Schedule creates recycling issues

SAUGUS – Residents slacking off regarding recycling etiquette should consider themselves forewarned: town officials are taking notice.Solid Waste/Recycling Inspector Lorna Cerbone said since the town switched to weekly recycling, residents have been getting lazy about their recycling.”We’re actually leaving stickers behind trying to let residents know they need to separate paper and cardboard from their other recycling,” she said. “They’re neon yellow educational stickers.”Cerbone said since the switch, many residents seem to be under the impression they no longer have to sort their recyclables.Despite that impression, she said residents must keep all paper and cardboard products separate, but they can mix plastic bottles, tin cans and glass jars. JRM Hauling, the town’s trash service, will not collect recycling materials that have not been properly separated.The bulk recycling has also led to a secondary problem, Cerbone said:A significant number of residents are exceeding the weight limit restrictions for trash pickup.JRM is contracted to collect bags or barrels that do not exceed 35-gallon capacity or 50 pounds in weight. Cerbone said more and more residents have taken to using toters, which generally hold between 65 and 95 gallons, for their recycling. She said once those toters are filled with recycling materials they can be extremely heavy.”I’m trying to get people to realize we are not contracted to have JRM pick those up,” she said. “Residents should not be using commercial size containers.”Cerbone said residents should also be aware that they are responsible for picking up any items that are left curbside by JRM.While she is happy that more residents are recycling since the town went to weekly pickup, Cerbone said the change in habits have baffled her.”I’m just not sure why people suddenly think it can all be mixed together,” she said.She also said the town is being nice with its warning stickers, but added that if residents don’t comply, future warnings could be harsher.