Trash Talk
By Laura Dickerson, editor, Lexington Solid Waste Action Team
This biweekly column tries to answer some o f the most commonly asked questions about recycling, composting and the town's solid waste program.
Q: I noticed that there were recycle boxes near the trash boxes in Lexington Center Patriots Day. Did many people use them?
A: According to the DPW, several hundred bottles and cans were collected for recycling, and relatively few people mistakenly put trash into the recycle boxes. This is very encouraging for the upcoming recycling project at public places in Lexington. The DPW has been working with the recreation department to get container recycling going at Lincoln Fields, the skate park, and the town pool. Special sturdy receptacles are being ordered and the program should start within a month. The drink containers the town especially hopes to collect are water bottles (made from #1 PETE plastic, one of the most recyclable types), and aluminum cans. When aluminum is recycled, huge amounts of energy are saved compared to making it from virgin materials.
People at Lexington High School have already been getting practice recycling drink containers in a town-owned location - there are receptacles in the eating areas at the school.
Q: Can you give tips on recycling for lazy people?
A: Recycling is easy, or can be made to be. Most households in Lexington now have at least two recycling bins. One simple way to use these is to have one bin for paper and the other bin for recyclable containers. Many people also have an office sized bin (shaped like a small trash can) near a desk, printer, photocopy machine or wherever mail is sorted. You can buy such a receptacle at Staples or other office supply stores or use a brown paper bag. These small bins can go out to the curb with your larger bins, and the paper bag can be in the bin or leaning against it.
Most junk mail should be recycled, including envelopes with windows, catalogues, and phone books. Don't forget to recycle the paper that kids bring home from school, as well. Remove paper clips, but staples can remain. Much of the paper bin in a typical home is filled with newspapers. One suggestion is that when the new newspaper arrives, immediately dump the previous day's paper into the bin. This keeps papers from piling up around the house. Flatten cracker boxes and the like (remove the plastic liners) and put them directly in with the paper in the bin.
To recycle plastic or glass containers they need to be cleaned first. Many people who have dishwashers put the containers in the top shelf instead of rinsing them out by hand. If you have space to keep a bin near the kitchen, it's easy to put the containers into the container bin right out of the dish washer or sink. Remember that plastic bags should not be in either bin.
For people who don't want to wait for the occasional CRT and electronics collection days or find it inconvenient, there is a company that will come to your home for a fee and collect them. The goods ultimately end up at Electronicycle, the same place that recycles the town's electronics. Ewaste Solutions 781-862-5558, ewastesolutions.com/ewaste.res.html. Ewaste also offers a similar service for businesses.
Got a question or a suggestion? You can reach us by calling the League of Wnmen Voters line at 7R 1-R61-012.3 or by e-mail at lexrecycles@hotmail.com/ For more information, check out the SWAT website at www.lexingtonma.org/swat/HomePage.htm, the town's web site ci.lexington.ma.us (click on the Solid Waste quicklink) or call 781-274-7298.