanted materials at the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center also requires a cash deposit.

But not this Sunday.

On Oct. 15, the city of Simi Valley will host its second and final "free day" of 2006 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for all residents and nonprofits looking to dispose of residential rubbish and/or recyclables without paying a fee. This includes residents in unincorporated areas of the city.

"There is a landfill operating agreement between the county of Ventura and Waste Management, and as a result of that, residents in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Moorpark have opportunities for these free solid-waste disposal days," said Jan Orsini, deputy director of compliance for the city. The other free disposal day for Simi residents occurred in May.

In addition to plastic, paper, aluminum and tin goods, appliances, clean concrete and asphalt and clean wood and green-waste will be accepted for recycling. Residents are requested to separate recyclable materials from trash.

The California Highway Patrol also requires that all loads be covered to prevent spillage.

Make sure to bring along proof of Simi Valley residency, such as a driver's license with a Simi address or a utility bill, and keep in mind that residents must unload their own vehicles. Because of the high volume of cars the event generates, don't plan on getting in and out within a matter of minutes.

"Last October, we had 1,200 vehicles, and for a six-hour period, that's a pretty constant flow," said Scott Tignac, general manager of the landfill. "There will be some waiting involved."

The best time to show up, Tignac said, is sometime around 11 a.m., after the initial morning rush. According to the general manager, some residents show up as early as 7 a.m. for the 10 a.m. opening.

No commercial waste, hazardous waste, liquids, tires, TVs, household batteries, computer monitors, electronic waste, products containing mercury or fluorescent light bulbs will be accepted.

To find out more about what can be dumped or recycled and what it costs, please visit w w w. g i r u b b i s h . c o m / simivalleylandfill.html or www. keepingventuracountyclean.com.

In order to avoid paying commercial dump fees and to expedite the process, residents using a commercial vehicle to transport their trash on the free day should call the landfill at (805) 579-7267 prior to the event for more information.

The Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center at 2801 N. Madera Road is open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.