fyi From: Mail, Randi [mailto:rmail@cambridgema.gov] Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 9:46 AM Subject: Cambridge Recycling - Rain Barrels, Go Green Awards, Plastic Bags & More Sorry for cross-postings. please forward to Cambridge family, friends and neighbors and tell them email recycle@cambridgema.gov to stay in the loop. Hello Recycling & Composting Neighbors! In this issue: StoryTrade at Open Studios, 5/19 2012 Go Green Awards, 5/22 Rain Barrel Sale Through 5/31 Hazardous Materials Donate That Stuff Plastic Bags Tours, Tours, Tours! StoryTrade at Open Studios, 5/19 Back in the Day... Timeless Stories About Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. As part of Cambridge Open Studios, StoryStream and Cambridge Recycling will have a StoryTrade, a unique storytelling event to share stories about reducing waste, consuming less and choosing to reuse. Our ancestors were natural recyclers. For centuries everybody knew how to make-do, keep the wolf from the door, scrape by, and improvise. Folklore is full of imaginative responses, basic needs, waste and greed. And there are countless stories that show how to live in elegant simplicity. Come hear folktales and share your personal stories of creative, sustainable living. Saturday 5/19, 2-4pm, Porter Square Books, 25 White St. 2012 Go Green Awards, 5/22 The City invites you to a breakfast to celebrate business and institutional leaders who have taken action to create a sustainable future. Tuesday, May 22 265 Massachusetts Ave, MIT Museum Reception begins at 8:00am, ceremony at 8:30am. The awards recognize exceptional environmental practices in five areas: energy use, transportation, waste reduction, storm water management, and climate protection. After the program, the special exhibit Rivers of Ice <http://web.mit.edu/museum/exhibitions/rivers-of-ice.html> will be open to guests. Join business and community leaders on climate issues as we recognize this year's award winners. Thank you to MIT for generously hosting. RSVP to randers@cambridgema.gov. Rain Barrel Sale Through 5/31 Capture rainwater from your roof, store it in a rain barrel, and use later in your garden. Buy a 60-gallon collection system for $69, a 40% discount. Offer valid through May 31. Barrels will be delivered Thursday, June 7, from 4-7 pm, at Cambridge DPW, 147 Hampshire St. If rainwater is not captured and allowed to soak back into the ground, rivers and streams do not have the chance to sustain or "recharge" themselves. By capturing rainwater, you can reduce stormwater runoff, conserve water and recharge groundwater. To order online, see the new design and color options visit The Great American Rain Barrel Company website <http://www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com/> , click on "Community Programs" and select "Cambridge". Or, call (800) 251-2352 and mention the Cambridge promotion. Hazardous Materials Don't put hazardous items in the trash, get rid of them right. Here are some quick links on what to do with household hazardous products. Wondering about computer monitors/TVs <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash/curbsidec ollections/getridofitright/Electronics/computersandtvs.aspx> , non-alkaline batteries <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash/hazardous wastecollection/Batteries.aspx> , motor oil, fluorescent bulbs <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash/hazardous wastecollection/florescentlights.aspx> ? What about small appliances, cell phones, printer cartridges <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash/aboutrecy cling/dpwrecyclingcenter.aspx> , and prescription medicine <http://www2.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/Flyer_DrugDro p_FINAL.pdf> ? Syringes and needles can be brought to the Health Dept year-round at 119 Windsor St. The next special hazardous collection day <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash/hazardous wastecollection.aspx> is July 21 from 9am-1pm at the parking lot on Field St at Fern St by Danehy Park. We accept chemicals, fuels, paints, propane tanks. Please know dried out latex paint is accepted for trash pickup, lids off. Let evaporate outside or add kitty litter to speed drying. Donate That Stuff - Don't Throw it Out! Spring cleaning? Moving on? Want to save money - buy gently used items. Use Freecycle <http://www.freecycle.org/> and Craigslist <http://www.craigslist.org/> to get rid of and/or find furniture, household items and even clothing. Need a map and list of places to donate your stuff or get great deals? Click here <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/permitsanddocuments/Documents/detail.as px?path=%2fsitecore%2fcontent%2fhome%2ftheworks%2fpermitsanddocuments%2fDocu ments%2fDocuments%2fR%2fRecycling%2fdonateyourstuff> (the City provides this info without endorsements). Specifically, check out: . MIT Student Furniture Exchange <http://web.mit.edu/womensleague/fx/> 617.253.4293, 350 Brookline Street, open Tues/Thurs 10 am-4 pm and the first Saturday of the month 10 am-1 pm. Anyone can make a tax deductible donations of used furniture and household goods. Need valid university ID (MIT, Harvard, Suffolk, and BU) to make a purchase. Proceeds benefit the MIT Women's League Scholarship Fund. For more info email fx@mit.edu. . Boomerangs <http://action.aac.org/site/PageServer?pagename=boomerangs_donations> Free pickup of furniture! 