Let's Talk Trash column, edited by Laura Dickerson
June 21, 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: What do I do with empty ink cartridges from my ink jet printer?

Q: We work during the day, so we have a hard time dropping off our yard waste at the composting facility on Hartwell Avenue by the 3 p.m. closing time. Can't the DPW extend the hours?

A: This is an edited version of the answer from Brian Gilbert, the DPW's manager of operations: "At present the site is used for numerous operations: yard waste disposal, hazardous materials disposal, equipment storage, the Police Firing Range, production and screening of bulk landscape/construction earth materials. It is staffed by DPW employees and must continue (to be), in order to insure policies and security of the site are maintained. These employees' daily hours are under contractual agreement. They open the compost facility at 7:30, and close down at 3 p.m. Any additional hours would be paid on overtime.

I can understand the inconvenience for some, given the weekly hours of operation, which is the reason to have the facility open on Sundays from mid April to mid December. Also, to accommodate a greater need during the fall, the facility is open all Saturdays in November. At the present time I don't anticipate an expanded schedule unless additional funding can be appropriated for the overtime expense."

The current hours for yard waste drop-off at Hartwell Avenue are: Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Q: Since PAYT is starting soon, should I be cleaning out my basement, attic, and garage to throw away everything now, before the paid tag system starts?

A: There is currently no charge for bulky items and white goods (like large appliances) and there still will be no charge after PAYT starts on July 2. Therefore, massive clean-outs are not necessary. Please remember that Goodwill trucks (at Stop & Shop in Lexington, and at the Demoulas shopping Center on Middlesex Turnpike in Burlington) take clothes, toys, small household items, books, and still-working computer and other electronic equipment. Recycling will be expanded and in some ways made a little easier. For example, beginning in July there will be a place at the Hartwell Avenue site to drop off flattened corrugated cardboard, with no need to cut it down.

Fluorescent tubes must be dropped off at the Household hazardous waste collections due to their mercury content. This is not a change. The next date is July 21.