Trash: How’s it going?
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — More than a week in for the new Casella Waste trash/recycle program, and Casella officials say the process has been relatively smooth.
Marc Morgan, Casella’s strategic account manager – Municipal Services, said it went pretty well on the trash side.
One issue, hopefully worked out now, is that the company went from a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday schedule to a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday schedule as of May 1. Those who had had their trash picked up on Fridays were moved to either Wednesday or Thursday. The company managing the app incorrectly told some of those customers that their day was Thursday. It was Wednesday and they did not get their trash out that day. Morgan said it affected six streets and he believes it’s all corrected now.
The trash is picked up by a side arm on the trash truck. Morgan said folks may see two people in the truck cab for “perhaps a few weeks” because the second person is adjusting the carts (bins) if they are not placed properly for the arm. “In some cases cart placement is not quite right; not in the right place. They should not be backwards or sideways, which can damage the lid,” Morgan said. Some customers were left a tag detailing proper cart placement.
Morgan said that in the weeks before the new program started, Casella was driving the collection routes, making sure they matched up with the app. They were also checking streets and heights and one ways.
The company makes almost 3,000 stops. “All in all, I think it went well,” he said.
Last week Casella added the recycle portion of the program.
What belongs in the 95-gallon recycle cart (bin): Cardboard (broken down into 2-foot squares, max), boxboard, junk mail, periodicals and office paper (paper bags, envelopes, catalogs). Also, plastic bottles, jugs, tubs and lids including empty kitchen, laundry and bath containers and clamshells. Also aluminum and steel cans, foil and empty food and beverage cans. And finally, glass bottles and jars (empty food and beverage bottles and jars). All containers should be clean and dry.
Do not bag recyclables.
What’s not accepted? No items 2 inches or smaller, plastic bags, bagged recyclables, clothing/textiles, tanglers (hangers), scrap metal items, batteries, medical waste, food waste/liquids, electronics, hazardous materials or explosives, plastic wrap, films or tarps, wood, waste, or tires, disposal items, waxy boated paper items, ceramics or baking glass.
For recycling tips and resources, visit casella.com/RecycleBetter.
Morgan said the reasoning for making sure cardboard is no larger than 2 feet is so that it will not get stuck.
The side-arm truck will pick up the cart up and flip it upside down once into the hole at the top of the truck. No shaking, no multiple emptying motions. One motion. Anything in the cart needs to fall freely into the truck.
For that same reason, Morgan said, they often see things like vinyl Venetian blinds, mop handles and scrap metal or cardboard that is too large and they get stuck.
He added, “If you have to jam it in there, chances are it’s not going to fall in.”
Place the trash cart and the recycle cart on a flat surface at least 3 feet apart, with the front facing the road. Morgan said many people put the trash cart on one side of the driveway and the recycle cart on the other side of the driveway. The carts should be clear of snow, landscaping, mail boxes and utility poles.
Morgan said in Putnam the same truck will be used for trash and for recyclables. The truck will do its route picking up trash, go unload it and then return to collect the recyclables. So if you see your trash gone but the recycles are still in the cart, hang on, they’re coming back for it.
If you have any questions for Casella the phone number for service is 860-423-4527.
What About Bulky Waste?
The town’s Bulky Waste Collection will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18 at the Putnam Armory. No charge — you just need to show residency. Two more are planned --- Aug. 17and Oct. 26 at the Putnam Middle School.