RecyclingWorks in Lynn

Monday, December 12, 2016

Trash Less and Recycle more during the December Holidays

Sustainable Holidays

During the holiday season we substantially increase the amount of waste and electricity we generate. From wasteful purchases to disposable dinnerware and high electricity bills, the holiday season takes a toll on the environment. However, there are many opportunities for us to be more sustainable during the holiday season. Shop locally, make your own gifts, and reduce waste to reduce your environmental impact. Keep in mind, the best way to have a sustainable holiday is to simplify. When you simplify the holidays you often reduce your costs, stress and waste.

 

Tips for Green Holiday Shopping


Give the gift of an experience like tix to a performance at Arts After Hours
  • Consider giving a gift that is eco-friendly, such as; items made with recycled content, items that are locally produced, organic, and/or fair-trade.
  • Purchase gifts that are long-lasting or that can be reused and later recycled.
    Look for gifts that don't require batteries. If you must buy a product that needs batteries, buy rechargeable batteries and give them with the gift.
  • Give the gift of apps for smartphones.
  • Used gifts are kinder to the environment. Consider giving vintage and used clothing, books, DVDs, CDs, sports equipment, tools, cameras, children's toys, musical instruments, etc.
  • Online shopping: keeps you off the roads, but consider how far your purchases have to travel to get to you.
  • Give tickets to the Lynn Auditorium concerts, memberships to the Lynn Museum, classes at School of Rock and gift certificates to local restaurants, too many to name here.
  • Make your own gifts: edible gifts such as breads, cookies, cakes, dried fruits, nut mixes, canned goods, jams/jellies, or herbed vinegars make fantastic gifts. Use your arts and crafts skills to knit a scarf, crochet a hat or mittens, paint a watercolor, or design your own jewelry. Make a calendar by using family photos marked with important dates.
  • Make a donation to a non-profit organization in the name of your loved one.
  • Instead of buying a gift, give your time and talent to your loved ones this year.
  • Plan a "re-gift" swap with your like-minded friends and family.
  • Bring your own reusable bag when shopping. 

 

Gift Wrap, Holiday Cards and Packaging

The wrap is recyclable.  If you don't reuse the string, it goes in the trash cart
  • Instead of wrapping a gift add a bow or ribbon to product boxes or gift boxes.
  • Soft wrapping items like scarves, blankets, or towels are a great alternative to traditional wrapping paper.
  • Be creative about giving old materials new life: magazines, newspapers, maps, posters, children's artwork and calendars make great wrapping paper.
  • Gift bags/baskets are a great wrapping alternative and can be used over and over again. Save clothing boxes, ribbons, bows and wrapping paper to reuse next year.
  • Avoid buying metallic and plastic wrapping paper it is not recyclable.
  • Use last year's holiday cards to create this years "to" and "from" labels.
  • Hide your unwrapped gifts and put clues to where they are around your house.
  • Ask companies to ship your packages using paper instead of polystyrene packing peanuts. If you do receive packing peanuts bring them, and other styrofoam packaging, to shipping stores for recycling.

 

Holiday Decorations & Christmas Trees

Trade in your old lights for LEDs
  • Energy Star qualified LED lights are 90 percent more efficient than traditional Christmas lights and LED's last longer. What you save on electricity will most likely pay for the new lights--it's that much of a savings.
  • Recycle your old holiday lights. All Home Depots are offering free recycling of old lights until December 14 and Lowes will take them until December 24. After these dates you can take them to Goodwill where they will recycle them as part of Dell Reconnect.
  • Go light-free: candles, the starry night sky and reflective ornaments and menorahs provide electricity-free holiday cheer.
  • Skip the tinsel for the tree and avoid buying plastic decorations.
  • Nature provides beautiful ornaments and other holiday decorations: gather a basket of evergreen branches, berries, flowers, fresh fruit, etc. and arrange as you desire, or make ornaments from twigs, bark, flowers, herbs, etc.
  • String together popcorn and cranberries, or make garland out of old jewelry, small stuffed animals or toys, trinkets, memorabilia, cookie cutters, buttons, etc.
  • Cut Christmas trees are a greener choice than artificial trees.
  • Potted Christmas trees can be replanted after the holidays and reused all year long and for years to come. Consider buying a potted tree with a root ball that is native to your area.
  • Instead of buying a tree, decorate a tree in your backyard.
  • In Lynn, remember to get your tree (and other leaf & yardwaste) curbside on your regular trash day the week of January 9-13.  Your tree is picked up by a special truck for Christmas trees and leaf & yardwaste and it is taken away to be composted.  Take all ornaments and tinsel off it and don't put it in a bag.

