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

Q: It's clear how to recycle containers, but how about lids? Can the metal lids go into the bin? Plastic lids if they have the recycle number on them? Should we put them in separately or on the container?

A: You can put metal jar lids into the bin as long as they are 100 percent metal - the metal ones with rubber linings to make the seal tighter should be put into the trash. If you use containers of frozen condensed juice, the metal ends can also go into the bin as long as no cardboard or plastic adheres to them. Plastic lids are OK if they have the recycling number on them - if there is no number, put them into the trash. Containers should be separate from the lids in the bin. Remember that all containers (and lids) should be cleaned before recycling.

Q. What do I do with lithium camera batteries?

A: Take them to Theatre Camera or to the Household Hazardous Waste collection. Alkaline batteries made since the early 1990s are OK to put in the regular trash, but not lithium batteries, button batteries, NiCads or some others. If you have button batteries (such as those in hearing aids and many other items), you can dispose of them in the small collection boxes around town. There is a box at the reference desk in the library and another in Town Hall, for example.

Q My Christmas tree is starting to emerge from the snow bank. Can I just leave it there to be picked up when curbside yard waste collection starts in April?

A: If you leave it there, it won't be picked up. During the one Christmas tree pickup week in January there was a specific truck just for the trees, but the regular yard waste truck won't pick it up. You can still take it to 201 Bedford St. and drop it off at the designated area. Residents can also bring their trees to Hartwell Avenue on Mondays and Fri- days from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you want it picked up curbside, you'll need to cut it up. Branches under 1-inch in diameter can go into biodegradable yard waste bags or open barrels as long as they don't stick out the top, and will be collected as yard waste. For the larger part of the trunk, cut it into lengths no longer than 3 feet, tie the lengths into bundles weighing less than 75 pounds and put the bundle(s) out with your trash. This is true of any tree or large bush that you have pruned or removed.