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In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Goodwill Donation Center
Pilot Composting Program
Plastic Bag Recycling
Upcoming Events:
 

E-WASTE 
Last Saturday of each month through June 2014, 8am - 12noon at 5 Jefferson Avenue. Limits: TV/CRT: 2
White goods: 1
Small electronics: no limit. Proof of residency/ownership required.

SOLARIZE SALEM
Meet the Installer
Tuesday February 11

SAVE THE DATE
Semi-Annual BOOK SWAP
Saturday March 15

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY
(co-hosted in Beverly)
Saturday April 26


Contact Julie Rose at
[email protected] or 978.619.5679 with questions or to volunteer.


 

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Goodwill has opened an attended donation center in Swampscott at 450 Paradise Road in the Stop & Shop Plaza. 

The center is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

At the center you can donate clothing, textiles, shoes and other accessories, books, small working appliances, household items, small furniture, antiques, collectibles, and more.

Goodwill urges residents to donate items that are of good quality and to donate during the hours of operation. An attendant will be able to provide a tax receipt for all donations. 

 

Earlier this year, Goodwill opened a new attended donation center in Peabody at the Stop & Shop plaza.

In the greater Boston area, Goodwill serves 10,000 people a year, providing job training, career services, and youth programs. Goodwill's mission is to help people with barriers to self-sufficiency achieve independence and dignity through work.

Goodwill collects nearly 23 million pounds in donations every year in eastern and central Massachusetts, meaning reusable items are diverted from the landfill and into stores, where they take on new value for shoppers looking to stretch their dollar. 
Free Recycling Stickers!
The decals are free
 and are located at City Hall and at 120 Washington St., 4th floor 
engineering office.
News You Can Re-Use
January, 2014 Issue 5
Hello!

  

Organization of the Salem compost program is well underway (participants will be notified shortly), as are many other programs and initiatives, listed on the left. 

 

As always, be sure to Like us on Facebook to stay current on the latest in recycling, reusing, reducing and refusing! 

 

Warm Regards,
Salem Recycles
Pilot Composting Program

Black Earth Compost will provide both the collection/transportation and the composting itself, so the City of Salem will save money by having no tipping fees and will receive compost in return.

Black Earth Compost works/ partners with farms throughout the North Shore to manage the compost on those farms. In exchange, the farmers and participating residents receive a free portion of the highly nutritious compost, creating an agricultural win as well as an environmental win. In 2013 Black Earth Compost diverted about 1.5 million pounds of organics to their customers.

According to the Commonwealth's Department of Environmental Protection, organic waste, primarily food scraps, can make up as much as 25% of a community's tonnage sent to disposal facilities. Organics are a great resource that can be composted into new soil for use in many projects, from highway construction to gardening.

"Salem has been on the forefront of many green initiatives and curbside composting will be yet another such program" said Mayor Kim Driscoll in a prepared statement. "We are excited to begin implementing the program this April and have already signed up over 400 interested households."

Current Salem businesses that also compost include Finz, Milk and Honey, Coffee Time Bakery and Caf�, Life Alive, Scratch Kitchen, and the Lobster Shanty.

There is still capacity for additional residents interested in signing up for the pilot program that begins on April 16. This program provides an alternative to home composting, which can be cumbersome in some small yards. If you are interested in participating, please go to GreenSalem.com and fill out the short survey.  If you would like to volunteer in support of this effort, please contact Julie Rose at [email protected] or 978-619-5679.
 
Plastic Bag Recycling

Even if you shop with reusable bags, and REFUSE,
 REDUCE, and REUSE the best you can, chances are you still bring some plastic into the home. Did you know that plastic bag recycling stations accept much more than the ubiquitous grocery bag? Here's info to help you maximize your recycling:
  • Plastic bags can be recycled in retail stores only.
  • Never put plastic bags in your curbside recycling bin, or put recyclables inside plastic bags.
YES - DO RECYCLE IN STORES ONLY
  • Recycle bags that are empty, clean and dry; remove receipts and trash
  • Grocery and produce bags
  • Newspaper bags
  • Dry cleaning bags (no receipts/staples)
  • Sandwich/ziploc/bread bags (clean and dry)
  • Plastic outerwrap from toilet paper, paper towels, diapers
  • Case wrap from cases of water
  • Bags with sealed air used for packaging (deflate the air cushions)
  • Stretch wrap from furniture or electronics
  • Any plastic bag labeled with: 2, "HDPE," "PE-HD"
  • Any plastic bag labeled with: 4, "LDPE," "PE-LD," "LLDPE"
  • Retail bags (#2 or 4) with string/hard plastic handles removed
NO - DO NOT RECYCLE
  • NO bag with food in or on it
  • NO garbage bags
  • NO food or cling wrap, e.g. Saran
  • NO prepackaged food bags (frozen food or pre-washed salad)
  • NO chip bags or candy wrappers
  • NO cereal bags
  • NO bubble wrap
  • NO bags with paint or glue
  • NO compostable plastic bags
  • NO bag with a recycling symbol or # other than those described in the "yes" column
For additional information on recycling, go to http://www.greensalem.com

Keep It Out of the Waste Stream: