Highway Dept. Announce New Recycling Standards

The Highway Department of the Belmont Department of Public Works announced that effective immediately, due to the falling values of raw materials, the facility that accepts Belmont's recyclables will no longer accept contaminated materials and are requiring strict conformance for the packaging of recyclables. 

According to the Highway Department, all residents and occupants of buildings for which the town provides curbside collection are responsible for separating all recyclables from other solid waste and place those recyclables at curbside for collection.

Any person who does not comply with this new regulation is subject to a fine of $50.

Co-mingled Containers:

Clean and Rinsed: Food or beverage containers marked 1-7 plastics, tin cans, aluminum cans, glass (clear & colored) bottles and jars, aseptic packing containers (small lined juice containers), aluminum trays, and pie plates & foil.

Place all acceptable these co-mingled materials in the green or blue 14-gallon recycle bin(s) at the curb by 7 a.m. on recycling day.

Unacceptable material

Hazardous waste, metal or glass other than food or beverage containers, unmarked plastic material, paper, Styrofoam/foam packaging or plastic bags, juice cans with plastic/paper parts, paint or aerosol cans or other metal materials.

Examples of unacceptable materials: Plastic chairs, beach chairs, lawn chairs, children toys and play equipment, laundry baskets, swimming pools, window glass, mirrors, Pyrex, and ceramics.

Paper and corrugated cardboard 

All office paper (colored paper, computer paper, fax paper, memo pads, Post-it-notes) file folders, catalogues, and all envelopes with or without windows, newspapers, magazines, telephone books, paperboard, junk mail, chip board (cereal/shoe boxes), poly-laminated beverage containers (aseptic containers), and Kraft paper bags. Place all recyclable paper in brown bags next to the 14-gallon recycle bin(s).

Corrugated containers free of moisture barrier and wax content should be flattened or cut into pieces no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet.  These can be included with other paper recycling in brown paper bags or tied with string in stacks less than 9 inches high.  Cardboard should be secured (such as placing it under your recycling bin) so it doesn't blow away.

Unacceptable material for recycling

 Hard covered books, contaminated paper, carbon paper, Mylar, wax paper, waxed corrugated, Tyvek envelopes, photographic paper, paper towels, hanging folders, wax corrugated, pizza boxes, foam packaging or plastic bags, household garbage or organic waste, refuse, and industrial and commercial waste, rubbish.

Yard Waste

Leaves, twigs, grass, weeds, flowers, wood chips, plants, hedge and shrub pruning (1" or less in diameter) and other easily raked yard waste. 

These items can be placed in 30 gallon biodegradable paper bags not weighing more than 50 pounds and tops folded over not stapled or taped closed or 32 gallon barrels marked with two yard waste stickers (stickers are provided by the town) not weighing more than 50 pounds bags.