Pumpkins, Plastic & Polystyrene Recycled at Post-Halloween Event
An autumn Recycling & Reuse Rally will be held on Saturday, November 5 from 9am-12 PM at Smith Vocational High School, 80 Locust Street. The event is free and open to the public. Jack-o-Lanterns will be collected for composting, and Styrofoam and bulky rigid plastic items will be collected for recycling. Reusable plastic items will be offered free of charge in a designated area. Bikes Not Bombs will collect bicycles for reuse, and on-site, secure document shredding will be available courtesy of ProShred of Wilbraham. Details are provided below:
Jack-o-Lanterns (pumpkins)
Accepted: Plastic and decoration-free goofy, friendly and intimidating pumpkins in all states of decay. Other varieties of decorative squash will also be accepted.
Not accepted: Painted or varnished (shiny) pumpkins and gourds or plastic/foam replicas.
Styrofoam® (aka expanded polystyrene or EPS)
Accepted: Large pieces of clean, dry, rigid white EPS with no attached paper or plastic.
Not accepted: Colored or food-related foam (contamination risks) and packing peanuts, soft foam.
Bulky rigid plastic
Accepted: Large, rigid plastic items such as laundry baskets, pet carriers, lawn furniture, yard toys (e.g. Little Tykes), and plastic flower pots.
Not accepted: items made of PVC (e.g. pipes), flexible/crinkly plastic (e.g. hoses, seedling packs), and containers which formerly held hazardous material.
Personal documents
Participants may bring up to two curbside recycling bin boxes of personal documents.
Accepted: Clean and dry personal or confidential documents (financial & medical records, legal papers, credit card statements, income tax files, and cancelled checks). Staples and paper clips are OK.
Not accepted: Wet or mildewed material, plastic folders and page dividers.
Bicycles
Accepted: All varieties of two-wheeled bicycles (some broken pieces OK), bicycle parts, tools and accessories (e.g. helmets, lights, pumps, locks).
Not accepted: Weather beaten or rusted bicycles, kick-scooters, motorized & exercise bikes, tricycles.
A $10 donation to Bikes no Bombs to offset refurbishing and shipping costs is requested.