Swampscott to implement recycling changes

SWAMPSCOTT – The town is finding ways to make it easier for residents to recycle.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said several changes would be implemented immediately.”We hope the increased convenience of recycling will encourage additional recycling,” he said.Maylor said residents would no longer be required to cut cardboard boxes into squares and place them in their recycling bins. He said residents can recycle cardboard boxes by flattening them and placing them under or next to their curbside recycling container.”The Department of Environmental Protection mandates cardboard be taken out of the waste stream and recycled,” he said. “We’re trying to make it easier for residents to place cardboard in the recycling stream. Under the new initiative cardboard will not have to be cut into small pieces; residents can just flatten the box and place it under their recycling bin.”Residents also now have an option as to what type of container they use for recycling. The square plastic recycling bins are no longer mandatory. Maylor said residents can start putting their recyclable materials out in 32-gallon barrels if they buy a green recycling sticker, which is available for $1 at Town Hall, and affix it to the trash barrel.”Instead of having to put out three or four recycling bins residents will have the convenience of having one container for all their recyclable materials,” he said.Maylor said the changes will require the company that picks up recyclable material to use new equipment, which can accommodate the larger pieces of cardboard so the recycling pickup dates have changed. Maylor said recyclables would be picked up the weeks of July 28, Aug. 4 and Aug. 18.