Let's Talk Trash, edited by Laura Dickerson
November 16, 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.

Q: The biggest component of my garbage is used kitty litter. Is there something I can do with it besides putting it out in the trash?

A: Probably one thing you should not do is to compost it. "Compost this Book" says specifically not to put the fecal matter into the compost. Pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised are at risk from the disease toxoplasmosis through contact with cat feces.

At the other end of the cycle, there are some litter products made of recycled paper, available at the Lexington Stop & Shop: Cat's Pride Scoop & Flush, and available online at http://www.greenchoice.com/litter.html, or
http://www.yesterdaysnews.com/products/catlitter.htm.
The first two claim that the litter can be flushed down the toilet rather than disposed of in the trash.

Q: I like the tic-tac mints but I end up with lots of little plastic boxes. What can I do with them?

A: From the Reduce Garbage, Eliminate Landfills web site:
Fill with aspirin or decongestants and keep in your purse or travel bag.
Fill with salt or pepper and take camping.
Fill with sugar or creamer and take with you in the car when bringing a thermos of coffee for long road trips.
Buy spices in bulk and store them in the little plastic containers.

Also, as with many items that come in tiny packages, you could try to convince the manufacturer that larger containers would be a good thing. In most cases, one large container uses less plastic than several small ones combined.
You could try to find a kind of mints in a less wasteful package.

Reminder: newspapers in your recycle bin should be in brown grocery bags, not plastic bags.

The Massachusetts Medical Society recently issued a statement indicating their concern about the effects of mercury. They urged the medical community to find alternatives for the many instruments that contain mercury and they expanded their remarks to include many of the toxics in the solid waste stream in general, not just mercury, and not just in the medical field.

The movement to ban mercury thermometers continues with the ordinance that is under consideration in Boston. Local to Lexington, there will be a day scheduled next year on which people can turn in mercury thermometers in exchange for digital ones (free). One date under consideration is Discovery Day. In the mean time, mercury thermometers (and other items with mercury, such as fluorescent light bulbs, or thermostats) can be dropped off at the Household Hazardous waste collection on Saturday November 18th. This will be the last chance of the fall.

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