Paper
Containers
Recycling Bin
Regulations
Recycling Center
Pay As You Throw
Paint
Why recycle?
Making a Difference
Close the Loop
Buy Recycled & EPP
Where Do I Buy Recycled?
Web
Recycled Paper
Reduce Waste
Composting

What materials can South Hadley residents recycle for curbside pick up and at the Recycling Center on 10 Industrial Drive?

PAPER

• Newspaper (with inserts)

• Magazines/Catalogues

• Brown paper bags

• White and colored paper

• Computer paper

• Corrugated cardboard, flattened and no larger than 3' in any dimension.

• Phone books/paperback books (remove covers)

• Boxboard (cereal, cracker, shoe boxes, etc.- remove liners)

• Junk mail (remove plastic wrappings)

• No waxed paper or waxed cardboard

CONTAINERS

• All plastic bottles (no motor oil; rinse, remove caps, lids)

• All plastic jars/tubs (rinse, remove caps, lids)

• All plastic microwave trays/containers

• Juice/milk cartons (rinse, flatten)

• Drink boxes (remove straws, rinse, flatten)

• Glass bottles/jars (labels, lids o.k., rinse, no broken)

• Tin/steel cans and lids (rinse)

• Aluminum cans (rinse)

• Aluminum Foil (clean)

Reminders:
Empty and rinse all containers, remove & discard all caps and lids from plastic containers. Flatten what materials you can.  ALL Cardboard MUST be flattened and no larger than 3' in any dimension.

DO NOT INCLUDE THESE ITEMS:

• Plastic Bags or Wraps

• Pizza Boxes

• Motor Oil/Chemical Bottles

• Foam Containers

• Egg Cartons

• Styrofoam

• Flower Pots or Garden Plastic

"BUT, I don't have a recycling bin!"
Call the DPW, we have some on hand.  However, any container will do!  For your papers, a plain paper grocery sack works well. Containers can be conveniently placed into an old milk carton crate, clothesbasket or small rubbish barrel. Please use our stickers on all your recycling containers not provided by the Town - a Green sticker for paper materials and an Orange sticker for bottles and cans. You can pick up free color coded stickers at the DPW. If it's windy where you live, cover and weight down any recyclables that could be blown away.

What are some of the Regulations for refuse & recycling pick up?
Refuse and recycling route schedules are printed annually in the Town Reminder towards the end of the calendar year. Copies can be obtained year-round at the following offices: Town Clerk, Electric Light, Public Works, Fire Districts No. 1 & 2, Library, Council on Aging, Selectmen's Office and the Board of Health.

Refuse must be placed on the tree belt or at curb side by 7:00 am. Garbage MUST be put in plastic bags and placed into the refuse container. Recycling materials must be placed along the curbside either in open containers, or in separately marked covered containers (not in plastic bags). All recycling containers not provided by the Town should clearly show externally affixed stickers as follows: Green-paper and Orange -plastic, metal and glass.

If you are looking to dispose of recycling generated by a company or non-residential entity, click on business for more information.

What does "Pay As You Throw (PAYT)" mean and how will it impact my trash and recycling pick up?
Select PAYT to answer this question...

Why was my trash and/or recycling not picked up this morning-everyone else's was collected?
The following reasons may be why your trash and/or recycling was not picked up:
1.   The weight of the bag/ barrel exceeded 40 pounds.
2.   Unsuitable container (no handles; too large; or top opening smaller than base).
3.   Trash scattered by animals prior to refuse/recycling collector's arrival.
4.   Trash contains construction debris (wood, sheetrock, metal).
5.   Yard waste is not picked up at the curb except for one month in spring and one month in the fall. Call the DPW for schedules.
6.   Commercial wastes are not collected unless the business is enrolled in the curbside program. Call the DPW for information.
7.   Ashes must be in plastic bag.
8.   Items exceed 3-foot length limit.
9.   Refuse located too far from edge of road.
10. Recyclables not properly sorted.
11. Trash contains recyclables mandated for separation by town ordinance/contract requirements.
12. Container for recyclables not green Town bin and not properly marked; call DPW for stickers.
13. Cardboard boxes were not flattened and/or were over three feet in length.

If none of the above reasons applies to your situation, the collector may have simply missed your containers. Occasional mistakes do occur. If this is the case, call the DPW and we will arrange for a pick up.