 

 Holiday Food and Green Parties

  • Locally grown food travels fewer miles and creates fewer carbon emissions, and it's fresh healthy food. Serve bite-sized or finger foods to minimize plate and utensil use.
  • Use smaller serving utensils and plates to encourage smaller portions reducing the amount of food waste left on plates.
  • Plan your menu and exactly how much food you'll need.
  • Send electronic party invitations instead of paper invitations.
  • Use re-usable cups, plates, silverware and utensils instead of using disposable plastic, paper or styrofoam at your party.
  • Avoid buying individually packaged drinks.
  • Donate leftover food to local food banks. See food waste suggestions below.
  • Cook multiple items in the same oven and run appliances on full loads.
  • Turn down the thermostat for your party and let your guests be the heaters. Run your ceiling fan clockwise during the party distributing the heat throughout the house.

 

Sustainable Holiday Traditions

Lynn Christmas Parade Float
  • Watch the Lynn Christmas Parade go by on Christmas Eve. 
  • Participate in the annual Christmas Day Bird Count.
  • Take a family nature hike in Lynn Woods. Bring a garbage bag to collect any litter you see along the way.
  • Bundle up and take a stroll to admire the holiday lights on Lynn Commons, along Lynn Shore Drive and in your neighborhood.

Excess Holiday Trash and Recycling

Clean and dry, no bags, all boxes flattened

Recycling

The recycling carts are very large in Lynn at 96 gallons and you should be able to pack a lot into them.  You need to break down all boxes and flatten them.  For large boxes use a utility knife to cut them up.  If you still have an exorbitant amount of recycling you can take a 20 min drive from most locations in Lynn to North Shore Recycled Fibers at 53 Jefferson Street in Salem, MA where they will take all your recyclables for free.  They are open 7am-3pm Mon-Fri.

Remember, many wrapping papers that have foil in them are not recyclable.  Go back to this Christmas blog post from 2014 for more advice on disposing of wrapping paper.


Overflow bag packet

 Trash and Overflow Bags

So, you have recycled everything you could recycle and your 64 gallon trash cart is stuffed full.  Read below for tips on food waste which may help to decrease your load.  At this point you will need to buy some City of Lynn Overflow bags.  They come in a packet of 5 bags for $15.  In the supermarkets they sell them at the service desk.

STORE
ADDRESS
MAP LINK
7-Eleven
50 Western Avenue
Cal’s News Store
53 Central Avenue
CVS Pharmacy | #1204
509 Eastern Avenue
Mahan’s Hardware
45 Boston Street
Shop Kwik Superette
534 Lynnfield Street
Stop and Shop | #67
35 Washington Street
Walgreens | #2823
841 Western Avenue
This gets a fine
Proper placement








Food waste

Food waste is the ickiest part of trash, and 18% of our trash is estimated to be food waste.  You can compost if you have a composter.  Since we live in a city, many of us do not have yard space.  If you have a garbage disposal, use it.   Still, things like bones, banana and platanos peels etc. cannot go into a garbage disposal.  You can freeze your food waste by leaving a container you fill up in the freezer.  Put it into the trash on trash day.  That way you and pests like rats and raccoons will never smell it.  It'll be gone in the truck before it ever defrosts.  You'll also keep your trash cart cleaner, and a clean cart is a cart that does not attract pests.  

 

Monday, November 7, 2016

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving? Get rid of your stuff by donating it.

Macklemore

Thanksgiving is coming and many people are cleaning up their homes to make room for company.  Don't throw it out if someone can use it.  You can also put in for a tax deduction if you give it to a charity.  Here is what to do:

 

Furniture Pickup Options

Here are organizations that offer free pickup and drop-off of your living, dining and bedroom furniture in good-condition. Most only require 1-2 weeks’ notice for pick up.

Salvation Army
For free pickup use their online pickup form or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.  They take mattresses in clean and good condition.

Epilepsy Foundation
For free pickup use their online form or call (888) 322-8209.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul
For residential pick-up of your furniture, please call 1-800-675-2882, between 8:30am - 3:30pm (Monday - Friday).

