HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrash and Recycling Task Force TAR-rpt (no date)On behalf of my colleagues on the Trash and Recycling Task Force:
Selectmen Deb Mauger and Peter Kelley, businessman John Carroll and Sandra Mayo, parent recycling
enthusiast, I am pleased to report our recommendations.
The task Force met 7 times and these meetings included trip to recycling center, observations of
curbside pick -up procedures as well as conversation with vendors.
Among the things we learned is that
Lexington is among the communities in the state with the highest recycling rates. 12 communities
recycle at a higher rate than we do, 10 or these are PAYT communities and two — Nantucket and
Wellesley have high specialized municipal programs.
Having a high recycling rate makes good economic sense
Our recycling has significant value. We were told that cardboard in the current market is sold for more
than $100 /ton and that one vendor we spoke to had a contract with Annheiser Busch in New England
for recycled aluminum.
In addition to the value of the recycling which effectively offsets the costs of collection every ton we
remove from the trash stream saves us $68 in tipping fees. About 5 -10 % of Lexington households seem
to not recycle, that trash is picked -up curbside, but there is no associated recycling left at the curb.
Consequently, as we considered our options, the task force emphasized choices that both increased
recycling and provided more service to both the residents and businesses.
The charge of the Task Force defined 6 policies we were to consider:
1) Single stream recycling
Single stream recycling means comingling containers and paper and relying on the hauler to
separate the containers and papers at their facilities. The recycling facilities we observed were
fairly efficient, but still resulted in some degree of cross contamination lowering the end value of
the recycled material.
We recommend continuing with dual stream recycling as we have now. Only communities with low
recycling rates see an increase in recycling rates when going to single stream
2) Enhanced waste ban and mandatory recycling
As mentioned 5 -10 percent of households do not seem to recycle. We recommend enforcing the
recycling ban through an education program, reminders at the curb and accompanying this change
with a reduction on the number of allowed trash barrels .
Currently 6 -32 gallon trash barrels will be picked up each week along with one bulky item. We
recommend reducing that to 3 -32 gallon bags or barrels
3) Automated refuse and recycling systems
Automated pick -up refers to use of two standardized totes, the waste vehicle has a platform or
arm which grabs the totes and empties it into the truck. Totes are an expense, larger than what is
now used and would present a storage and transport problem to some residents.
We recommend continuing with manual pick -up of trash barrels or bags.
4) Multi -town regional collection bid —no harm as along as RFP can contain all the items Lexington
specifies
5) Additional curbside yard waste collections
Currently 12 pick-ups, we recommend the addition of 8 weeks. This would allow curbside yard
waste pick -up every two weeks from April to September to supplement the weekly fall pick -us and
xmas tree pickups
6) Stay with current vendor or go out to bid
In last year of a 3 year contract with 2 one year extensions.
Recommend going out to bid
7) Additional services
Curbside collection of rigid plastics e.g. 5- gallon containers, certain toys
Remove carpet from waste stream by requesting that carpet be designated from recycling and
picked up curbside by special request as are white goods now, 5 -8% of weight of trash
attributed to carpet- potential saving of 30 K annually
Add housing authority pick -up of trash and recycling -some associated cost of addition trash pick-
up, but housing authority are municipal residential units and feel that should be covered under
plan. Consider as add alternate
8) Future projects –Begin discussion regarding a pilot program to pick -up recycling in the Center
business District.
Tight quarters, recycling as value, eliminate some of the unsightly dumpsters in the parking areas, ; if
go forward with anaerobic digester will be discussing waste options with business owners
Recommendation on whether to dissolve committee- We serve at the consent of the Selectmen, may
want us to review RFP and help with education program associated with mandatory recycling ban