Bulky Rigid Plastic Collection this Saturday

The Department of Public Works is sponsoring a big “Take It or Leave It” reuse event on Saturday, June 2nd from 9-Noon for Northampton residents and small businesses,  in cooperation with the City’s ReUse Committee, the Salvation Army, EcoBuilding Bargains, ReFoamIt Styrofoam Recycling, and Bikes Not Bombs.  This “Reuse and Recycling Rally” will be held on the Smith Vocational School campus, rain or shine.

Most of the products delivered -- plastic crates, barrels, buckets, lawn furniture, plant pots, kid’s climbing structures, toys, plastic flamingos (etc.) have excellent reuse potential, so participants will be encouraged to take away whatever they can use…for free!

Bulky rigid plastics can be recycled at the landfill transfer station anytime, at no cost.  A dedicated collection box for recycling these products has been in use there for nearly a year, but this collection system does not offer an opportunity for reuse.

The DPW will continue to sponsor periodic one-day collection events to encourage reuse before recycling, as well as to provide this service to all Northampton residents and small businesses, not just those who use the City’s transfer stations for trash and recycling.

For further information, contact Karen Bouquillon at the Department of Public Works at 413-587-1059.

Free Plant Pot and Tray Collection May 12th

Take it or leave it!  2nd annual Plant Pot and Tray Collection

Rigid plastic pots and trays will be accepted for reuse and recycling from 9-12 on Saturday, May 12th at the Smith Vocational High School (80 Locust Street, Northampton).

Flimsy/crinkly plastic trays will not be accepted.  Sponsored by the Northampton Department of Public Works in cooperation with the Support Our Schools (SOS) Plant and Garden Market.  Free, no pre-registration required.  Questions?  Contact Karen at 587-1059 or at kbouquillon@nohodpw.org.

Last Call for HHW Collection

The deadline for pre-registering for Northampton’s annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection is Thursday, May 10th. This free collection will be held from 9:00-12:00 on Saturday, May 19th.

 The City has sponsored HHW collections every year for more than two decades with support from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund and the Department of Public Works. The future of this program is uncertain because Northampton’s landfill is scheduled to close in early 2013.

This drop-off event will accept a wide range of unwanted household products with labels that indicate that special handling is required.  Examples of common warnings include caustic, toxic, corrosive, poison, flammable, warning, danger, and “keep out of reach of children”. Residents must pre-register for the May 19th event by calling 413-587-1059 anytime, but no later than noon on Thursday, May 10th.

Detailed information will be sent by mail to all participants.  Non-residents, businesses and institutions may participate in this collection for a fee by contacting Karen Bouquillon at the Department of Public Works at 413-587-1059 or at kbouquillon@nohodpw.org.