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Home > Departments > Health Department > Recycling Program
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| Curbside recycling collection schedule
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| Recycling is picked up at the curb for all 1-5 family dwellings in the City on an every other week basis. Bins are provided by the Health Department to contain recyclable materials. Two bins are available to residents; Blue, for bottles, cans, and plastic containers, and Green for newspapers, magazines, and other paper materials. Cardboard boxes must be crushed and flattened and less than three feet square. All recyclable materials are brought to the state-owned Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Springfield.
The City's annual Household Hazardous Waste Day is also held at the Twiss St. transfer station, funded through the Solid Waste Management budget.
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The Westfield Recycling program continues to be very successful. Since its inception in 1990, over 46,767.39 tons have been removed from the waste stream, saving over 187,070 cubic yards of landfill space. If landfilled at commercial rates, this volume would have cost $2,806,043! Thanks to the efforts of residents, the City has earned $104,072 for the past year’s recyclables delivered to the Springfield MRF.
The City also received a state grant of $4000 to purchase milk carton washers for all elementary schools cutting their weekly trash volume by about 35%.
The end markets for recyclables continue to be very strong. This fact combined with the rising costs for trash disposal make it all the more important that we continue to recycle as much as possible. It is also very important that we help maintain the strong recycling markets by buying products from recycled materials to help “close the loop”. |
| The program saw two major changes in 1999. In July the Public Works Department assumed the operation of the curbside trash and recycling collection program. The Health Department still operates the drop-off recycling and composting programs at the Twiss Street Facility. In October the multifamily recycling program took effect providing recycling access to all families not previously included in the existing curbside program. |
BUY RECYCLED: HELP “CLOSE THE LOOP”
It is important to remember that setting recyclables at the curb is only a FIRST step. Getting materials to the MRF does not guarantee that they will be recycled; the market must also exist for these materials and there must be a demand for the recycled products. You can help close the loop by buying recycled and by being an environmental shopper. Remember the Four R’s:
- REDUCE the amount of trash you generate by avoiding overpackaged products
- RE-USE items whenever you can
- REJECT unnecessary items and packaging
- RECYCLE all items currently accepted in your recycling program.
THANKS FOR HELPING TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES
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| MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING | | The City’s curbside collection program serves all residents in single through five-family dwelling units ONLY. In 1999 the Westfield Board of Health adopted regulations to address the recycling needs of all other City residents in apartment complexes of six-family units or more, also those residing in condominiums, mobile home parks and institutions. Under these regulations the property owner or manager must provide ON-SITE drop-off and storage for all eligible recyclables, and their private trash haulers must also provide recycling COLLECTION service. Multifamily residents are also encouraged to utilize the recycling drop-off center at Twiss Street. Any questions regarding these programs may be directed to the Recycling Coordinator at (413) 572-6206. |
| TWISS STREET RECYCLING CENTER UPDATE | Westfield residents may drop off any of the following at the Twiss Street facility. All these materials are recycled in some way, and should not be mixed in with regular trash.
ITEMS AT NO COST:
- Books - all types, hardcover, softcover
- Electronics- CPUs, keyboards, peripherals, stereo equipment (no monitors or televisions)
- Paints, stains and varnishes (NO other chemicals)
- Fluorescent lamps, ballasts, transformers, thermometers, thermostats, Ni-Cad, rechargeable batteries, Spent rechargeable tools, "button" batteries, paint products
- Leaves and grass clippings, salvageable clothing, bulk metal items
- Used Motor oil, antifreeze, oil filters, car batteries
- All curbside recyclables
ITEMS REQUIRING A DISPOSAL FEE:
A sticker must first be purchased for the following items either at the Twiss Street site (Monday-Friday (9:00-1:00), or in the Parking/License Department at City Hall (Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00) and affixed to the item BEFORE it is dropped off for recycling. The sticker fees defray the disposal costs that the City must pay to ensure that these items are processed properly.
- Propane cylinders ($5 apiece)
- Tires ($2 apiece, $3 if on rim)
- Freon appliances: refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers ($10 apiece)
- Mattresses, box springs, upholstered furniture ($10 per item)
- Cathode ray tubes: televisions, computer monitors
Screen size less than 19 inches = $5
Screen size 19-35 inches = $10
Screen zise 36 inches or larger = $25
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| RECYCLING CENTER HOURS | Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saturday: 7:00 am - 12:00 pm
Winter Hours: Accepting recyclables, waste oil, anti-freeze, auto batteries and mercury bearing wastes: Starting December, the center will be open the first Saturday of each month: December 1, January 5, February 2, March 1, April 5. On April 26 the center will re-open every Saturday accepting ALL materials plus paints. |
| GIVE YOUR TRASH A SECOND CHANCE! HERE'S HOW! | Blue Recycling Bin:
Tin cans - rinsed
Glass bottles - all colors, unbroken, rinsed (labels and lids ok)
Aluminum - foil, cans and trays (clean only)
Plastic - bottles, jars, microwave trays, jugs (Flattened-no motor oil)
Milk, Juice Cartons - rinsed, flatten
Bleached paperboard - frozen food boxes, rinse, flatten
Drink Boxes - empty, remove straws, etc.
Green Recycling Bin:
Newspapers (with inserts)
Magazines and catalogues
Brown paper bags
White & colored paper
Envelopes - all colors (plastic windows ok)
Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
Junk Mail (remove plastic wrappings)
Computer paper
Phone books
Boxboard: cereal, shoe boxes, etc. (remove liners)
File folders
Greeting cards
Brochures, flyers
Cover and card stock, index cards
Construction paper
Calendars
Packing paper
Shredded (clean) paper
Pizza boxes (clean, turned inside-out)
Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
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| DO NOT RECYCLE | Plastic Bags or Wraps
Napkins or Sanitary Products
Motor Oil Bottles
Chemical Bottles
Foam Containers
Egg Cartons
Window Glass, Light Bulbs
Gift wrapping paper with plastic or foil facing
Please remember to separate recyclables from trash at the curb by at least 6 feet. |
| Curbside Bulk Collection | | Call the Department of Public Works at 564-3133 to schedule a pickup of furniture, appliances, rugs, carpeting, mattresses and picnic tables. Maximum 5 items. Call DPW with questions about this program. |
| For more information contact: | Public Works - Curbside Questions 572-6226
Health Dept - Drop-off & Multi family questions 572-6206. |
| Bins Available | | Visit the Health Department office to obtain replacement recycling bins or to purchase home composting bins. |
| Hazardous Waste Collection Day | | The annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be held on Saturday May 10, 2008 at the Twiss St. Recycling Center from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon. |
| Remember: You're not really recycling until you buy recycled |
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