LIST IT AS FREE 
If a charity doesn't want it or you will need to wait longer than you want for the scheduled pickup; do what I do, list it for free. I have had lots of luck with listing things for free and if someone wants it, they will pick it up.  Postings are free, most do better with a photo.  Here are two options:

Craig’s List  

Freecycle.

 

Other stuff can be Dropped Off

You can drop off stuff that is not furniture.  Drop it off to these drop-off locations in Lynn and the surrounding areas:




Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries (attended)
Location: At 450 Paradise Road in Swampscott, MA 01905
(Next to the Stop&Shop)
Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm, 7 days a week


Planet Aid Donation Boxes (unattended)
Location: many locations throughout the city.  Pictured at parking lot at Stop&Shop on Boston Street in Lynn.
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week


Society of St. Vincent de Paul
(Thrift Store & Donation Center)
Location: 11-13 Market Square, Lynn, MA 01905
Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Saturday, Closed Sundays


Salvation Army
(Thrift Store & Donation Center)
Location: 10 Munroe Street, Lynn, MA 01901
Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm, Monday-Saturday, Closed Sundays
 

Computers and peripherals drop off for free at Goodwill

Goodwill has an agreement with the Dell Foundation to take all computer related items including monitors.  So, don't bring your monitor to the Lynn DPW which will cost you $20--that is what it costs the City to responsibly recycle it. Take it to Goodwill along with printers, mice, cables, modems etc...Drop it off at their Swampscott location:

 

Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries (attended)
Location: At 450 Paradise Road in Swampscott, MA 01905
(Next to the Stop&Shop)
Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm, 7 days a week 
 

Crafty Stuff can be dropped off at Extras for Creative Reuse

Extras is a creative reuse community center that recovers tons of material from the waste stream and redistributes it for creative educational use.   They moved to Peabody, but if you have paper and crafty stuff that can be used in the school room, they can use it.



Extras for Creative Reuse
58 Pulaski Street (rear entrance)
Peabody, MA 01960
978-587-3758

Hours
Wednesday 10am -5pm
Thursday 10am -5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am -2pm
Sunday - Tuesday : CLOSED
Closed most holiday weekends


Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Last Chance to take your bulky stuff to Covanta: Oct 22&29, but first, read this...

Got bulky stuff to get rid of in the next two weeks, through 10/29/2016?  Get organized and get rid of it all for FREE by the end of October, 2016.  Follow this checklist:

 

COULD SOMEONE STILL USE IT?

 

1) Donate it:

Pickup & Drop-Off Options

Here organizations that offer free pickup and drop-off of your living, dining and bedroom furniture in good-condition. Most only require 1-2 weeks’ notice for pick up.

Salvation Army
For free pickup use their online pickup form or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.  They take mattresses in clean and good condition.

Epilepsy Foundation
For free pickup use their online form or call (888) 322-8209.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul
For residential pick-up of your furniture, please call 1-800-675-2882, between 8:30am - 3:30pm (Monday - Friday).

Drop-off good items at:
Goodwill, Donation Center at 450 Paradise Road in Swampscott, MA 01905 (Next to Stop&Shop) 7 days a week, 8-4:30pm
They accept small home furnishings - One person carry items only.

Last Minute Options?
If you’ve totally put this off till the last minute and can’t arrange for a charity pick up, you have two other options:
  • Sell or give good-condition stuff away for free at Craig’s List or Freecycle. Postings are free, most do better with a photo.

BULKY ITEM CAN'T BE REUSED.  IT'S TRASH. 

Last Covanta Bulky Household Item Drop Off Days for 2016
Saturdays   Oct 22   &  Oct 29
You can only drop off bulky waste, no TV/CRT Drop-off or Bulbs.  Details in the flier

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Saturday, October 22nd is Household Hazardous Waste Day. Bring it down to the D.P.W.

This is not the place for leftover wood finish.  Ever.   Wood finish is a hazardous waste and storm drains lead to the beach. Take all your hazardous waste to the Lynn Household Hazardous Waste Day

Got old oil paint, brake fluid, motor oil, pesticides you have decided not to use anymore?  Bring them all down to D.P.W on Saturday, October 22, 2016.  You can get rid of 3gallons or up to 3 lbs for only $20.00 or up to 25 gallons for only $47.00, thanks to the City of Lynn and Clean Harbors Environmental Services subsidizing the disposal cost.  See the flier attached for all the types of waste you can and cannot bring, and how to bring them to us.