What materials can I recycle at the Recycling Center on 10 Industrial Drive and when is it open? The Recycling Center accepts all the materials listed above for curbside recycling as well as many other items listed below.

RECYCLING CENTER HOURS OF OPERATION
WEDNESDAYS  &  SATURDAYS     8:00 AM TO 3:00  PM

OTHER ITEMS TO RECYCLE:

FLUORESCENT LAMPS, including compact or energy saver versions. Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury and so when broken are hazardous. Be careful not to break the fluorescent bulbs.  Please do not tape the bulbs together.

MERCURY BEARING ITEMS -e.g. thermometers, thermostats, and mercury switches.   Mercury switches are found in a variety of items, ranging from chest freezers to sump pumps. Mercury-containing tilt switches are found in or under the lids of clothes washers and chest freezers. They are also used to stop the dryer spin cycle, turn on house lights, and turn on trunk or car door lights.

BATTERIES -rechargeable, button, alkaline, and lithium. Alkaline batteries made after 1994 do not have mercury in them and may be placed in the trash or recycled.  Rechargeable batteries are batteries that can be charged multiple times, as compared to regular batteries which have a "one use only" life span.  Eventually rechargeable batteries become spent, and because of some hazardous components, such as cadmium, these batteries should be recycled rather than put in the trash. Rechargeable batteries are commonly found in cellular phones, cordless or portable telephones, communications equipment, lap top computers, battery operated power tools such as screwdrivers or drills, and even flashlights and other home battery operated devices. If the battery cannot be removed from the device, the whole object may be recycled. Button batteries contain mercury and other hazardous metals. They are commonly found in hearing aids, cameras, watches and calculators.  Lithium batteries are typically found in cameras.

CAR BATTERIES - can be dropped off for $1.00 to be recycled.  They can also be returned to the original place of purchase, or exchanged with a new battery purchase.

PAINT AND PAINT RELATED MATERIALS These products are accepted at the Recycling Center from the spring through the fall (typically mid-April to mid-November). Both oil and water based paints are accepted.  Please make sure that paint cans are more than half full and HAVE NOT BEEN FROZEN.  If a latex paint can is less than half full or has been frozen, mix the liquid with kitty litter, let it dry, then throw the contents in the trash.  Empty metal paint cans are accepted for the scrap metal pile. Oil based paint that is not reusable should be brought to the HHW day.

USED MOTOR OIL - can be disposed of at the used motor oil container at the Recycling Center.  Do not mix other liquids with the used motor oil.  Please note, residents need to check in with the Gate Attendant to sign out a key to unlock the tank.

TIRES The tire disposal fee is $4.00 for tires without rims, and $9.00 for tires with rims.

SCRAP METAL Items in this category include all small appliances, lawn mowers, swing sets, pipes, metal cabinets, bed frames, microwaves, gas grills, etc.  White goods are included in this section. There is a $10 per item disposal fee for large applicances, refrigerators, dehumidifiers and air conditioners.   Please remove doors from refrigerators.

*TAG SALE ITEMS   We collect these items as a courtesy to local Boy Scout Troops that use these items for fund raising tag sales.

BOOKS  We collect paper back and hard back books for re-use.  We have a book-swap shed for browsing. You may bring some in or take some away, free! We now have a container from "Hands Across the Water" and through them, we accept textbooks, encyclopedias (no yearbooks), and many other types of books. Call if you have questions.

*YARD AND LEAF WASTE  We accept yard and leaf waste (no plastic bags - brush can be tied in bundles with string). We use these materials, mixed with wood chips and other add-ins, to make high quality compost.  Compost may be available to residents on a first come, first served basis starting in the spring and continuing as long as supplies last.  In the late spring and fall we also provide curb side yard and leaf waste pickup for one month during each season.  

CATHODE RAY TUBES (CRTs) AND OTHER ELECTRONICS - computers (monitors, CPU's, and keyboards) and television sets.  These items were banned by the State from landfills on April 1, 2000.   Other electronic products such as phones, stereos, VCR's, copiers and faxes have been included in the program.  To ensure proper disposal, these items are being accepted at the Recycling Center for a $10.00 fee for each CRT-TV set or computer monitor.  All other electronics are free.  The average CRT contains about eight pounds of lead encased in the glass screen.

ANTI-FREEZE - can be placed in a sealed, labeled container for transport to the Recycling Center.  DO NOT MIX with oil, gasoline, or any other chemical or the anti-freeze cannot be recycled.  Please take note that anti-freeze is VERY TOXIC.

