By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
A standing room-only crowd of more than 100 residents participated in a free recycling workshop at City Hall on Jan. 19 to learn “what goes in the blue bin and what doesn’t.”
Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, a staunch supporter of recycling, greeted the crowd before introducing guest speaker Sherill Baldwin of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, who led the “What’s In, What’s Out” workshop with DEEP’s Emma MacDonald in the Harriet C. North Community Room.
“The city has recently received many questions regarding trash and recycling, and I hope this workshop will help clarify what goes in the blue bin and what doesn’t,” Rossi said. “Sherill is a knowledgeable professional, and I am glad she is here to join us tonight.”
Baldwin, an environmental analyst at DEEP since 2008, has been involved in sustainable materials management for 37 years. MacDonald, a 2021 graduate of UConn who earned a bachelor’s degree in sustainable forest resources, has been an environmental analyst at DEEP’s sustainable materials management office since June 2022.
Baldwin and MacDonald focused their 90-minute PowerPoint presentation on recycling education. They also discussed various recycling do’s and don’ts with residents, including the steps before putting acceptable items into recycling bins.
“Empty, clean, rinse and repeat for each item,” they said. “Do not shred, box or bag items.”
“In” recyclables include: paper and cardboard items, such as newspapers, magazines, food and beverage cartons, mixed paper and flattened boxes; glass items, such as bottles and jars; metal items, such as food and beverage cans, aluminum foil and foil containers; and plastic items, such as jugs, tubs and lids.
“Out” recyclables include: plastic bags and plastic wrap (return to retailer); food and liquid (empty all containers); clothing and linens (use donation programs); tanglers (no hoses, wires, chains or electronics); and combustibles (no propane tanks, batteries or nonfood-grade aerosol cans, such as spray paint and pesticides).
The informative workshop included a Q&A session and was attended by City Council members Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5, Victor M. Borras, D-8, Robert Bruneau, D-9, Gary Donovan, D-at large, and Colleen O’Connor, R-at large.
Participants received a green food scrap bin from members of the city’s recycling management team, including Grant Coordinator Doug Colter and assistant grant writer Olivia Bissanti, who organized the workshop. They were joined by team volunteers Lilia Rodriguez and Natalie Roach.
Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy, who also spoke, and Pamela Roach, the city’s waste and energy consultant, raffled off Dunkin’ gift cards and reusable tote bags.
Another “waste”-ful endeavor by incompetent politicians sold on some boggie man CT Environmental socialist mentality group that are clueless that half the city doesn’t read, write or speak ANGLAIS.
The ONLY solution of which I have watched work for well over 22 years are TRANSFER STATIONS set up in each and every town in Massachusetts.
The TRANSFER STATIONS have a section for every conceiable recycle and or trash area within the site. There is also in every town a Transfer Station Store that residents can leave items for those that may have a desire for articles that are valuable to them…..
The several large 60 yard containers are hauled off site each week to a DUMP TRAIN SITE for those ites to be burned at a GARBAGE TO ENERGY PLANT .
All Recyclables are sold to Company’s that have the ability to recyle for use again.
Soda cans, aluminum cans, metal cans and glass colored or plain are sold and the money retained by those recyclable companys the pay the towns PAY FOR THE ELECTRIC USAGE IN THE TOWNS EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ….