An Update from the City of Newton DPW
Sustainable Materials Management Division
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Resource Recovery Center Updates
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Appointments can be scheduled by calling Customer Service at (617) 796-1000 Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 5pm.
The Resource Recovery Center hours available for appointment Tuesday through Friday. Saturdays will remain closed until further notice.
Goodwill, the Book Shed, and the Paint Shed are closed until further notice.
The Swap Shop is reopening soon - details below. T
he Resource Recovery Center only collects
recyclable materials
. No wood furniture or overflow household trash are accepted at the site.
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Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
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We are excited to announce that the next two Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events will take place on
Thursday, August 13
th
and
Thursday, September 17
th
by appointment only
. Appointments can be scheduled beginning July 27
th
by calling Customer Service at (617) 796-1000, Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 5pm. Appointment times available for both of the events are between 7am-1pm.
Residents can expect to confirm their appointment time and verify proof of residency with the attendant at the gate. Only one vehicle per appointment is allowed. Commercial vehicles are not allowed. Residents without an appointment will not be able to enter the site and will be asked to come back after they have made an appointment.
Both of these events are likely to be fully booked due to high demand. It is likely there will be more HHW events later this fall, with dates yet to be determined. We appreciate your patience while we navigate staffing and safety issues during these unprecedented times.
What is accepted at household hazardous waste collection events?
Household Products: Cleaners, aerosols, solvents, pest control, floor & furniture polishes, disinfectants, houseplant chemicals, spot remover, silver & copper polish
Paint Products: Oil & lead based paints, stain, varnish, thinners, adhesives
Auto Products: Antifreeze, gasoline, waxes, polishes, used motor oil
Outdoor Products: Pesticides, weed killers, fungicides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, insect & rodent killers
Miscellaneous: Nail polish & remover, glue, mothballs, artist & hobby supplies, photo chemicals, chemistry sets, flea collars and flea shampoos
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Swap Shop grand opening in 2018; photo by Jonathan Yeo.
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Clear out clutter without adding to the waste stream! The
Swap Shop
will be reopening in August with some operational changes in place to keep us all safe.
- To access the Swap Shop, residents will need to make an appointment for the Resource Recovery Center by calling Customer Service at (617) 796-1000 Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 5pm.
- There will be drop-off-only days and shopping-only days. Items dropped off on a drop-off day will be quarantined for seven days, then put out for shopping the following week. That cycle will continue through October - first and third Fridays will be drop off only; second, fourth, and fifth Fridays will be for shopping only.
- Friday, August 7th will be the first drop off day
- The following Friday, August 14th, will be the first shopping day.
Some modifications to the accepted items list have also been made. There will be no clothing, accessories, linens, or other textiles accepted. Only items smaller than a carry on suitcase will be accepted. If you need help unloading it, it's too big, and will not be accepted.
Other safety measures being put in place:
- Masks will be required for residents and volunteers.
- The number of shoppers is limited to 4 at any one time.
- Items will be spaced to maintain social distance on shopping days.
- All items will be set outside. Because the Swap Shop is run by volunteers, and it's now entirely outside, the Swap Shop being open is weather dependent. During moderate and heavy rainfall it will be closed.
Protocols for this program have been approved through the City of Newton Health and Human Services Department.
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Plastics Recycling Revisited
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Dear Newton Sustainable Materials Management Team,
I recently watched a special about plastic recycling and now my head is spinning. I found out that all of the plastic that I’ve been recycling is either ending up in the ocean or going to developing countries where it is being burned or dumped. When I go to the grocery store everything is packaged in plastic. Help! What do I do? Should I even bother to recycle plastic anymore?
Sincerely,
Struggling Zero Waster
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Dear Struggling Zero Waster,
I feel you. As we learn more about the environmental and health consequences of plastic, there is a growing mistrust of this ubiquitous material made largely from natural gas, oil and coal. What was once touted as the “miracle material” in the 1950’s, is now making headlines like “Thousands of tons of micro-plastics are falling from the sky” and “From national parks to the deep sea, plastic pollution is showing up wherever scientists look.”
But before you give up on plastic recycling altogether, let me share what the Recycle Smart MA team has learned from the experts about plastic recycling.
- Not all plastic can be recycled. You may have been told at one point that plastic labeled #1-7 is recyclable; it’s not true. The “chasing arrow” symbol with a number inside (known as the “resin code”), was designed by the plastics industry to identify the type of plastic it’s made of. But that doesn’t mean it’s actually recyclable. Our advice: forget about the numbers, think about the shape. If it’s a plastic bottle, jar, jug or tub, recycle it (after you’ve emptied and rinsed it). Still in doubt? Check out Newton's Recycle Right Tool.
- Recycling markets are regional. What’s recyclable in California or Oregon may not be recyclable here and vice versa. Recycling markets are based on the sorting technology at the local recycling facilities as well as the proximity to reliable end markets (businesses that can use the plastic as a manufacturing feed stock). In Massachusetts - plastic bottles, jugs, jars and tubs are all recyclable since our recycling facilities can and do sort these items, and sell them to recycling end markets in the U.S.