CLOTHES  We have on site the ONLY Goodwill box in Town.

PROPANE TANKS - can be dropped off for $5.00 to be recycled.

REDEEMABLE CANS & BOTTLES  - to benefit South Hadley Tiger Pride Marching Band.

Where can I call to find out about special events and acceptable materials at the Recycling Center?
Call the DPW at 538-5033  during regular business hours.    Residents can also click onto the Calendar of Events on this website for events at the Recycling Center. There are brochures located at the Recycling Center, DPW office, Town Hall Lobby and the Council on Aging.   The DPW makes sure the sites have updated and have enough handouts. Check the local cable station (channel 15) for recycling events at the Recycling Center.  The DPW will be utilizing the Town Reminder more often to advertise recycling events and information.  Residents can look in the back of their Bell Atlantic phone book for recycling guidelines.

I heard I could get left over paint at the Recycling Center. Is this correct?
Yes.  The town has a shed to collect used latex or oil-based paint from residents. Residents are welcome to select used paints from the "as-is" shelf for reuse. To reduce excess paint generation, please follow these practices: buy only what you need, store paint in a heated area to avoid freezing, close the loop -- buy recycled paint products, use the paint exchange/swap shop to give and take paint, seal containers tightly after use, and keep labels legible.

How to Prepare Acceptable Paint

LATEX
*Interior & exterior latex paint
*Water-based paint tubes
*Keep in original container, tightly sealed
*Label contents if original label is illegible
*Pack cans and/or tubes in carton or box
*No mixing paints
*No packing in trash bags
*No evaporated paint
*No unmarked or illegible containers
*No pre-frozen paint (DO pop lid, let dry, place in trash)

OIL
*Interior & exterior oil based alkyd paint
*Oil-based paint tubes
*Keep in original tightly sealed container
*Label contents if original label is illegible
*Pack cans and/or tubes in carton or box
*No mixing paints
*No packing in trash bags
*No creosote
*No unmarked or illegible containers

Why does South Hadley recycle?

What's the real significance of recycling-can I really make a difference?
We know there are benefits of recycling for the environment. Many of you have heard recycling saves natural resources. Did you ever think of how much? To give you an idea of the significance, if we recycle all our paper in Western Mass for one year, we will save over 2.5 million trees, which is about a 5,000-acre forest. Further, if we recycle every can in Western Mass. for one year, we will save enough metal to manufacture 6,000 cars.

Recycling also saves energy. For example, to make recycled aluminum it takes 95% less energy than to make new aluminum from bauxite ore. Recycling also saves landfill space and keeps incinerator emissions lowered. The northeastern area of the US is especially in trouble with landfill space. Within the next ten years we will see more landfills close. This means we could eventually be shipping waste to less-populated Western states, which will cost more. There is a lack of oxygen underground that prevents waste from decomposing. When it comes to incineration we have to think about emissions. Burning garbage may cause respiratory illness, blacken buildings and kill plants. Some of the emissions we are talking about are hydrogen sulfide (which causes acid rain), carbon monoxide and several heavy metals.

There are many excuses people give for not recycling, one of them being " What I throw away doesn't amount to much." That's just not true. In Massachusetts alone we throw away 6.8 million tons of solid waste a year. An average person produces 4.3 pounds of waste a day. Another excuse is "I'll start recycling when the landfill is full." Again, space is very limited and if we save the space today we will have it for tomorrow.

I¡¦ve heard the term "Close the Loop" in reference to recycling? What does it mean?
The recycling symbol has three chasing arrows; each arrow represents one step in the recycling process. The first step is collection. This is when residents put their recyclable materials into their curbside recycling bin or bring them to the Recycling Center. The collected materials are then prepared to be marketed at a materials recycling facility. The second arrow of the recycling symbol is the manufacturing process. The recyclable materials are converted into new products sold as new consumer goods. The third step is where you, the consumer, purchase products made with recycled content. When you "Buy Recycled," you complete the recycling loop or "Close the Loop."

The Town of South Hadley has done a great job in closing the recycling loop! The town is committed to purchasing products which are environmentally preferable and/or made of recycled materials. The Board of Selectmen, at their February 10, 1998 meeting, voted to adopt a "Buy Recycled Purchasing Policy" sponsored by the Commonwealth and the town under the Municipal Recycling Incentive Program.  On May 18, 1999, the School Department voted to adopt their own "Buy Recycled Purchasing Policy."

