Page 216 - Microsoft Word - Annual Report 2016

RECYCLING COMMITTEE

Our comprehensive Recycling Program in Boxford continues to flourish. In 2016 our town
recycled approximately 39% of our trash. DEP who used to calculate each Town’s
recycling/diversion rate (taking into account tonnages for composting, HHW and auto waste) has
suspended this service due to budget cuts. The charts on the following pages show what items
can be recycled, how to prepare them, whether they are collected at the curb or at the Drop-Off
Center and any fees.

There is no direct cost to residents for the curbside collection of recyclables; the trash sticker fee
covers this expense. However, there is a charge for some of the items at the Drop-Off Center, 7
Spofford Road. Residents are encouraged to pay any fee at the Drop-Off Center by checks made
out to the Town of Boxford. We remind residents that they may ONLY drop off recycling items
on Saturdays from 8 AM to 3:30 PM when an attendant is present to supervise and collect fees.

Residents can drop off their used motor oil which will be hauled away and recycled. Motor oil
and oil filters may only be dropped off on the first Saturday of every month between 8 AM
and Noon.

Our Town applied for and received a recycling grant from DEP for $5,550 which the Recycling
Committee will be deciding what projects can be funded within the grant guidelines.

This year we continued collecting and disposing of unwanted prescription medications.
Residents can drop off capped bottles of prescription medications 24 hours/day, seven days a
week in the lobby of the Boxford Police Station. No syringes, needles or sharps can be accepted
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at this drop off, but needles can be dropped off at Board of Health office, 2 Floor of Town Hall,
on Mondays through Thursdays from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Cooperative, successful, and continuing events this past year included a May Earth Day
celebration in conjunction with the Boxford Village Garden Club and our thirtieth annual
Household Hazardous Waste collection day with the towns of Topsfield and Middleton in
November. Our 2017 HHW collection will be held on Oct. 28th. Residents are urged to take
advantage of this opportunity to properly dispose of any household toxic product.

Through an agreement with the Town of Topsfield’s Road Commissioners, Boxford residents
continue to have access to Topsfield’s composting site. For a $5 fee per visit payable by first
purchasing a compost ticket in Boxford, residents can drop-off brush and yard waste at
Topsfield’s Highway Facility, 267 Boston St., between April 1 and Nov. 15 from 9 AM to 1 PM
on Saturdays.

Please note that our vendor, Recycle That, will pay our town for collecting acceptable items in
their bin at the Drop-Off Center. Items accepted include: hardcovers and paperbacks, CDs,
DVDs, audio books, records, textbooks. (They no longer collect encyclopedias or home made
recorded or taped media.) They also accept clothing, textiles, shoes and bedding which just needs
to be clean and dry.