Quincy DPW has mailed out the Fall/Winter 2018 newsletter, which is also posted on the City of Quincy website. It’s full of helpful information, including changes to the recycling program due to increased selectivity on the part of China, the nation that once imported up to 50% of America’s recycling. Learn about the recycling changes, yard waste collection schedule, and snow parking rules in the Fall / Winter newsletter.

We’re a seaside community in Squantum and we love our ocean! Thanks to many of our local residents, those waterways are cleaner today than they were a few decades ago. But increasingly and at a rapid pace – plastics are filling and choking our waterways. The best way to improve your recycling is to consider ways to reduce on the purchasing side. Here’s a round up of Quincy recycling guidelines and some tips to reduce your need to recycle.

View and keep on hand the new guide to recycling in Quincy.

Keep recycling costs down by learning what can and cannot be recycled

China has raised its quality standards for recycled imports and is now highly selective in what items they will accept for recycling. This impacts Quincy by converting what was once a source of income into a service the City needs to pay for. The City is looking for your help by asking everyone to follow the updated guidelines for what items can and cannot be recycled in order to keep contamination down.

Why should you care about contaminated recycling? Quincy pays more for contaminated recycling. Where Quincy once earned revenue for recycled products, the City now pays processing fees for recycling due to the changes in the global recycling market. The city pays an extra penalty fee for the portion of recycling that is contaminated.

You can help fight the rising cost of recycling by carefully adhering to the guidelines outlined in the City’s latest recycling guidelines flyer. Keep it nearby as a handy reference.

A few excerpts from the flyer…

What you can recycle:

• View the complete list in the flyer
• Plastics: #1 & #2 plastics only – check the number inside the recycling logo found on all recyclable items.
• NOTE!: all items must be clean – clean any glass or plastic items must of any food waste prior to recycling or they will be considered contaminated and will not be recycled

A few notable items that you cannot recycle:

• No plastic bags – instead bring to most grocery stores where you’ll find recycling bins for plastic bags
• No shredded paper
• No milk or juice cartons
• No frozen food boxes
• No plastic cups, straws, or cutlery, including no fast food drink cups or lids from spots like DD’s, Starbucks, etc.
• No take-out food plastic containers
• No prescription (Rx) bottles or caps
• No styrofoam cups or containers
• No gift wraps or bags
• View the complete list in the flyer

Textile recycling bins support school programs

Have old clothing, linens, hats, shoes to recycle? Bring them to the Textile Recycling Bins located at every school yard in the district and support our Parent/Teacher Organizations. Funds generated from the textile recycling program go directly to the PTO for each school and fund such things as computers and supplies. Items accepted include clothing, shoes, drapery, bedding, under garments, small toys and rugs.

By reducing on the consuming end, you can reduce your recycling and save money

You’ve heard it before…Reduce-Reuse-Recycle. The idea is to reduce and reuse and then as a last resort…recycle. Looks like we’re going to face more limitations in that last choice, so the onus is on us to really hone up on the Reduce/Reuse tactics. The best way to improve your recycling is to consider ways to reduce on the purchasing side. A quick search online will yield lots of tips for reducing household waste. Here are a few…

• Buy reusable containers (shopping bags, water bottles, food wraps)
• When you microwave food – instead of using plastic wrap to cover a dish, use an inverted plate or bowl, or try reusable food covers
• Try composting to reduce food waste
• Buy in bulk where you can to cut down on packaging waste, and save money while you’re at it. Avoid single-serve packaging. Your buying habits will be impacted by your lifestyle. If you’re cooking for one, smaller packing may make more sense to cut down on food waste. If you’re cooking for a group…buy in bulk and make smaller packages as needed using reusable containers. For cleaning and household products – buy in bulk to save cost and reduce packaging.
• Repair old items – contribute to the local economy by finding a local pro to repair what you have. Likely cheaper than buying new and cuts down on items going to a landfill – including the old item and the packing for the new item.

Recycling resources

• City of Quincy Recycling Program website: get tips on how to recycle special items such as appliances, metal, electronics, and textiles.
• Comprehensive list of tips on how to get rid of various items from City of Quincy
• City of Quincy Waste and Recycling website
• City of Quincy MyQ Portal (create an account, scroll to foot of page and subscribe to City of Quincy email alerts and notifications)

Review of Recycling Changes and news from the Fall/Winter report by City of Quincy Director of DPW John Sullivan, September, 28, 2018