Recycling captains needed to help spread word

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June 18, 2009

By Cara Spilsbury

In an effort to make the new single-stream recycling trial a success, Team Haverhill's recycling committee and the mayor's office have put out a call for street captains.

"We want to double recycling in the city," said Mayor James Fiorentini at a recent recycling information meeting at the St. James School. "We really need all your help. Recycle yourself, and tell your neighbors."

Beginning July 7, the Tuesday trash route will include curbside recycling along with trash pickup. Homeowners on the Tuesday route — which includes the Lower Acre, Hilldale Avenue, Broadway, and Ayers Village neighborhoods — will be able to put out all recyclables, not just paper, at the curb.

To help spread the word, volunteers are needed to be street captains. The captains are to be recycling leaders in their neighborhoods. They will talk up the program with their neighbors, answer any questions neighbors may have and put their recycling out each time the trucks are coming to help remind others to do the same.

Some of the new street captains made it to the first community recycling meeting.

Nancy Hammonds, who lives near Crystal Lake, is happy to help the program grow.

"I'm really excited to volunteer," she said. "I want to get the word out, answer any questions and be an example."

Haverhill households produce and average of 51 pounds of trash per week, and advocates hope the curbside single-stream recycling will help reduce that number. Single-stream recyling allows for all recyclables — aluminum, plastic, and paper — to be picked up at once without the need to separate them.

The program is being tried on Tuesday route and if it is successful, organizers hope to bring the program to the rest of the city.

The trial is expected to run for at least six months. During that time, all other residents can continue to put paper out for curbside pickup, but must bring other recyclables to the Primrose Street facility.

Advocates hope that through community meetings and the actions of the street captains, word of single-stream recycling will spread, the Tuesday trial will be a success, and the program can grow to be used citywide.

"I think people will recycle," said Remi DePommier, a member of Team Haverhill and its Recycling Committee. "It's such a convenient system; we just need to get the work out to people so they know it's happening."

For information on becoming a street captain in your neighborhood, call the mayor's office at 978-374-2300.