Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/2022/10/15/citys-new-trash-recycling-rules-fees-start-this-week/)

Watertown DPW A curbside composting toter sits next to Watertown trash and recycling toters.

The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown recently ratified the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan. This plan establishes the goal of a 30 percent statewide reduction in disposal tonnage between now and 2030.

The Watertown Department of Public Works is implementing new programmatic changes that will allow Watertown to achieve the 30 percent reduction in our disposal tonnage based on a 2019 baseline. New programs and policies have been created to increase diversion of materials away from disposal through reduced consumption, reuse of existing items, and expansion of recycling programs. Thank you to all Watertown residents for your support and patience as we transition into these new policy changes.

ALL NEW PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE AS OF OCTOBER 17, 2022

76 Stanley Ave. Recycle Center: Open Tuesday, Friday, & Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. to Watertown residents. ACTIVE NOW Open hours are transitioning to 3 days a week starting Monday, September 12th, 2022.Materials collected: Cardboard, single stream recycling, yard waste, e-waste, batteries, textiles (clothing, shoes, bedding), scrap metal items, hard plastics (outside furniture, toys, etc.), compost collection.New addition to Recycle Center: Compost collection.

Food Scraps/ Compostable Materials: Watertown is partnering with Black Earth Compost to provide free food waste collection. ACTIVE NOW Residents that would like to participate in the curbside collection program must register at: blackearthcompost.com/watertownCurbside collection pilot available for residents in buildings with 4 units or fewer.Compost drop off available at the Recycle Center for all residents.All food scraps must be emptied into communal totes directly. NO bags of any kind.Acceptable items: Meat, bones, dairy, vegetables, leftovers, coffee grounds and filters, eggs, eggshells, seafood and seafood shells, napkins.Complete list of items that are allowed into the bins: https://blackearthcompost.com/media/uploads/2019/09/26/BlackEarthCompostGuide.pdfFood waste collection has begun at Watertown Public Schools for the 2022-2023 school year.

Bulk items: Burnable items (excluding mattresses) will now have to be scheduled and paid for curbside pickup by phone at 844-737-8254 through Republic Services. These items will be collected curbside on Wednesdays. Please consider donating, selling, or gifting furniture and items that are in workable condition. This keeps large items out of disposal and decreases the need to create and transport new items. PROGRAM BEGINS OCTOBER 17, 2022 All burnable bulk items will now need to be scheduled for pickup. Schedule and pay for a pickup by phone at 844-737-8254 through Republic Services. Residents may also use an outside vendor if preferred.Items placed on the curb that have not been scheduled through Republic Services will not be collected and will be considered illegal dumping, which can result in a fine.Places to donate or sell include Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing-Watertown Facebook page, craigslist.org…etc.Each household can schedule collection for two burnable items per week.Prices for bulk item collection will depend on the item, size, and shape. Small/medium items will be capped at $25/per item, and large items such as couches will be capped at $50/per item.

TVs/ White Goods: These items cannot go into the trash and must be recycled properly. White Goods refers to household appliances like stoves, fridges, dehumidifiers, ovens, and microwaves … etc. PROGRAM BEGINS OCTOBER 17, 2022 TVs/White goods will require payment and scheduling through Republic Services.Schedule and pay for a pickup by phone at 844-737-8254 through Republic Services.Collections will occur every Thursday.Prices for White Goods/ TV collection will depend on the item, size, and shape. Small/medium items will be capped at $25/per item, and large items will be capped at $50/per item.MassSave provides zero cost appliance pickup and recycling. Consider scheduling a collection with them. To learn more, visit: www.masssave.com/shop/recycling/refrigerator-and-freezer-recycling

Mattress Recycling: Per MassDEP laws going into effect November, 2022 mattresses and box springs will become waste ban items. This means they cannot be thrown away and must be recycled. Watertown is partnering with HandUp, a mattress recycler. Schedule a curbside pickup by phone (617-378-7619) or at www.handupmattress.com/curbside-pickup. Click the “Schedule town pickup” button to sign up. OPT-IN, ACTIVE NOW. MANDITORY AS OF OCTOBER 17, 2022. Website to learn more:www.handupmattress.comThe City of Watertown has negotiated a price of $46 per mattress or box spring, separately.Watertown will have curbside collection at least one day per month, subject to increased collections.Mattresses left on the curb that have not been scheduled for a pickup with HandUp will be considered illegal dumping, which can result in a fine.Republic Services will no longer be collecting mattresses.Please visit https://www.watertown-ma.gov/827/Mattress-Recycling for more information and details on this program. 

The City of Watertown offers a set price of $20/ item for those customers who meet certain income based criteria. If you are a Watertown resident in an owner occupied property and receive a Section 17D or Section 41C real estate exemption, you qualify for this set price. If you are a Watertown resident and receive fuel assistance, you qualify for this set price. Please email a letter of interest and appropriate documentation of fuel assistance or real estate exemption to the Recycling Division, at recycle@watertown-ma.gov. 

For questions and further information, please visit www.watertown-ma.gov/trash  or email the Watertown Recycling Coordinator, Anya Pforzheimer at recycle@watertown-ma.gov

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Find out the latest about what is going on in town. Watertown News is an independent, locally owned news website. watertownmanews@gmail.com 617-458-9561 COMMENT RULES: Commenters must sign full real names. No foul language. No insults, slights or personal attacks. Also, Comments may not go up right away. Thanks for your patience.

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