617-309-7220, 563 Mass Ave, open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm. Proceeds support AIDS Action to prevent new infections, support those affected, and tackle the root causes of HIV/AIDS. Donate clothing, furniture, media, housewares, kitchenware, linens, accessories, electronics. Check their website for specific info on donations. . MA Coalition for the Homeless <http://www.mahomeless.org/programs/furniture-bank> Call 781-595-7570 x13 for pickup. Donate kitchen tables/chairs, couches, sofa Chairs, ottomans, hutches, coffee/end tables, dressers, mirrors, rugs, bed frames, lamps, dishes, pots/pans, TV/Stereos, blankets/linens, and bookshelves/cabinets. For more info email Albenny@mahomeless.org. . All clothing, shoes and household textiles are accepted by Goodwill <http://www.goodwillmass.org/> , Salvation Army <http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/83B95A1CF 19F4F4A8025734C0049A6FC?openDocument> , Red Cross <http://www.bostonredcross.org/general.asp?SN=4410&OP=4415&SUOP=4416&IDCapit ulo=29RRV668X1> and Planet Aid <http://www.planetaid.org/> . You can even donate items that are torn, stained, broken or missing something. Wearable clothing is resold and used by people, damaged clothing is recycled into wiping rags, and everything else is processed back into fibers remanufactured into paper, yarn, insulation, carpet padding, sound proofing, etc. Plastic Bags Residents can bring plastic bags to the Recycling Center <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash/aboutrecy cling/dpwrecyclingcenter.aspx> during open hours, as well as at Harvest Coop, Market Basket, Shaws, Star Market, and Whole Foods. Bags must be empty, clean, and dry. Accepted bags include: grocery bags, bread bags, produce bags, retail bags (hard plastic & string handles removed), newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags, toilet paper, napkin, and paper towel wraps, furniture wrap, electronic wrap, zip lock bags (remove hard components), cereal box liners, tyvek (no glue, labels, other material), diaper wrap (packaging), plastic shipping envelopes (remove labels), case wrap (e.g. snacks, water bottles), and All CLEAN bags labeled #2 and #4. No frozen food bags, No prewashed salad mix bags, No bio-based bags, No compostable bags, No bubble wrap, No cling wrap. For more info visit www.plasticbagrecycling.org. Tours, Tours, Tours! Cambridge residents and City employees are invited to tour Casella Recycling in Charlestown and Waste Management's incinerator in Saugus. No children under 16. The tour lasts about 2 hours and involves walking on narrow catwalks and stairs, close to heavy equipment. You must be able to keep up with a group walking at a steady pace. We meet at DPW and carpool. Let us know if you can drive and how many people you can take. Email recycle@cambridgema.gov to sign up and we'll send more info. Recycling Tours: 5/17 (early afternoon), 6/6 (morning). Or, watch a short video at www.zero-sort.com. Trash Tours: 5/22, 6/13 (all early afternoon) **************************************************************************** Forward this eNewsletter to your friends & family in Cambridge. If you would like to be taken off this list, email "unsubscribe" to recycle@cambridgema.gov. . Missed recycling? Please call DPW at 617-349-4800 no later than 12 noon the day after collection, or use iReport <http://www.cambridgema.gov/iReport.aspx> , the city's new online and mobile app to request missed recycling/trash and more! . Request for toters, brochures, stickers or posters? Use our online form. <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash/curbsidec ollections/curbsiderecyclingbasics/BlueBinRequestForm.aspx> . "Like" the Cambridge DPW on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-of-Cambridge-Department-of-Public-Works- Official/100857050004033> . . Please note that during holidays weeks, trash, recycling and yard waste collection is delayed one day. Check the 2012 collection schedule <http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash/schedules androutes.aspx> online for full details. Ms. Randi Mail Director of Recycling Cambridge Dept of Public Works Take the 50% recycling pledge today at <http://www.cambridgema.gov/recycle> www.cambridgema.gov/recycle and get a free sticker! Recycle More. Trash Less.