Lessons begin on curbside recycling

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June 11, 2009

By Cara Spilsbury

It was Recycling 101 at St. James Elementary School on Primrose Street as eight residents attended the first of several sessions to provide information about the city's new single-stream curbside recycling test program.¬

Haverhill will run a trial on the Tuesday trash route that allows residents to have all their recycling picked up curbside.

The city picks up all paper for recycling citywide, but requires residents to bring other recycling to a center on Primrose Street.

The program will accept all recyclable materials together with no need to separate by type. Collection begins July 7 and will run at least six months.

Running the information session were representatives from Team Haverhill, DPW Director Mike Stankovich, and Haverhill's Recycling consultant Steve Clifford.¬

Mayor James Fiorentini also attended the meeting.

"We'd like the double recycling in the city," Fiorentini said. "We really need all your help. Recycle yourself, and tell your neighbors."

Remi DePommier of Team Haverhill explained what could and could not be recycled. Plastic trash bags and greasy paper or cardboard are not accepted. Most plastics, papers and metals such as aluminum and tin are allowed.

Any receptacle with a "Haverhill Recycles" sticker could be used for the allowable materials. There is no limit to the amount that can be put out at the curb, and the stickers will be mailed to homes.

On average, Haverhill households produce an average of 51 pounds of trash per week, according to DePommier. According to the mayor, the city spends about $1.3 million a year to haul its trash to Covanta.¬

If participation doubles, organizers predict that the program would pay for itself if it were taken citywide.

All that residents in the Broadway, Hilldale Avenue, Ayers Village and lower Acre areas — the neighborhoods currently on the Tuesday trash route — have to do to make the program a success is reduce their trash production by 10 to 15 percent, said DePommier.

Fiorentini is hoping that the recycling participation rate in the neighborhoods will double. That kind of success could spread the program citywide.

WHAT's allowed?

Household plastics, with a number 1 through 7 in a triangle on the bottom of the product. This includes jugs and bottles, round tubs for yogurt and butter, and baby food containers. They should be cleaned before being put in the bin.

Glass bottles and jars, clear or colored.

Soda cans, aluminum foil, pie plates and tin cans. There's no need to remove the paper label.

Paper and cardboard, like newsppaper, office paper, envelopes, sticky notes, junk mail, magazines, cereal boxes and corrugated cardboard.

next Sessions

Tuesday, June 16: West Congregational Church, 767 Broadway -¬ 5 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23: Haverhill High School Auditorium, 137 Monument St. - 5 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 30: Haverhill Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St. - 5 to 7 p.m.

Monday, July 13:¬ Ayers Village Fire Station, 1420 Broadway - 5 to 7 p.m.