Hello Recycling & Composting Neighbors!
In this issue:
- Yard Waste Collection Ends Dec 14-18
- Computers, TVs & Electronics
- Manage Your Compost Bin & Garden Properly
- Christmas Tree Collection Dec 28-Jan 8
Separate Yard Waste Collection Ends Dec 14-18
The last week for separate collection of yard waste is December 14-18. Separate yard waste collection will resume April 5, 2010. Yard waste in plastic bags is NOT accepted during yard waste season April-December. Recycle leaves, grass and small twigs and branches (no more than 1 inch in diameter or 3 feet in length). Place in paper yard waste bags, not stapled or taped, OR barrels with City “Yard Waste ONLY” stickers, facing the street. Bundle thick tree limbs 3ft x 3ft. Place at the curb by 7am on your collection day or after 6pm the night before. If your recycling or yard waste was missed and is properly prepared, call (617) 349-4800 by 12 noon the next day.
Recycle Computers, TVs & Electronics
If your computer or TV still works, donate it! Otherwise, the City will pick up 1 computer monitor or TV per household per week if it the diagonal screen length is 20 inches or less. For items larger that 20″, come to DPW to purchase a sticker ($20, $15 for seniors) and schedule a pick up.
The Recycling Center at 147 Hampshire St (open Tues/Thurs 4-7:30pm & Sat 9-4pm) accepts broken household appliances including lamps, stereos, VCRs, hair dryers, answering machines, vacuums, etc. Anything with a chord or battery operated device that one person can lift, but NO computer monitors or TVs. Any CPUs salvaged for reuse by our vendor are scrubbed clean. Other items are shredded, separated by material and recycled pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
Manage Your Compost Bin & Garden Properly
Composting organic waste continues to be a terrific way to reduce the waste going to landfills and incinerators, and reduce methane gas that significantly affects climate change.
Please remember these important composting and gardening tips:
- Pick up fallen fruit or vegetables from your garden.
- Never add meat, dairy or cooked oily foods to your composter.
- Bury food in your compost bin or cover it up every time with “browns” such as leaves, crumbled newspaper or torn cardboard.
- Keep your composter moist and active, with the lid closed securely.
- Keep your composter at least 1 foot from any wall or fence.
- Try to move your composter to a more convenient location. Rodents avoid areas that are regularly used or passed by.
- Clear weeds or tall grass around your bin.
- Put bird food in feeders only and don’t overfeed. Store seeds in containers with tight lids.
Some neighborhoods have problems with rodents, which are an unavoidable part of life in any city. In this context, it is very important to manage your compost bin and garden correctly to avoid problems. DPW can provide a 3 foot square piece of wire mesh to place under your compost bin to prevent rodents from burrowing in.
The City is committed to confronting this problem by addressing rodent problems on public property, working to control rodents during construction projects, enforcing sanitary codes and ordinances, and educating the public.
Christmas Tree Collection Dec 28-Jan 8
Curbside collection of bare Christmas trees will be Dec 28-Jan 8. Decorations and stands must be removed and trees should not be in a plastic bag. Weather permitting, trees collected during this time don’t get buried or burned. Last year, residents recycled over 4700 trees. The chipped trees were used as mulch in natural areas in Cambridge.
