[Adopted August 1991 by the Select Board]
A.
Recycling is mandatory in Lexington.
B.
The Town of Lexington is committed to reducing the
generation of solid waste within the community by working to:
C.
The Town Meeting has established a requirement for
the mandatory separation of certain recyclable materials from the
rubbish of Lexington residents. School buildings and public buildings
are included in this program. Apartments and condominiums also participate.
Residents are encouraged to reduce the volume of packaging they bring
home and to buy and use recycled products in order to support markets
for recyclable materials.
The Town of Lexington collects the following
categories of solid waste:
A.
Recyclable waste (every other week curbside collection). The following materials should be included in the Lex-Recycle bin. Consult the recycling brochure for an up-to-date listing or see § 181-60 for details on preparation.
(1)
Glass. Clear, green and brown food and beverage containers
only.
(2)
Metal. Food and beverage cans.
(3)
Plastic. Narrow-neck bottles with No. 1 or No. 2 inside
the recycling symbol.
(4)
Aseptic cartons. Milk and juice cartons/boxes.
(5)
Mixed paper. Newspapers, office papers, junk mail,
chipboard, magazines, etc.
C.
Household hazardous products disposal (10 collection events annually). Household hazardous waste includes any products or materials that can be toxic (poisonous), corrosive, flammable or reactive (explosive). See § 181-62 for details.
D.
White goods pickup (curbside appliance pickup). Appliances are collected curbside by appointment only. See § 181-63 for details.
A.
Where to place containers. Collection occurs at the
curbside. Place trash containers or recycling bins (with at least
eight feet between them) parallel to the curb, not going up the driveway
or walk. Waste will not be removed from inside houses, garages or
other enclosures. Residents should be aware of winter plowing operations
and place their refuse containers where they will not impede sidewalk
plows or be toppled by street plows.
B.
When. Place the containers at curbside no earlier
than 6:00 a.m. and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the collection day.
Remove empty containers within 12 hours of the collection. Collection
vehicles will not return to an area after the trash or recyclables
in that area have been collected.
C.
Holiday collection. Regular waste and recyclables
are not collected on legal holidays. Therefore, do not put waste at
the curbside on a holiday. During a week when a holiday falls on a
collection day, the weekly collection moves forward one day. For example,
if a holiday falls on a Monday, waste is collected Tuesday through
Saturday of that week; if a holiday falls on a Tuesday, waste is collected
on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday of that week. Your recycling
brochure lists all legal holidays affecting trash collection.
D.
Sanitary conditions. Before and after collection,
residents are responsible for maintaining safe and sanitary conditions
at the collection site. Residents must remove refuse from spills or
broken containers prior to the collection. The contractor will not
collect loose refuse. Dog and/or wild animal complaints can be reported
to the Animal Control Department at 862-0500 extension 240 during
normal work hours.
E.
Scavenging. Scavenging or picking through trash or
recyclables is prohibited.
F.
Penalties. Violation of these rules may subject a
resident to penalty provisions under Town Bylaws and adopted regulations
of the Select Board. In particular, if recyclable waste appears in
a regular trash container, the Town will not collect the resident's
regular trash.
[Amended 3-27-2019 ATM by Art. 34]
Mandatory separation of certain recyclable materials
from the regular trash by Lexington residents was established by Town
Meeting in 1988. A detailed recycling brochure is mailed to all Lexington
households annually.
A.
Containers. As part of the Lex-Recycle programs, the
Town provides each new household with a recycling bin (provide proof
of new residency to pick up free bin). Every household must use at
least one Lex-Recycle bin. Additional recycling bins are available
for a small fee. These are available at the Public Works Building,
201 Bedford Street, weekdays from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. For information,
telephone 861-2757.
B.
Recyclable waste preparation. Follow these rules when
preparing and putting out recyclables, placing glass, metal, plastic
and aseptic containers in the bottom of the Lex-Recycle bin, with
bagged or bundled paper on top or beside the bin.
(1)
Glass. Clear, green and brown food and beverage containers.
Rinse clean. Remove lids, caps, corks, plastic sleeves, etc. Paper
labels are okay. Do not recycle broken glass.
(2)
Metal. Aluminum and steel (tin) food and beverage
cans. Rinse clean. Crush to save space. Discard cutout lids or secure
within can by crushing. Labels are okay.
(3)
Plastic. Narrow-neck bottles with No. 1 or No. 2 within
the recycling symbol: water, juice, milk, soda and detergent bottles.
