Feb 15, 2001

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

Q: People say that pay-as-you-throw will cause people to reduce the amount of trash they throw out. How am I supposed to do that?

A: If you are already paying attention to the Town recycling guidelines, then you may not need to do more. But many people are still missing opportunities to reduce their waste. For example:

• Some people throw yard waste into plastic garbage bags and put it out with the trash. They can cut their trash by being more consistent in putting such waste out in the correct bags or open barrels during the yard waste pickup times, and keeping it separated from the trash.
• People can be more consistent in composting leaves and kitchen waste.
• If you are not already composting your vegetable and fruit scraps, consider getting a compost bin. The DPW sells them, as do many gardening stores.
• People can do a better job of recycling corrugated cardboard. Walk down a Lexington street on trash day and note how much corrugated cardboard is left out, rather than being properly cut down and tied to go with the recycling.

• People can be more careful to recycle paper - newspaper, magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes, and notices your child brings home from school. These can be put into brown grocery bags or put in your recycle bin. If your place of business is generating a lot of waste paper or cardboard, get in touch with us (see below) and maybe we can recommend a commercial recycling company that can meet your needs.

People who put commercial waste or waste from other towns into our municipal waste stream will have reduced financial incentive to do so. More of this waste will stay where it belongs rather than being paid for by the Lexington taxpayer.

If you are already following all the recycling and yard waste guidelines, you might decide to cut your trash by being a careful shopper You should be able to find a few things in this list that you can do:

At the grocery store: shop where you can buy the produce items individually, or in the multi-pound plastic sacks, rather than wrapped on trays. Take the plastic bags from your previous shopping trip back and use them again, or buy the re-usable mesh produce bags. Buy cookies or crackers that don't have the plastic trays inside the boxes/bags. Buy one general purpose cleaner rather than many separate bottles. Try to make sure that the bottles of milk or juice or detergent or whatever are #1 or #2 plastic, which can be recycled in Lexington. Buy concentrated detergent. Buy one large rather than two small boxes of anything that won't spoil before you get a chance to use it up. In general, try not to buy single serving packages. If your kids take crackers or cookies to school for snack, buy a couple of tupperware boxes and refill them each day, rather than buying the little snack packs.

When you are offered a disposable product, check to see if a reusable equivalent is available.

Consider doing some of your grocery shopping at stores with bulk bins, and re-use your bags if possible. (warning - an old bread bag should be checked for leaks before filling it with flour or small grains)

At the drug store: buy your lip balm from the bins rather than the blister packs that hang on hooks. Get toothbrushes in paperboard boxes rather than plastic. Choose a brand of shampoo or other product that you like, and buy it in a large size. Remember to check for #1 or #2 plastic containers when you buy vitamins or analgesics, and wash and recycle the bottles when you're done.

At the hardware store: shop at a store with tools and parts in bins, rather than in blister packs.

Buy some goods at yard sales or thrift shops, so you won't have to deal with any packaging at all. Items you buy in this way are items that do not appear in someone else's trash.

Talk to store managers about reducing the packaging of the products they sell. Write or call manufacturers with the same message. Vote with your wallet, and let the companies know that you are doing so.

Q: It's my impression that the recycling truck workers are arbitrary about what they pick up. I spoke to someone who just puts out a whole bin of loose office paper and it is picked up, but when I tried it they left it behind. You said that any open top container will substitute for a recycle bin, but I tried a plastic carry-all and the truck workers didn't take it. What can we do to make the pick-up more predictable?

A: The DPW asks that you not place loose papers in the bin, but rather put them into brown grocery bags. An open top container that might in some way be mistaken for a waste basket might not get picked up. If your bin is out before the specified time, including the correct recyclables, and still gets missed, you can call the DPW at 862-1618, or Waste Management at 933-2113, or the town office building at 862-0500 ext. 252 and ask for pickup.

The DPW has promised to discuss the problems with Waste Management. Possibilities might be to come up with clearer guidelines, or have more training for the truck workers.

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