Summer is here and...rainy! Take advantage of the down time and clean out a closet, garage or basement.
The Reuse and Recycling Center at 33 Ryder Street is here for your recycling and reusing needs!
We are keeping this an appointment-only activity because we don't have administrative staff at this location during any kind of regular hours. Fortunately, we make appointment slots for times of the week that work for most people: early morning, middle of the day, and late afternoon/early evening. If none of those work for you, we have one weekend day a month as well, and in September that day will be a Sunday. Check out the Reuse and Recycling Center page for dates and details.
We know you work hard to recycle as mush as possible, but some things just need to go in the trash- there's no other local option. Here are some updates about beyond the bin recycling, donating, reuse activities and trash.
What's the difference between weekday and weekend appointments? The differences are A) weekends have extra help for taking heavy TVs out of you car, and B) we do not accept any plastics during the week, so no packing foam, soft plastic bags/film materials, and no bulky rigid plastics. We just don't have the volunteer forces during the week to help with these materials, it takes a lot of time and effort.
Electronic waste is a popular material to drop off. TVs and monitors are the only electronic waste that's required to be brought to us, everything else is optional, but we appreciate having it. Computer towers and laptops are good to bring because we use an e-steward certified recycler Complete Recycling Solutions, and they assure that the data on what you bring in is responsibly handled. It's still important to remove personal data as much as possible, so check on you tube for ideas about how to remove hard drives and sim cards.
The most desirable electronic waste from an environmental perspective the kind of devises that have a lot to reclaim and reuse, such as stereo equipment, phones, and computer equipment. These devises have a lot of metal, as well as circuit boards that can be repurposed, preventing new raw materials from being taken from the earth. The less desirable ewaste (but still acceptable) are small appliances such as blenders, toaster ovens, irons and food processors. Items that are mostly plastic are least desirable, such as coffee makers, and dirty plastic items are not accepted, such as house fans, vacuum cleaners and humidifiers. Also not accepted are items that are considered large appliances, such a fridges (all sizes), dehumidifiers and air conditioners. Large appliances are picked up at the curb after paying a $20 fee, contact JRM to make the arrangements: customerservice@jrmhauling.com
Reuse Opportunities
We collect clothing, shoes and textiles in our two collection bins, on for Bay State Textiles and the other for a great local nonprofit serving homelessness prevention, Second Chances. We have these bins at both 33 Ryder Street by appointment, but also (for the time being) at 51 Grove Street available 24/7.
Books can be dropped off for More Than Words, located in Waltham. If you have multiple bags of boxes of books we would appreciate it if you would bring them to Waltham yourself (check out their donation hours online first), as our bin at 51 Grove Street fills up really fast. Books and textiles left outside of (already full) donation bins are thrown away, so please don't leave them there.
Does a swap shed sound interesting to you? We agree. In the fall we'll be launching....more to follow.
How about fixing, are you handy? Have something to fix? Fixit Clinics will be back, live, this fall.
And Bike donation? Yes! We will host a regional bike donation event in October.
Household Hazardous Waste
HHW Events take place in Lexington and are monthly through November. An appointment is required. Check out the dates on the Town calendar and link through to the registration page. Save up all your cans of this and that, but don't bring them your latex paint (that's not HHW, dry it out and place it, lid removed, with your trash) or your fluorescent bulbs- these go to Shattucks and Wanamaker hardware stores, our trusted partners in keeping these bulbs safely collected. All other bulbs go in the trash.
So much is going on, we could use your help getting the word out. Please share our activities with your friends and neighbors, and we'll keep making progress towards zero waste together.