Rinse clean, remove lids/neck rings, crush or nest. Labels are okay.
(4)
Aseptic. Milk and juice cartons/boxes. Empty and rinse
clean. Remove straws.
(5)
Mixed paper. Place newspapers/inserts, junk mail,
office paper, book pages, chipboard boxes (empty and flattened), single
magazines, catalogs or phone books in brown grocery bags. Magazines,
catalogs or phone books may be tied up to twelve-inch stacks. Break
down and tie corrugated cardboard 30 inches square maximum. No plastic
bags are recyclable.
C.
Items that will not be collected. Recyclable waste
collectors will not collect the following items (which may be disposed
of in the regular trash collection):
(1)
Plastic bags with mixed paper.
(2)
Food remnants or wrappings.
(3)
Soiled paper, chipboard or cardboard cartons.
(4)
Plastic or foil cereal liners.
(5)
Book covers or bindings.
(6)
Waxed cardboard.
(7)
Unflattened corrugated boxes.
(8)
Pizza boxes.
(9)
Window or auto glass, mirrors, Pyrex, ceramics, dishes,
etc.
(10)
Broken glass.
(11)
Aluminum foil, pie pans or trays.
(12)
Paint cans.
(13)
Aerosol cans (empty).
(14)
No wide-top food containers (yogurt, butter
tubs, etc.).
(15)
Any plastic bags.
(16)
Motor oil containers.
(17)
Unmarked plastics or bottles with a No. 3, 4,
5, 8 or 7 inside the recycling symbol.
(18)
Soiled aseptic boxes or cartons.
D.
Where. Put the recycling bin(s) at curbside, six to
eight feet away from the regular trash containers.
E.
When. Collection of recyclable waste in the Lex-Recycle
bin occurs every other week, on the same day as the regular waste
pickup. Consult contractor's annual brochure for calendar schedule
or call DPW at 861-2757 or Waste Management, Inc., Woburn, (781) 933-2113.
F.
When moving. The recycling bin should be turned in
to the Water Billing Clerk in the Tax Collector's office, Town Office
Building, when the final water bill is paid.
Regular weekly trash collection is divided into
five routes, roughly coinciding with precinct lines.
A.
Approved containers. Put all waste in approved containers
only. Do not stuff containers beyond their capacity or have items
protruding out of the top of the barrels. Cracked or broken containers
that are empty will be collected as waste. All containers are used
at the owner's risk. Approved containers include:
(1)
Plastic bags that are at least 1.5 mils thick. The
bags must not exceed three cubic feet (30 gallons) in content or 40
pounds in weight. The bags must be tightly sealed or tied.
(2)
Metal containers should be watertight and rust-resistant
and have handles and tight-fitting covers. The containers must not
exceed three cubic feet (32 gallons) in content or 50 pounds in weight.
(3)
Plastic barrels must be heat- and water-resistant
and must have handles and tight-fitting covers. They must not exceed
three cubic feet (32 gallons) in content or 50 pounds in weight. The
waste collector is not responsible for plastic containers that crack
during cold weather.
C.
When moving. The regular waste collector will pick
up additional trash containers in excess of the maximums listed in
Paragraph B when residents are moving or cleaning out basements, etc.
Residents must call Waste Management, Inc., 933-2113 to notify them
in advance of their regular collection day. The waste collector does
not make special pickups.
D.
Bulky objects. One bulky object per week will be collected at curbside on the regular collection day. A bulky object is anything that will not fit into an approved container (Subsection A), such as a television set, automobile tire (without rim), storm door, lawn furniture, barbecue grill, mattress, box spring, rugs (cut in four-foot lengths, rolled and tied), etc.
E.
Waste preparation. Follow these rules when preparing
and putting out waste:
(1)
Drain all liquids from food waste before putting it
into the waste container.
(2)
Wrap food waste securely in plastic bags, such as
old bread or supermarket bags.
(3)
Make sure no waste material protrudes above the top
of the container.
(4)
Window glass should be taped to prevent shattering.
(5)
Keep waste containers in a sanitary condition, covered
and/or tightly sealed. A few drops of ammonia discourages animals
from scavenging.
(6)
Cut tree branches and limbs no less than one inch
and no more than four inches in diameter into three-foot lengths and
tie in bundles. Bundles must not exceed 50 pounds in weight and 24
inches in diameter. Maximum of five bundles per pickup.
