Date: Fri 15-Sep-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

recycling-magazines-Pendergast

Full Text:

Curbside Pick-up Of Magazines Starts October 1

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Fred Pendergast Jr knows immediately "by the smell" if a homeowner puts an

empty, unwashed dog food can in a curbside recycling bin. Peanut butter,

spaghetti sauce and mayonnaise jars also are among the recyclables that people

often "forget" to wash before recycling.

After decades of throwing such items into the garbage, it's difficult for many

people to remember that they need to be washed before recycling. "We don't

like change," explained Mr Pendergast, who collects two of the three recycling

routes in Newtown and often has to remove unacceptable items from the bins.

So Fred Pendergast knows that there will be a period of adjustment when his

firm and Danbury Waste Disposal begin picking up magazines and glossy

catalogues as part of the curbside recycling service offered to residents.

Beginning October 1, magazines and glossy catalogues may be bundled and placed

curbside with other recyclables on regular recycling days during the first

week of each month.

No junk mail may be included, however, no telephone books, and no other books,

with or without covers. These still must be brought by residents to the

recycling center on Ethan Allen Road.

"The magazines and glossy mail-order catalogues may be put out with the

newspapers but they must be bundled separately and tied with string or bailing

twine," Mr Pendergast said.

Newspapers may be bundled and tied or stuffed into brown paper grocery bags

and placed in or next to the recycling bins. Do not put them in blue newspaper

delivery bags or plastic bags.

The blue bags have caused some confusion because they are marked No. 2, the

same mark that is acceptable for curbside recycling when it appears on plastic

bottles. Plastics marked No. 1 and No. 2 in sizes of one gallon or less may be

picked up curbside although all plastics may be brought to the recycling

center.

"We don't pick up the two-gallon and larger No. 2 mineral water containers and

also no No. 2 plastic bags that newspapers are delivered in," Mr Pendergast

said. "When these are included, we leave them behind with a sticker to inform

the homeowner.

Washed and lids removed is a good rule to remember when recycling plastics,

glass (clear, brown and green) aluminum and tin cans. Oil, antifreeze and

similar containers, while marked No. 2, are not recyclable because the

contents cannot be thoroughly cleaned.

Corrugated cardboard often is another problem. "We pick up corrugated

cardboard containers if they are broken down, bundled and tied," Mr Pendergast

said. "They must be in sizes of less than 3x3-feet. And if there are more than

a few pieces, we ask the homeowner to only put some of it each week so we

won't fill up the truck and be unable to pick up from other customers."

Similarly, if a resident has a large amount of magazines, such as several

years of back issues, the bundled piles should either be put out over several

monthly pickups or the hauler should be called so that special arrangements

can be made..

Pendergast Garbage and Recycling Service has about 4,500 customers in Newtown;

DWD about 2,500. Both Fred Pendergast and Greg Mulvaney of DWD said that

customers need to have their bins out by 6 am on collection day, rain or

shine. If possible, put the bin out the night before. It isn't necessary to

put the bin out each week if it is only partially full.

Bins should be placed at the end of the driveway, near the mailbox.

"Our drivers need to be able to see the bin as they approach your driveway

from either direction," Mr Pendergast said. "Safety is our priority. We don't

want to have a fender-bender or put a driver at risk."

Flyers explaining the expansion of the residential curbside recycling program

and reviewing the recycling rules are being distributed by the haulers to all

residents. Residents with questions may call the town's recycling hotline at

426-9968 or the transfer station at 270-4307.