- Exporting plastics for recycling is not inherently bad; exporting trash labeled as recycling is. China and other international markets historically bought a lot of mixed (unsorted) plastics from the U.S. for recycling. But the plastic that U.S. companies were exporting had increasing amounts of trash mixed in. China got fed up with this low-quality product and in 2017, they put an end to it. This was a huge wake-up call for the U.S. recycling industry! Recent investigative journalism portrayed plastic waste throughout Southeast Asia, making it seem that little recycling is actually happening. However, this is only part of the story (and remember, "bad news" sells). Quality recyclable material is a valuable product that many legitimate export markets need. That's why they pay a fair price for a manufacturing feed stock they will convert into new products. Bottom line: exporting the material in itself is not the issue. It's the quality of the material that matters, whether it's sold to a domestic or export market. And that quality starts with what we put into our recycling bin.
- U.S. companies want our recycled plastics. There is a growing demand for sorted plastics here in the U.S. Currently, Massachusetts recycling facilities are sorting your plastic bottles, jugs, jars and tubs and selling them to plastic recyclers right here in the USA. Companies like Aaron Industries, EFS Plastics, KW Plastics, Buckeye Plastics and Trigon Plastics buy, clean, flake, or pelletize plastic into a raw material for making new consumer products, packaging, automotive parts, construction materials, and even 100% recycled Adirondack chairs. For a 1 minute overview of what happens to your plastic after you place it in the bin, check out this video.
- You can help ensure your plastic gets a second life by:
- Keeping it clean! As a Smart Recycler, you’re careful to empty, rinse and recycle only those plastic items that manufacturers can use – bottles, jugs, jars and tubs. Avoid the “wish-cycling” trap: just because that fork or spoon is made of plastic, doesn’t mean it’s recyclable. Your plastic is part of a reverse supply chain that supports the manufacturing of new products made from old.
- Driving demand. By choosing products made out of recycled content, we have the power to drive demand for more recycled feed stock. Check out the Buy Recycled Products Directory to find products made with recycled materials, which is known as post-consumer resin (PCR).
In the end, you can rest assured that plastic recycling is worth the effort as long as you follow the rules. If you can’t recycle it, consider not buying it and using an alternative (reusable bamboo forks and spoons for example). Recycling is not the silver bullet for our plastic pollution mess. Tune in to our next newsletter to find out what to do when your favorite products come in non-recyclable plastic packaging.
Keep up the good work,
Newton Sustainable Materials Management Team
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Does your household have a Recycling Champion?
Research has found that when one person in a household takes the lead on recycling, there is less waste, and recycling is more likely to be sorted correctly. Anyone can become a recycling champion and we encourage every home in Newton to have one.
The goal of the Recycling Champion is to stay up to date on what is recyclable in curbside recycling as well as what is accepted for drop-off recycling at the Resource Recovery Center.
They help motivate and remind family members to recycle right. They are the point person for others to turn to when questions arise.
The Recycling Champion in your household can train themselves using Newton's website and the Recycle Right Newton app. Get the app for Apple or Android.
Who is the Recycling Champion in your household?
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Batteries
Rechageable batteries are collected at the Resource Recovery Center and some retail
locations
.
Many of the materials within rechargeable batteries are recyclable. Rechargeable batteries contain metals that pose risks to our health and the environment. Do
NOT
dispose of rechargeable batteries in the trash. Batteries accepted at the Resource Recovery Center include:
- Auto, boat, and other vehicle batteries
- Electric toothbrush batteries
- Power tool batteries
- Camera batteries
- Lithium-ion batteries from other electronics
Lithium primary batteries, which are non-rechargeable, must also be recycled. These are accepted at the Resource Recovery Center and some retail locations.
- Lithium primary batteries (one-time use)
- Button-cell batteries
Alkaline batteries can be disposed of in your curbside trash cart.
Alkaline batteries made after 1994 do not contain mercury and are safe to be disposed of with the regular trash.
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Never Miss Trash Day Again
USE
RECYCLE RIGHT NEWTON
Want to make managing trash and recycling at home easier? Newton has an app for that.
With the
Recycle Right Newton
App you can:
- Set reminders and view calendar for trash, recycling, and subscription compost pick-ups
- Stay in the loop on collection day delays due to holidays or weather events
- Find the right way to get rid of stuff
- Test your recycling skills with an interactive waste sorting game—fun for kids and adults!
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No smartphone? No problem.
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Thank You for Recycling Right!
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Get involved:
- Volunteer to work at the Swap Shop, the Book Shed, or another project that suits your interests
- Attend a Solid Waste Commission meeting to engage in sustainable materials management policy
- Request a tour for your community group to see where things go after they're picked up from the curb
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Learn about the latest news at City Hall and around Newton. We'll look forward to sharing updates with you!
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City of Newton
Department of Public Works
Sustainable Materials Management Division
1000 Commonwealth Ave
Newton, MA 02459
617-796-1000
recycling@newtonma.gov
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