New Automated Trash and Recycling Collection Coming to Marblehead

Sustainable Marblehead has received several inquiries regarding the Town's upcoming transition to automated trash and recycling collection. While not part of this decision, we regularly meet with Andrew Petty from the Marblehead Health Department and have a positive and open dialogue with the Board of Health members. Petty has long been a supporter of recycling, composting, and other waste reduction efforts in our experience. Recently, we sat down with him to learn more about the new program.

First, we want to acknowledge what many people are feeling: we share the frustration over the introduction of thousands of new plastic bins and the reality that the existing ones--in perfectly good condition--are now obsolete. As an organization concerned with waste reduction, recycling, and composting, we don't like to see thousands of usable materials headed for the already near-capacity landfills.

Petty explained that, unfortunately, the old bins are not considered recyclable in the traditional sense. They are made from a variety of plastic types, and there is currently little market demand for the material.

That said, we believe there may be opportunities to keep many of these bins out of the landfill. Could they be used by other municipalities? Could Marblehead help facilitate a reuse program? These are questions we will explore further. In the meantime, we encourage residents to think creatively about repurposing their old bins. In a future article, we'll share ideas for turning them into rain barrels, backyard composters, yard waste containers, storage for lawn equipment, and other useful projects. There may also be a demand on local "Buy Nothing" Facebook groups.

What We Learned About the New Program

Why the Change?

The waste collection industry is increasingly moving toward automated collection systems. Other north shore towns like Danvers, Andover, Ipswich, Reading, Boxford and Topsfield have also made the switch. According to Petty, many larger waste haulers will no longer bid on contracts requiring manual collection, and smaller companies that were willing to provide manual service came in at significantly higher costs. Collection crews will continue to make accommodations in some of Marblehead's tighter streets where automated pickup is not feasible.

New Bin Sizes

Residents will receive:

• A 65-gallon trash bin

• A 95-gallon recycling bin

Downtown residents and others with limited space may request smaller bins:

• 35-gallon trash bin

• 65-gallon recycling bin

The new bins must be used beginning July 1.

Why Such Large Recycling Bins?

The new contract runs for five years, while the bins themselves are expected to last approximately ten years. The larger recycling bin is intended to accommodate potential future contract changes, including the possibility of every-other-week recycling collection. Sustainable Marblehead will continue to advocate for weekly recycling.

Bin Delivery Schedule

Bin deliveries have already begun and will take approximately three weeks to complete. Residents will receive an information packet with their bins, and additional information may be distributed by email. The plastic bags the materials came in can be repurposed for something around your house or taken to a plastic collection box, such as at Stop 'n Shop.

Bin Identification

Each bin has a unique serial number associated with a specific address. Residents are asked to place their house number on the bins using stickers to help identify them.

Recycling Rules Are Not Changing

The materials accepted for recycling remain the same. The biggest change is that all recyclables must fit inside the bin with the lid fully closed. Materials left next to the bin can no longer be picked up. The guidelines for what materials are recyclable are printed right on the lid, which should help ensure we keep our recycling stream clean, and therefore more valuable.

Residents should also remember that Massachusetts has mandatory recycling requirements. Trash must be placed in plastic bags before going into the trash bin. Paper bags and recyclable paper products belong in the recycling bin and all materials are to be placed loose--not within plastic bags. In other words, trash bins = plastic bags full of garbage; recycling bins = no plastic bags and items remain loose.

Maintenance

If a bin gets damaged, the Town will repair or replace components such as wheels and lids.

What About Old Bins?

Residents may repurpose their old bins or dispose of them at the Town's bulky rigid plastics collection area (not weigh and pay) at the Transfer Station. There is no additional cost to dispose of old bins through the bulky rigid plastics program; residents simply need the Transfer Station sticker. Again, we share the concern about this waste, and will be exploring solutions. Petty did indicate he and his team explored many possible solutions already.

Questions?

Residents with questions about the new collection program can contact the Marblehead Health Department at health2@marbleheadma.gov.

As always, Sustainable Marblehead will continue looking for ways to reduce waste and keep reusable materials in circulation. We will share more information soon about creative reuse opportunities for old bins and other ways our community can keep valuable materials out of the landfill.