The DPW tracks town departmental purchasing of recycled and/or environmentally preferable products.  Town departments are encouraged to report comments on the products they use so that the town can learn together what products work best.  Some of those products included: adding machine tapes, envelopes, laser toner cartridges, trash bags, paper towels, inkjet cartridges, pencils, file folders, writing pads,  post-it notes, traffic cones, and toilet paper.  The residential recycling bins and compost bins distributed by the DPW are made from 50% post consumer plastic.   The DPW and Board of Selectmen have their letterhead and envelopes printed on recycled paper.

What is the difference between " Recycled " and "Environmentally Preferable Products" (EPP)? What are the definitions of other terms?
Recycled products contain materials that have been diverted from the solid waste stream, including post-consumer materials, and materials generated in industrial processes which have been wholly or partially remanufactured.  EPP is a product or service that has a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.  Such products or services may include, but are not limited to, those which contain recycled content, minimize waste, conserve energy or water, and reduce the amount of toxics either disposed of or consumed.

There are many other recycled-product terms.  Do you know the difference between post-consumer content and pre-consumer materials?   Products that have post-consumer content are generated by a business or consumer which have served their intended end uses and which have been separated or diverted from solid waste for the purpose of collection, recycling, and disposition. Pre-consumer materials, also known as post-industrial, are generated by manufacturers and product converters.   Instead of being trashed, the materials such as trimmings, damaged or obsolete products, or overruns are collected and incorporated into a manufacturing process.

Another term you might recognize is Energy Star. Energy Star is a federal standard applied to office equipment for the purpose of rating the energy efficiency of the equipment. Energy Star computers, monitors, and printers save energy by powering down and going to "sleep" when not in use, resulting in a reduction in electrical bills and pollution levels.

I have the authority to purchase products at my job - where do I start?
There are many resources to find information on buy-recycled products. Begin by talking with your vendor, who may offer the very recycled products you are looking for. The yellow pages may provide listings of recycled product vendors in your area. Do not forget to check with neighboring purchasers in other companies or municipalities to learn of their successes with recycled product purchasing.

Check it out on the web! A great website to learn the facts about recycled products and get linked to over 100 other buy-recycled websites is http://www.mabuyrecycle.org/. The website is provided by the Massachusetts Buy Recycled Business Alliance and was designed to make it easier for businesses to find and purchase products made with recycled material. There are other environmental non-profit groups who can assist with Buy Recycled products and policies. For more information or assistance, call MassRecycle at 617-338-0244, or MASSPIRG at 617-292-4800. Or just call the Solid Waste Coordinator at the DPW office at 538-5033.

As a consumer, how do I buy recycled products?
Read the label to see if the product is made with any recycling content. Look for the highest percentage of "post-consumer recycled content" you can find. There are everyday products that have recycled content that may not be labeled as such. These products include: steel products such as food cans, cars, appliances, bicycles, furniture, nails; aluminum products such as beverage cans; glass bottles and jars; and molded pulp containers including gray and brown cardboard egg cartons, fruit trays and flower boxes. Other products may or may not be made with recycled content. While you shop, read the labels on the following products to see if they are made using recycled content:

• Paper products: cereal, cake mix and cracker boxes, facial tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, corrugated cardboard boxes, writing paper, greeting cards, copier and printer paper, and office paper.

• Plastic bottles: bottles and jugs containing liquid laundry detergent, dishwashing liquids, shampoos, and household cleaners.

There are many more recycled products found in your grocery store, hardware store, office supply store, and home shopping catalogs. There is a long list of recycled or Environmentally Preferable Products that you may not have even thought about. Here is a partial listing: re-refined motor oil, antifreeze, fiberfill for sleeping bags, carpet, shoes, pencils, recycling bins, clothing, building insulation, wallboard, tiles, paint, photocopier equipment and supplies, traffic cones, trash bags, plastic lumber, and many promotional items. Just read the labels!

I heard that recycled paper is not as good as non-recycled paper and that recycled products cost more. Is that true?
NO! NO! NO! Recycled products used to cost more, but that is not the case anymore. Many recycled products are priced competitively with their nonrecycled counterparts, and some recycled products may even be less expensive. If you still see higher prices, shop around and ask for assistance from your vendor to find a better price for your recycled products. Recycled paper prices often vary from vendor to vendor and fluctuate over time. Some companies¡¦ prices may be higher because they are not purchasing recycled products in bulk.

