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

"If garbage is a solid-waste stream, Christmas is a tidal wave. It is undoubtedly the single largest discard event of the year."      - Betsy Taylor (Betsy Taylor is the Chair of the Center for a New American Dream's Board of Directors and the Executive Director of the Merck Family Fund.)

Here are some suggestions for having a good holiday without generating so much trash.  Try to buy things to start with that have minimal packaging.  If you plan to mail parcels, try to buy presents that can be safely shipped without much added padding or huge amounts of tape.

Reuse wrapping paper, or use newspaper comics, children's school artwork etc. If you buy new wrapping paper, try to get that with recycled content, and make sure it is paper.  If it gets too torn to save and use again, it can be recycled if it is not foil, plastic, or mylar. The decorative bags that are available can be used many times – store them after the presents are exchanged and use them again next year.  Several women in Winchester who share an office decided to buy pieces of pretty fabrics and wrap gifts with them instead of regular wrapping paper. They will save the cloth and do an exchange so everyone has different patterns next year.

Two feet of ribbon per household in the US equals over 30,000 miles, which could circle the planet and have enough ribbon left over to make a very large bow.

Q: Do we know the rate of participation in our Town's recycling program?

A:  No study has been conducted for Lexington, but we probably have a recycling rate similar to other communities with curbside recycling programs.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recently conducted a statewide survey that found that 55 per cent of Massachusetts residents say that they "always recycle" and 72% say they recycle occasionally. The material recycled most often was newspapers, with 82 per cent of residents statewide participating.  In towns with pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) programs, the recycling rate was noticeably higher (94% for newspapers versus 82% in non-PAYT towns,  86% for glass versus 72% in non-PAYT towns).  When the non-recyclers were asked why they did not recycle, common reasons given was that it was inconvenient, they didn't have the time, their town didn't have a good program, or they just forgot.
Reference: Massachusetts DEP Recycling Participation Study, June 2000

Q: Can we put the paper egg cartons out to be recycled?

A: No, unfortunately any type of egg carton must be put into the trash.

 Q: I think Lexington's recycling rate would be much higher if it were easy to recycle corrugated cardboard.  On the last trash day on my street I noticed that eleven empty boxes had been put out with the trash.  Carefully making the cardboard into 30 inch pieces is too hard.  What can be done to make it easier?

A: There are ongoing discussions within the DPW about setting up a drop-off site for cardboard.  Waltham has one, but has had problems keeping it open on weekends.  If a site is set up in Lexington, it will probably be at the 201 Bedford Street facility.  One suggestion was to have a cardboard-only dumpster at each school, but the worry (in addition to the added cost) is that an unattended dumpster might end up with regular garbage mixed in, soiling the cardboard and making it unrecyclable.  Please keep cutting it down to no more than 30" on a side, and tying the bundles up with twine if you have a lot.

Q: I missed the drop-off day for CRTs.  What should I do with my computer monitor?

A: If it is in working condition, donate it to Goodwill (the collection truck behind the Walgreen's is open daily).  If it is broken, hang on to it until the DPW sets up a collection area.  It is illegal in Massachusetts to put a CRT (including TVs) in the trash.

Q: Which kind of batteries can we put in the trash?

A:  Alkaline batteries made since the mid 1990s do not have mercury and can be put into the regular trash.  For lithium, NiCad, or any sort of button batteries, use the hazardous battery collection barrel at Theatre Camera.
 

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