Let's Talk Trash column, edited by Laura Dickerson
October 11, 2001

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

    Q: I missed the mercury thermometer drop-off on Discovery Day. How can I turn in my thermometer?
    A: The Health Department office in the Town Office building will take them. Call first at 781-862-0500 ext. 200. You can bring it to the Household Hazardous waste drop-off at Hartwell Avenue on Saturday (Oct. 20) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Other items with mercury (such as fluorescent bulbs, blood pressure cuffs, old thermostats) can also be turned in at that collection.

    Q. I have an old Cot fire extinguisher that I'd like to throw away. Can I safely do it?
    A: The problem with a tank under pressure (a fire extinguisher, one of the party size helium tanks, etc.) is that it can in essence turn into a bomb if the gauge gets knocked around in the disposal process. The safest thing would be to take it to a fire extinguisher place and have it inspected. They could re-fill it for you, or safely remove the gauge before you put it into the trash. Try Keane Fire and Safety Equipment in Waltham at 781-899-6565 or Alert Fire Equipment in Malden at 781-324-0634.

    Q. Someone told me about composting indoors using worms. How does this work?
    A: You need a container large enough to hold a week's worth of your fruit and vegetable scraps plus a large quantity of redworms. You can make this yourself or invest in a commercially available container. The worms eat the food and leave behind castings that are usable as compost in your houseplants or garden. For more details see the Web site http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormcomp6l.html, or the book "Worms Eat My Garbage" by Mary Appelhof, which is available at the Cary Library.
    Remember that these are living creatures and if you leave for a long vacation you'll need to have someone give them food.

    Q: The curbside yard waste pickup continues through the first week of December, and the composting facility on Hartwell Avenue closes down soon after that - what do we do with yard waste until the spring collections start?
    A: The three months without any yard waste collection or dropoff are the ones in which most people don't do much yard work anyway. If you do, you could start composting. If you have space to let leaf piles sit, they will compost on their own, or bins can be purchased through the town. Call 781-8612757 for information. There will be a curbside pickup for Christmas trees during the week of Jan. 7-11, 2002.

    Q. Can we put plastic lids from yogurt containers into the recycle bin? They have a number on them.
    A: No. Unfortunately, the rule is containers, and the town pickup does not include separate plastic lids.

REMINDER: The fall CRT (TV and computer monitor) collection will be Saturday Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Works Facility, 201 Bedford St. Follow the sign to the trailer at the back of the DPW building.

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, the PAYT home page at http://ci.lexington.ma.us (click on the PAYT quicklink) or call the PAYT number: 781-274-7298.