As for quality, recycled products have the same quality, reliability, and dependability as their nonrecycled counterparts. Technology advances continue to improve the quality of recycled products. Recycled content papers now share the same printing and performance characteristics as their virgin equivalent. Recycled papers no longer look different - recycled content papers have the same whiteness and brightness as virgin papers. They also offer the same level of "runnablity" and high quality imaging on copiers, and laser and ink jet printers.

A 1996 survey by the Buy Recycled Business Alliance asked hundreds of corporate purchasing agents about their satisfaction with recycled content products. The survey results showed that 97% of respondents were pleased with the performance of recycled content products. In fact, the DPW office has been using recycled paper in our copiers, faxes, and printers for two year now and have been very pleased with the quality. If you experience problems with a recycled copy paper, try another brand. Don't be quick to blame the recycled paper. Test samples of the many available recycled brands. The DPW has samples of recycled paper; give a call to test some out.

What are some other ways to reduce waste in the work place?

• Post announcements in central locations

• Circulate instead of photocopy documents

• Use centralized filing system

• Edit documents on screen before printing

• Use scrap paper for note pads & phone messages

• Store correspondence electronically

• Print rough drafts on the unused side of used paper

• Use double sided copying

• Set narrower margins

• Use smaller fonts

• Reuse manila folders

• Single space documents when possible

• Donate surplus supplies for reuse

When buying new office equipment consider:

• Laser writers/printers that make double sided copies

• Fax machines that use plain paper

• Electronic mail systems

• Copy machines with double sided capability

How can I get rid of my junk mail once and for all?
Most of us are tired of seeing our mailboxes fill up with stacks of junk mail. This unwanted mail clutters our homes and costs hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to dispose of every year.

There are several things you can do to let advertisers know you want to be removed from their mailing lists.

• Obtain a "Junk Mail Reduction Kit" from the DPW.

• Send a postcard to the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service.   Include on your postcard your name, address and phone number in all the various ways they appear on the junk mail you receive.  This will add your name to the "delete file¨ where it will remain for five years. Approximately 70% of direct marketers use the Service to avoid sending unwanted mail.

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
Box 282
Carmel, NY 10512

• Use post paid response cards and envelopes to return junk mail.  Be sure to include the mailing label and request to be removed from the mailing list.

• When you apply for a credit card, magazine subscription or membership in an organization, or donate to a charity, write ¡§Please do not rent, sell, trade or give my name to other businesses or organizations¡¨ on your application.

• Have the phone company remove your name from the published phone directory. Some mailing list companies use the directory as a source of addresses.

• If you are getting duplicate mailings, send the company both labels and ask them to eliminate the extra copy.

• Junk mail with first class postage can be returned.  Write "Return to Sender¨ on the envelope.   This does not require additional postage.

Test your knowledge about junk mail:

• Weight of paper in U.S. municipal solid waste in 1980: 55 million tons.

• Weight of paper in U.S. municipal solid waste in 1998: 84 million tons

• Number of trees it takes to make a ton of paper: 17

• Weight of catalogs and other direct mailings in the U.S. municipal solid waste stream in 1998: 5.2 million tons

• Rate at which bulk mail was recycled in 1998: 18.9%

• Number of garbage trucks it would take to haul away all the unrecycled junk mail in the U.S. to landfills and incinerators each year:  340,000

• Typical weight of 4 elephants:  17.8 tons

• Amount of bulk mail delivered annually by each of the U.S. Postal Service's 293,000 letter carriers:   17.8 tons

• Amount of time the average American spends opening bulk mail over the course of his or her life:  8 months

• Percentage of bulk mail that is thrown away unopened: 44%

• Money spent by U.S. companies on direct mail in 1993: $27.3 billion

• Money spent by U.S. companies on direct mail in 1998: $39.3 billion

• Tax dollars spent to dispose of junk mail:  $320 million

• Pieces of bulk mail sent by U.S. non-profits in one year:  12 billion

• Amount donated to non-profits in response to those bulk mailings:  $50 billion

I heard that the DPW can help me learn about composting.  What is it and how do I start?
Select Composting to answer this question...

Where  can I find out other recycling information on the web?
Try the DEP home page, at http//www.mass.gov/dep/recycle and the Materials Recycling Facility home page (building is located in Springfield), at http://www.springfieldmrf.org/