~ Submitted by Liz Antanavica, Refuse & Recycling Administrator
Bedford residents have a long tradition of recycling and waste reduction. Recently, a resident reported that Bedford has offered curbside recycling for over 50 years! Often, residents call the DPW to ask about Town recycling programs and how we can continue to move the needle on waste reduction.
Bedford’s Trash and Recycling volumes have remained fairly consistent over the last decade, with approximately 75% of the disposal volume, by weight, generated as trash and 25% curbside recyclables.
In 2021, residents diverted 58 tons, or less than 1% of the total disposal volume, to composting. The EPA recently updated national waste diversion goals, seeking to cut food waste in half by 2030 and increase the recycling rate to 50% by the same year.
Bedford=Waste Much of what is currently tossed in Bedford’s brown trash carts could be diverted for recycling or composting. An April 2020 waste study conducted by MassDEP at Covanta Haverhill (the Waste-to-Energy facility that processes Bedford’s trash) analyzed the composition of incoming household trash.
Food waste is a large part of the material sent for disposal, but paper, plastic, and other recyclables also contribute to the volume of trash incinerated every year.
View the full study here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/class-ii-recycling-program-waste-characterization-study-april-2020-0/download
Next Steps for Waste Reduction
- Conduct a waste audit of your own trash and recycling bin. Small steps can add up to a big collective difference and an audit can be an engaging activity for children. PBS offers this family-friendly guide: https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/waste-audit. By reducing just one type of single-use item (like water bottles or paper towels) you can save hundreds of pounds of material from disposal each year.
- Reduce your food waste. Plan ahead to reduce the edible food you discard by meal planning before you shop or making a weekly “Clean Out the Fridge” meal. Make sure to compost what you don’t eat. Visit the FDA’s Food Waste page for helpful ideas on reducing wasted food: https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/tips-reduce-food-waste. Sign up for curbside compost service or start a backyard compost pile. Backyard compost bins are available at the DPW for $45 each.
- Don’t Trash Textiles. According to MassDEP, Massachusetts residents discard 230,000 tons of textiles every year. However, 95% of this material can be reused, repurposed into other applications like industrial wiping cloths, or remanufactured into fibers for insulation. Drop unwanted textiles (including worn items, like a ripped towel or single sock) into the Bay State Textile bins at Bedford HS and Middlesex Community College or schedule free, curbside pick up of textiles with CMRK/Big Brother, Big Sister, Inc at https://www.bbbsfoundation.org/schedule-a-pickup/
- Turn off the tap on Junk Mail. Every year 100 million trees are cut down to produce junk mail that often is immediately trashed, according to The Story of Stuff Project. Request paperless statements and remove your name from mailing lists. Learn more about Catalog Choice, a free service, that helps get your address off advertiser’s lists. https://www.storyofstuff.org/catalog-choice
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