The City of Lynn holds two per year, and the next Household Hazardous Waste Day won't be until May 13, 2017.  So, lighten your load, clean out that cellar and garage and get the toxins out.

Here is the Clean Harbors Set up at DPW for Household Hazardous Waste Day.






Wednesday, September 7, 2016

GET RID OF BULKY (TRASH?) ITEMS THIS FALL FOR FREE

Got bulky stuff to get rid of this Fall?  Get organized and get rid of it all for FREE by the end of October, 2016.  Here's a checklist for getting rid of bulky stuff:

 

COULD SOMEONE STILL USE IT?

 

1) Donate it to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, based right here in Lynn, MA.


Fill out the form for in-home pickup of good-condition furniture by clicking on this link: Furniture Donation Inquiry
Items must be clean and usable. The Coalition for the Homeless takes kitchen tables & chairs, couches & sofa chairs, ottomans, hutches, end tables, coffee tables, bed frames, dressers, bookshelves, cabinets, rugs, lamps, dishes, pots & pans, and blankets & linens. Your donation helps low-income and formerly homeless families furnish their apartments at no cost to them. The Coalition's phone number is 781-595-7570 x13. 

2) Other Pickup & Drop-Off Options

Here are other organizations that offer free pickup and drop-off of your living, dining and bedroom furniture in good-condition. Most only require 1-2 weeks’ notice for pick up.

Short on time? Check out the following websites for drop-off locations, hours, and to check that they will accept your donation.

Salvation Army
For free pickup use their online pickup form or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.  They take mattresses in clean and good condition.

Epilepsy Foundation
For free pickup use their online form or call (888) 322-8209.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul
For residential pick-up of your furniture, please call 1-800-675-2882, between 8:30am - 3:30pm (Monday - Friday).

Drop-off good items at:
Savers Donation Drop Spot Lynn Marketplace, 43 State Street, Lynn, MA 01901, (844) 799-2050, 7 days a week, 9-5pm.
They take small furniture--All chairs, tables (dining, kitchen, coffee, end, computer, night stand, patio), dressers, hutch, armoire, bookcase, cabinets, entertainment centers.

Goodwill, Donation Center at 450 Paradise Road in Swampscott, MA 01905 (Next to Stop&Shop) 7 days a week, 8-4:30pm
They accept small home furnishings - One person carry items only.

3) Last Minute Options?
If you’ve totally put this off till the last minute and can’t arrange for a charity pick up, you have two other options:
  • Sell or give good-condition stuff away for free at Craig’s List or Freecycle. Postings are free, most do better with a photo.

BULKY ITEM CAN'T BE REUSED.  IT'S TRASH. 

1) LAST DUMPSTER DAY in Lynn for 2016 is Saturday, September 17, 2016.  All the details on what you can drop off and not drop off are in the flier below.


2) Last Covanta Bulky Household Item Drop Off Days for 2016
Saturdays   Sept 24     Oct 1     Oct 8   (None on Oct 15)    Oct 22     Oct 29

You can only drop off bulky waste, no TV/CRT Drop-off or Bulbs.  Details in the flier


Sunday, July 10, 2016

The Next Dumpster Day is Saturday July 16, 2016

The City of Lynn offers Dumpster Days so that residents can dispose of big, bulky items if they bring them down to the D.P.W. at 250 Commercial Street, right off the Lynnway. We'll have all these dumpsters set up.  This is for the items that do not fit into your trash cart.  It is not for household trash that you have piling up and it's not for you to get rid of your friend's couch who lives in another town or city.  It's for Lynn residents only.  If you have been to one you know that there will be a long line of traffic.   If you have a bulky item and you don't want to bring it down, you can always call Waste Management at 1-800-972-4545. and pay $20.60 to have them pick up a mattress set or couch or any other bulky waste item. That may save your back from lifting a heavy couch on Dumpster Day--and also time in traffic. 




Monday, April 25, 2016

Where to get rid of Bulky Waste in Lynn that ...does not fit into your trash cart

There are now three ways to get rid of your large bulky waste in Lynn:

1) Waste Management will pick it up on your regular trash day for a fee.

 

2) Take it to Lynn Dumpster Day: May 7, July 16, Sept. 17 2016

3) Take it to Covanta, Most Saturdays from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.