(7)
Wooden objects such as picnic tables, fence parts
and scrap wood should also be cut into three-foot lengths and tied
in bundles.
(8)
Scrap metal such as fence posts, railings, dismantled
swing sets, aluminum ladders or lawn furniture should be broken down
and securely tied before putting at curbside.
(9)
Lawn mowers should have gas tanks removed and all
fluids removed as well.
(10)
Latex paint must be completely dried out (solidified)
before placing in regular trash. Use kitty litter or a similar drying
agent to speed up process.
(11)
Oil-based paints with less than two inches of
residue may also be dried out and disposed in trash.
F.
Items that will not be collected by the waste collector:
(1)
Dead animals or animal waste.
(3)
Biological or infectious wastes, medicines and medical
devices.
(4)
Improperly packaged medical sharps.
(5)
Automotive parts, such as batteries, body parts, engine blocks, fenders, frames, tire rims, gas tanks, transmissions, etc. (For disposal, see footnote under § 181-62 re: John Carrol.)
(6)
Logs and tree stumps.
(10)
Building and/or construction debris, e.g. wood,
asphalt, concrete, etc. Building contractors are responsible for the
proper disposal of all construction and building material or offer
debris left from their work, such as wood, beams, shingles, plaster,
asphalt, concrete, earth and gravel, etc. The Town of Lexington has
no facilities for disposal of construction materials and the regular
trash contractor will not remove it as residential waste. Please consult
the Yellow Pages for disposal contractors.
The Town of Lexington has joined with seven
neighboring communities to address the problem of household hazardous
products disposal. In order to keep these materials out of the waste
stream and the environment, residents are encouraged to deposit them
at the Minuteman Household Hazardous Products Facility on the scheduled
event days. Some of the products that should be separated from your
recyclable or regular trash are listed below. For proper disposal
of any hazardous waste not listed below or listings of dates, contact
the Board of Health, 862-0500 extension 200.
A.
Location. The Minuteman Household Hazardous Products
Facility is located on Hartwell Avenue, at the site of the DPW Composting
Operation and the former landfill. The entrance to the facility is
located opposite Maguire Road on Hartwell Avenue.
B.
Hours of operation. Collections occur on 10 Saturdays
(at least once a month) from April to November. Hours of operation
are 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Residents will receive an annual mailing
indicating the dates when the facility will be open, along with instructions
for bringing the waste.
C.
Products. Hazardous waste includes any products or
materials that can be toxic (poisonous), corrosive, flammable or reactive
(explosive). Collection events include but may not be limited to the
following products. Consult the annual mailing for up-to-date product
listing and limits.
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Cleaning Products
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Bathroom cleaners
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Drain openers
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Oven cleaners
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Metal or furniture polish
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Spot removers
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Automotive Products*
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Motor oil and oil filters
|
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Brake or transmission fluids
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Antifreeze
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Solvents
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Auto batteries
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Polishes and wax
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Pesticides
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Weed killers
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Fungicides and herbicides
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Insecticides, pest strips
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Fertilizers with weed killer
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Wood preservatives
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Rat poisons
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Paint and Paint Products
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Paint and Paint Thinners**
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Paint removers
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Stains and varnishes
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Epoxies and adhesives
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Aerosol cans (with product)***
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Other Products
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Batteries****
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Fluorescent lights
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Thermostats
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Driveway sealer
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Pool chemicals
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Hobby or photography chemicals
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Propane tanks (up to 22 pounds)
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Waste fuels (e.g. gasoline)
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Do Not Bring
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Explosives
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Asbestos
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Ammunition, fireworks
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Commercial hazardous waste
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Empty aerosol cans***
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Fire extinguishers
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Gas cylinders
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Infectious or biological wastes
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Medicines or syringes
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PCBs
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Radioactive materials
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Smoke detectors
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Tires
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*John P. Carroll, 700 Waltham St., 861-6060,
accepts auto parts, batteries and clean used oil.
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**Latex paint can be completely dried out and
placed in regular trash (kitty litter speeds up process).
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***Only aerosol cans that contain paint, oil
or lubricants. Empty aerosol cans may be put in regular trash.
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****Household batteries may be returned any
time to Theatre Camera, 1810 Mass. Ave., 862-2026.
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Refrigerators, stoves, microwave ovens, dishwashers,
washing machines, clothes dryers, water heaters, air conditioners
and dehumidifiers are collected curbside by appointment only at no
additional charge. Doors must be removed from refrigerators. Collections
are currently scheduled once a week. Call the present contractor to
schedule a pickup, Waste Management, Inc., Woburn (781) 933-2113.
