Begin forwarded message: From: "Mail, Randi" <rmail@cambridgema.gov> Date: July 6, 2010 12:09:45 PM EDT Subject: Cambridge Recycling - July Update Sorry for cross-postings. feel free to forward to your Cambridge family, friends and neighbors. **************************************************************************** ********************************************************************** Hello Recycling & Composting Neighbors! In this issue: Single Stream Recycling Starts Oct 25 Sign up for a Recycling Tour Manage Your Compost Bin & Garden Properly Volunteer for Recycling at a Festival **************************************************************************** ********************************************************************** Single Stream Recycling Starts Oct 25 Beginning October 25, the Cambridge recycling program will switch to single stream! This means that residents will be able to mix clean papers, bottles, cans and cardboard together in one recycling bin. No more sorting. The new recycling trucks will accept cardboard of all sizes. More materials will be accepted including empty pizza boxes and large plastics such as laundry baskets and toys. The City will deliver large recycling toters on wheels to residences with 1-5 units in October. More information will be mailed to residents next week and in the coming months. Toters make recycling easier than ever because they can be rolled to the curb when full and provide more room to recycle more and trash less. For more details on single stream recycling in Cambridge, or to see a 6 minute video of the recycling process, visitwww.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/singlestream.html. Sign up for a Recycling Tour The DPW has organized several tours of the recycling facility in Charlestown, operated by Casella Recycling, the City's processor. Casella has invested millions into this facility to convert to single stream recycling technology. Single stream means that residents can mix clean papers, bottles, cans and cardboard together in one recycling bin. Cambridge will switch to single stream beginning October 25. City employees and Cambridge residents are invited. 25 people can sign up for each tour, which lasts about 2 hours including your questions. We will meet at DPW and carpool there. Let us know if you are willing to drive and how many people you can take in your car. Emailjrebecchi@cambridgema.gov or call x4815 to sign up. Tuesday, July 13: Meet at DPW, 147 Hampshire St at 8:30am SHARP. Wednesday, August 11: Meet at DPW, 147 Hampshire St at 1:30pm SHARP. Wednesday, September 29: Meet at DPW, 147 Hampshire St at 1:30pm SHARP. Thursday, October 28: Meet at DPW, 147 Hampshire St at 8:30am SHARP. Thursday, November 18: Meet at DPW, 147 Hampshire St at 8:30am SHARP. For more details on single stream recycling in Cambridge, or to see a 6 minute video of the recycling process, visitwww.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/singlestream.html. Manage Your Compost Bin & Garden Properly Composting organic waste continues to be a terrific way to reduce the waste going to landfills and incinerators, and reduce methane gas that significantly affects climate change. Please remember these important composting and gardening tips: . Pick up fallen fruit or vegetables from your garden. . Never add meat, dairy or cooked oily foods to your composter. . Rinse out eggshells. . Bury food, or "greens" in your compost bin or cover it up every time with "browns" such as leaves, crumbled newspaper or torn cardboard. . Keep your composter moist and active, with the lid closed securely. . Keep your composter at least 1 foot from any wall or fence. . Try to move your composter to a more convenient location. Rodents avoid areas that are regularly used or passed by. . Clear weeds or tall grass around your bin. . Put bird food in feeders only and don't overfeed. Store seeds in containers with tight lids. Some neighborhoods have problems with rodents, which are an unavoidable part of life in any city. In this context, it is very important to manage your compost bin and garden correctly to avoid problems. The City is committed to confronting this problem by addressing rodent problems on public property, working to control rodents during construction projects, enforcing sanitary codes and ordinances, and educating the public. Volunteer for Recycling at a Festival Volunteering is fun because you can enjoy the festival, ensure recycling, educate the public and get a free t-shirt. You will help table and walk around to make sure recycling and trash are side by side, minimize bottles in the trash and vice versa. Some events involve working with kids. Thefestival <http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/festivals.html> recycling containers work quite well to avoid contamination. We'd love your help for 2-3 hours at one of these festivals: Sept 11 Area 4 Community Pride Day, 11am-6pm, Sennott Park (Rain date 10/2) Sept 12 Caribbean Festival, 12 noon-6pm, Kendall Square (Rain date Sept 19) Sept 19 Urban Ag Fair, Winthrop Park in Harvard Square Sept 25 Danehy Park Family Day, 11am-4pm, Danehy Park Oct 10 Oktoberfest <http://www.harvardsquare.com/> , 12 noon-6pm, Harvard Square (Rain date 10/11) Nov TBA: Family Fun Day, 10am-2pm, City Hall **************************************************************************** ********************************************************************** Feel free to forward this update to your friends & family in Cambridge. If you would like to be taken off this list, just let me know. . Order <http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/recyclebinR.html> a recycling bin (buildings with less than 4 units) . Order <http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/toter_request.html> a recycling toter (buildings with 4 units or more) . Missed recycling? Please simply call DPW at 617-349-4800 by the 12 noon the day after collection. Ms. Randi Mail Director of Recycling Cambridge Dept of Public Works 147 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139 <http://www.cambridgema.gov/recycle> www.cambridgema.gov/recycle The Recycling Division's mission is to encourage people to consume less, reuse and donate materials and recycle what cannot be eliminated or reused!