Politics & Government
New Era in Recycling to Start This Month
The Board of Health has announced the date that weekly recycling starts.
The Swampscott Board of Health announced on Thursday that weekly recycling will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 19 after the Monday holiday.
The exisiting recycling schedule includes pick-up of recycled materials on the week of Feb. 11, so weekly recycling will effectively start that week.
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Paper and mixed materials can be placed curbside each week with regular trash for pick up, said Martha Dansdill, chairwoman of the Board of Health.
“Providing weekly recycling will not only help residents move the recyclable material that accumulates in their garages,” the chairwoman said, “but also it is expected to provide an economic benefit to the town with an uptick in recycling rates.” (Disposal costs for a ton of recyclable material is relatively flat and at times brings in a stipend, compared to the tipping fee of $84 per ton for trash.)
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Weekly recycling will be funded through fiscal year 2013 through savings realized in trash disposal costs, and budget recommendations for fiscal year 2014 will include a continuation of the program.
Residents are reminded to sort paper from mixed material, which includes plastics with nos. 1 through 7, glass and metal cans and to collapse cardboard boxes to reduce their volume, the chairwoman said. Paper with staples, paper clips, and food boxes with cellophane windows such as pasta boxes, are accepted as is.
“Our vision is to continue to review and assess the waste reduction program as time goes on,” said Dansdill, “and we hope to provide a modern program that balances out community needs with economic and environmental benefits.”
Selectmen voted unanimously last month to use savings from the town's waste reduction program to fund weekly recycling.
The town's waste reduction program — a two-barrel limit on trash — has reduced the amount of trash hauled by 20 percent or 1,000 tons, she said.
Meanwhile, local recycling increased by 80 tons; and the recycling rate increased from 17 to 22 percent, she said.
The town contracts with Hiltz Disposal for curbside trash pickup and recycling.