A.
State solid waste management regulations prohibit
the disposal of yard waste in landfills and incinerators. Lexington
has developed several options for disposal of approved yard waste.
Approved yard waste includes:
B.
Yard waste curbside collection. Yard waste is collected
at curbside during the spring and fall collection period in a separate
truck by the regular waste contractor and transported to the Town
compost site at the Hartwell Avenue Recycling Facility.
(1)
Containers. Yard waste must be placed in open trash
barrels or biodegradable paper bags and must not be mixed with regular
trash. Yard waste in any other containers will not be collected.
(2)
Where and when. Place yard waste (in open barrels
or biodegradable paper bags sold by local merchants) containers curbside
at least eight feet away from regular trash containers on the regular
trash collection day during the three-week spring or ten-week fall
collection period. Consult the annual recycling brochure or local
newspaper for exact collection dates. Yard waste placed at curbside
prior to or after the yard waste curbside collection period will not
be collected.
(3)
Biodegradable bags. These thirty-gallon bags hold
three times the weight of plastic bags and they do not pollute the
environment as plastic bags do. So-called "plastic biodegradable bags"
are a combination of plastic and cornstarch. They are weaker in strength
than the paper bags and while the cornstarch breaks down the plastic
does not. The following Lexington merchants are selling biodegradable
paper bags for leaf collection, for $0.40 per bag, as a community
service:
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Alexander's Market
335 Woburn Street
862-7528
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Lexington Gardens
91 Hancock Street
862-7000
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Theater Camera Shop
1810 Mass. Avenue
862-2026
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Concord Hill Market
2219 Mass. Avenue
862-9706
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Lexington Hardware
327 Woburn Street
863-0100
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Wagon Wheel Nursery
927 Waltham Street
862-2112
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Doran's Greenhouses
150 East Street
862-5127
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Seasons Four
1265 Mass. Avenue
861-1200
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Wilson Farms
10 Pleasant Street
862-3900
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Home Environmental
184 Bedford Street
862-2873
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Stop & Shop
36 Bedford Street
861-0456
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C.
Town compost drop-off site. Residents may bring approved
yard waste in any container to the Hartwell Avenue Recycling Facility
across from Maguire Road. After the container is emptied, it must
be removed from the area (biodegradable paper bags are the only exception
to this rule).
(1)
Hours. The recycling area is open for yard waste disposal
from April to mid-December during the following hours: Monday through
Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It
is also open the Saturday before Easter Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. and closed Easter Sunday and open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
on all Saturdays in November.
(2)
Contractors employed by Town residents may also dispose
of approved yard waste at the recycling area. Contractors must purchase
a yard waste permit sticker during business hours at the DPW Operations
Facility at 201 Bedford Street. Permit sticker fees are dependent
upon the size of the vehicle. Contractors who do not obtain a permit
or who provide false information will not be allowed to enter the
area. Punch cards for occasional disposal of up to 10 yards (one-yard
increments) of yard waste or for dumping brush from one inch to three
inches in diameter are available for $50 ($5 per yard).
D.
Composted product available to residents. At the Recycling
Facility, yard waste is composted, mixed with peat and loam, and used
in park, cemetery, recreation and highway projects. Compost is also
available in small amounts for home use at little or no cost to residents.
Bring your own container.
Residents may dispose of Christmas trees beginning
the first Monday of January by placing them curbside with their regular
trash for collection and incineration or bringing them to the DPW
Facility at 201 Bedford Street any time after Christmas to recycle
them. Leave trees in front of dead-end driveway opposite front entrance.
If recycling, please remove all foreign objects from tree: ornaments,
tinsel, nails, wire, tacks, plastic bags, twine or rope. These items
are dangerous to employees and equipment when trees are being chipped.
No wreaths or roping may be recycled.
Lexington has received a state grant from the
Department of Environmental Protection to distribute home composting
bins at a reduced price of $20 (plus tax) each. Purchase bins at the
DPW at 201 Bedford Street and then pick them up at the Hartwell Avenue
Dump during its business hours (Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to
3:00 p.m.). An information brochure is available from the Department
of Public Works. To make compost:
For questions or suggestions regarding Lex-Recycle
programs call Public Works Operations weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(861-2757) or the E-Call Hotline 24 hours a day (1-800-800-6881).
