Recycling - What's The Fuss?

BILLERICA MA - Recently residents around town have been seeing bright yellow notices on trash and recycling bins. In preparation for Automated Trash Collection, which starts in July, Recycling coordinator, Mary Delahanty, has been checking to see how many Billerica residents are recycling. She is also checking to see if recycling is prepared correctly. Residents need to separate paper products and cardboard from glass, plastic and metal containers.

The recycling trucks have two separate compartments; one for cans, bottles and jars and the other for paper, newspaper, junk mail, catalogs and cardboard. Pizza boxes and plastic bags or plastic wrap do not belong in the curbside recycle bins. The workers on the recycling trucks will leave material at the curb if recycling is not prepared correctly. Residents can refer to the Trash and Recycling Guide for detailed instructions.

According to Delahanty, the transition to Automated Trash will be much easier for residents who are recycling. In June, single family households with municipal curbside trash and recycling will receive one free 64 gallon trash cart. Residents producing more than 64 gallons of trash will be required to pay for their excess trash. Residents can choose between paying an annual fee for each additional trash cart, or they may purchase official trash overflow bags. Approved two-family and multifamily homes will receive one cart for each unit. Trash carts and overflow bags will not be available until June.

If you get a yellow notice, think of it as a friendly reminder: this is an opportunity to increase and/or improve your recycling. Doing so can save you the expense and aggravation of discovering you have too much trash when Automated Trash Collection starts in July.