Danvers DPW: If It's Not Recyclable It Gets An Orange Sticker

DANVERS, MA — Anyone who lives in Danvers knows that each week the recycling truck comes around and picks up the bins filled with the recycling. And by this time folks are well versed in the benefits to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills, the role recycling plays when it comes to conserving natural resources such as timber, water and minerals, the tapping of a domestic source of materials, saving of energy and job creation. But what many still seem to have a problem with is understanding just what is and isn't recyclable in Danvers.

"Residents continue to include diapers, wooden crates, gas jugs, paint cans, garden hoses, Christmas lights, and worst of all plastic bags in recycling receptacles," wrote the folks from DPW and the recycling contractor JRM.

So, JRM is bringing back something you might remember from last year. Stickers and a no-take policy.

If when the truck comes around and gets ready to dump it in the truck they see something - say a diaper or a paint can or a bundle of Christmas lights - they'll pull out a roll of stickers, slap one on and leave said item behind on the curb.

"The biggest problem is plastic bags. A lot of folks will just put their plastic bottles inside of plastic bags and put it out, but the plastic bag jams the recycling machines. JRM is now taking a stronger stand," said Sharon Clement of the DPW. If you need something extra to put plastic bottles in, bring them out in a paper bag, said Clement. Or, pick up one of the tote carts with a lid from town hall when they get more in. (DPW ordered some 300 of them but they were so popular most went with days of arriving, stay tuned for the possibility of another shipment arriving, says Clement).

As of January 1, the stickers are back. Another major problem, say the folks at DPW? Contaminated recycling. If there's food on something that's ordinarily recyclable, say a jar of tomato sauce still has sauce in the bottom? It contaminates the batch. Rinse it out immediately after you use it and then you can recycle it, says Clement.

Every manufacturer's goal is to make a quality item, and recycled materials compete with virgin feedstocks for purity. Contaminants can damage processing machinery and cause imperfections in the new product. A single ceramic cup can ruin all of the glass collected from your entire neighborhood, according to the state website.

By way of reminder of what is and isn't acceptable in the bins we've got a little guide here for you, are these recyclable? A general rule is "If you can tear it, you can recycle it" said Clement. Unless it's a paper towel or napkin.

Milk Cartons? Yes, if rinsed

Pizza Boxes? as long as the pizza box is not soiled either by oil or cheese

Frozen food trays? Look for the recycle symbol on the bottom of the tray. The town takes plastics 1-7, so most would fit there.

Freezer bags? No to bags.

Egg cartons? Yes, as long as the cardboard is not soiled.

Paper towels, napkins? no

Cardboard: Yes, if it's broken down. You can nest boxes, but if it's a very large box it has to be flattened to a 4x4 foot bundle no thicker than 1 foot, said Clement.

Metal items: The only metal we accept are containers like cans or foil. No other items are accepted curbside, go to transfer station.

Plastic grocery bags: No. Take those to the grocery store where you bought them and recycle them there. Salem recently approved a ban on the bags altogether, and Glocester is following suit. So far Danvers hasn't discussed this, but the folks at DPW wouldn't be surprised if it made the list in town soon.

Need more tips? Pick up a free calendar at Town Hall. The middle schoolers had a class on recycling and created a 2018 calendar based on what they learned.

Danvers has dual stream recycling (pre-sorting like this is generally cheaper than single stream):

• glass, metal cans & foil, and plastics #1-7 may be comingled in your recycling bin.
• Paper including newspaper, magazines, paperboard has to be bagged in a paper bag, tied or put in a separate bin.
• Cardboard must be cut, flattened to 4’x 4’ and bundled to no thicker than 1’.
• Recycling may be put in any container marked for recycling or with a free “recycle” sticker that you can pick up at several town buildings.
• Recycling bins can be purchased at the DPW, 95 Hobart Street for $5 payable by cash or check.
• The Town encourages stormwater harvesting & composting. Rain barrels ($30) and compost bins ($30), can be purchased with cash or check at the DPW, 95 Hobart Street. Call 978-762-0231 for availability.

Trash Limits

• Limit of 3 bags or barrels of trash per single-family home—multi-family homes (2-4 units) may put out up to 5 bags or barrels TOTAL. Anything over these limits will be left curbside.
• Multi-family homes with more than 4 units & all businesses are NOT eligible for curbside pickup.
• Recycling is mandatory and unlimited. Recycling must be put out weekly in order to have your trash picked up. You must leave your recycling bin out until your trash has been collected to ensure pickup.
• No recyclables are allowed in the trash—your trash will not be picked up.
• Barrels/bags/recycling bins may not be larger than 45 gallons/50 pounds. Do not overfill—nothing over the top of barrel. Anything over these limits will be left curbside.
• All items must be curbside by 7:00 AM.
• Call the DPW at 95 Hobart Street at 978-762-0231 with issues pertaining to trash, recycling and yard waste curbside pickup.

Newspaper, office paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans, scrap metal, and plastic bottles and jugs account for about 60 percent of the solid waste stream, according to the U.S. EPA. These items are the most common materials targeted for recycling in the state.

More about plastic bags and plastic film.

What NOT to put in the bin from Earth911

((Have you signed up for the daily free Danvers Patch newsletter yet? You should probably get on that. ))

Photo courtesy JRM recycling.