Let's Talk Trash, edited by Laura Dickerson
November 2, 2000 Column from the Lexington Minuteman

This biweekly column tries to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about recycling, composting and the Town's solid waste program, and to announce related events.

Q: I have a nearly full propane tank with a broken valve. How can I get rid of it safely?

A: Take it to the Household Hazardous waste drop off on Hartwell Avenue. The next date is November 18th.

Q: I have a friend who refuses to recycle because he says recycling uses more energy than making new objects from scratch. What can I tell him?

Percent reduction in energy use over virgin manufacturing:

Additional benefits, using paper as an example:
- Reduces solid waste by 49%.
- Reduces energy consumption by 43%.
- Reduces air pollution by 90 percent.
- Reduces water pollution by 30-100%.
- Reduces greenhouse gasses by 70%.
- Increases local employment due to
   Greater local content
   Greater labor/capital ratio

On October 21st, the town held a collection for CRTs and other electronic equipment. A summary of what was collected in a period of five hours, from 184 participants:

Console TVs - 25
Portable TVs - 134
Computer Monitors - 114 (including laptops)
CPUs, peripherals - 72
Misc. electronics including stereo equipment- 69 pieces

According to one of the workers from the electronics recycling company that hauled all this away, the CRTs are disassembled and the leaded glass sent to a factory to be remade into new CRTs. The electronics parts are torn apart and the printed circuit boards are sent back to a foundry for recovery of metals. Plastic parts are sorted and sent for recycling.

John Andrews, co-chair of the Lexington Solid Waste Action Team, expressed thanks to all Lexington citizens who brought in their electronics. He noted that "In the past, most of these items would have been sent to the incinerator and thus increased its total pollution output. Now the lead in the CRT glass is being made into new products rather than being released into the environment. We're getting smarter about how we handle our trash."

Remember that if you want to give away working portable TVs or computers (including the monitors), Goodwill will take them.

Remember that you cannot put out CRTs in the trash, so if something breaks soon, you must keep it until the spring collection.

In honor of National Recycling Day on November 15th, the Mass Recycles organization is sponsoring a poster contest for children. The drawing should be on an 81/2x11 piece of paper, using crayons, pastels, colored pencils, markers, watercolor paints, charcoal, or pen. Send student's name, grade, school, school address, and school phone. Must be received NO LATER than November 15:

Poster & Calendar Contest
Mass Recycle
59 Temple Place, Suite 602
Boston, MA 02111

Got a question or a suggestion? You can reach us by calling the League of Women Voters line at 861-0123 or by email at lexrecycles@hotmail.com. 

For more information, check out the SWAT web page at
http://www.lexingtonma.org/swat/HomePage.htm