By Laura Dickerson

This column tries to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about recycling, composting and the town's solid waste program.

Q: Do you know anywhere that recycles floppies and cd-rom disks?

A: Beginning with the Nov. 6, CRT and electronics drop-off at the DPW (see information below), you can bring these items also. ElectroniCycle, the facility that recycles our electronics, will forward them on to a place that recycles the discs.

Q: When will curbside yard waste collection start?

A: The week of Oct. 18, on the same day as your regular trash and recycling collection. From the DPW "Place open yard waste containers or biodegradable bags at least 8 feet away from regular trash containers and recycling bins on your regular trash collection day. Approved yard waste is defined as leaves, grass clippings, dead vegetable and flower plants, weeds, pine needles and cones, wood chips, hedge clippings and small cut or broken branches up to 1 inch in diameter."

Yard waste will be collected curbside for 8 weeks, with the final week being that of Dec. 6-10. It can also be dropped off at the Hartwell Avenue composting facility through Dec. 12, from 7:30 am. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, 8 am. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, and 8 am. to 4 p.m. on the November Saturdays. In case of severe weather problems, call the DPW at 781-861-2757 before you go out, as the facility may be closed.

Other things are winding down for the year. October will be the last month in 2004 for Hazardous Household waste days. There will be two collections for hazardous waste (including fluorescent bulbs) at the Hartwell Avenue composting facility, Saturday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 30. The hours are 9 am. to 2 p.m. each time.

The last CRT and electronics drop-off day for the year is Nov. 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DPW site at 201 Bedford St. Remember that a microwave oven is considered an appliance (like a regular oven) and should not be brought to the electronics drop-off. Call Waste Management at 800-6492945 to schedule curbside pickup of appliances.