April 26, 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. I'm confused by the PAYT information. We have one bag of trash a week but we put it out in a barrel because birds pick the bag open. Will we need a barrel sticker or two tags?

A: You will need only one tag placed around the neck of your bag. You can then place the bag in an unlabeled barrel for pick-up. If you add more trash (whether bagged or unbagged) to the same unlabeled barrel you will need to make sure that two tags are visible when the collector opens the lid. Before the PAYT program begins, the town plans to send out two more mailings with complete instructions. If you still have questions after receiving these mailings, you will be able to call a special help line.

Q Alkaline batteries aren't made with mercury any more, but rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries are still hazardous. Would it be better to use the alkalines instead of rechargeables?

A: If you already have the NiCads and a recharger, by all means keep using them. It is only at disposal time that they are a problem, and keeping stuff out of the waste stream is always a good thing. If you are thinking of investing in a rechargeable system, try to find the alkaline rechargers. These use a type of alkaline batteries that can be recharged many times and then safely thrown away when they no longer hold a charge.

Q. I have a refrigerator in my basement. I know the town will take it away as trash but how do I get it to the curb?

A: Large appliances such as a fridge are considered white goods and while they will be removed for free, you must call Waste Management in advance (781) 9332113 to arrange for pick up. Moving companies can get it from your basement to the curb but the cost would be high. Possibly other readers could recommend a service, and we'll pass along the information.

Q. I have a gas powered lawn mower that no longer works. I'd like to get rid of it. What do I do?

A: Drain out fluids and dispose of them properly. Put the lawnmower with your trash - the regular truck will pick it up.

Q: I am cleaning up the sand from next to the street and, the first foot into the street along my property. I assume that there is salt in it as it is the result of the street sanding during the snowstorms. What can I do with it? I don't want to dump it in my yard and contaminate the yard.

A: You can rake or sweep it into the street and let the street sweeper deal with it. If you have gathered it up you can take it to the yard waste facility on Hartwell Ave. To help soil that has been salted, spread gypsum powder (available at garden stores) in a spreader over the affected area.

REMINDERS: The first Household Hazardous waste collection day is April 28, on Hartwell Avenue. The spring yard waste curbside pickups are the weeks of April 23, April 30, and May 14.

Got a question or a suggestion? You can reach us by calling the League of Women Voters line at (781) 861-0123 or by e-mail at lexrecycles@hotmail.com. For more information, check out the SWAT Web page at http://www.lexingtonma.org/swat/HomePage.htm