Hazardous waste recycling day organized for towns
By Karen Mann

On September 30, Townsend and Ashby will take place in a hazardous waste and bulky recycling collection day at the Lunenburg Department of Public Works.

The event gives residents a way to dispose of any hazardous items or recyclables they have in their homes.

"It is a good way to clean out stuff from the summer that you didn't get a chance to use," said Irene Congdon, the town's Recycling Committee chairman.

This is the second year Townsend will participate in the event, which is sponsored by the North Central Regional Solid Waste Cooperative (NCRSWC). The cooperative, which is composed of 11 local towns, provides its members with assistance in areas of solid waste handling - a procedure governed by state and federal regulations.

According to the NCRSWC Web site, the average household throws away 15.5 pounds of hazardous waste with their regular trash.

"It is a health issue," said Congdon. "There are alternatives out there that people need to use."

The most common hazardous items collected are oil-based paints and pesticides, said Congdon. She stressed the importance of bringing any items containing mercury, which should not be thrown away in regular trash disposal.

Other items people usually don't think to bring includes cleaning products, flea control products, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs and alkaline batteries, she said.

"The biggest misconception are bulbs and batteries," she said, because people are unaware that they have to be disposed of separately.

While there is no fine for throwing away items deemed hazardous with other trash, Congdon said it is unsafe to do.

"It is dangerous. We don't know the health effects [of mixing certain items] yet," she said.

She added that it is a liability for a town to have dump trucks driving around with these items mixing in the back of the truck.

There is a fee of up to $50 for hazardous items.

There is no charge for bringing items considered "bulky" such as books, cell phones, clothing, printer cartridges and clean clothing and rags. Larger appliances and electronics will be accepted but also for a fee of up to $50. Congdon said the fee is simply to cover disposal of the item, no profit is made from the event.

Residents interested in bringing items do not have to live in town; the only requirement is that they pre-register. The event is also open to small businesses that do not have large quantities of materials to dispose of.

One of the alternatives is the recycling center in Townsend, which is also open to non-residents, accepts many items for free. Others can be dropped off for a fee.

Another option is the Web site, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GrotonFreeStuff/. On this Web site people can post items they have that they would like to get rid of. This is also free.

To register for the collection day, or for a complete list of items being accepted, and the fee, contact the director of NCRSWC, Tessa David at (978) 448-8936 or visit the Web site www.masstoss.com

-  -

Karen Mann is a 2006 graduate of Emerson College, in Boston, where she studied journalism. She resides in Townsend with her parents.