Above: Sunset in Southborough last week. (photo contributed by reader)
On Friday, the new comment policy went into effect. So, it’s a good time to remind readers of that and to post a new open thread. (The open discussion thread is a place on the blog where readers can ask questions, sound off on town issues, or share information with other readers.)
Under the new policy, commenters must register as users and post under their first and last name. You can read about my reasons for the change here.
[Note: If anyone is having technical issues registering or logging in, please email me at mysouthborough@gmail.com to let me know.]
What’s on your mind this week, Southborough?
For those of you new to this, here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Ask questions about programs in town or the town itself
- Post a note about things that you’re selling or giving away, or things that you want
- Share notices about upcoming events (Southborough or otherwise)
- Register your thoughts on town issues or news stories
- Point out interesting or helpful resources
You can add comments to the thread throughout the week. Check back often to see new comments. (If you read the blog via email or RSS, you might want to check the site from time to time for new comments.)
To view past open discussion threads, click here.
Some time back, a commenter said that the transfer station fails to recycle much of what we put into the recycle center, perhaps because of waste contamination. Since I’m an inveterate recycler, I’d like to know more about this.
In the summer of 2020 I did a comprehensive study of the Transfer Station on behalf of the Capital Planning Committee and the Board of Selectmen. Regarding this topic, not much has changed since then. The Transfer Station does not “fail to recycle” in any sense that is with the scope of what it can do, collect waste and distribute it to appropriate next stages for handing. Beyond the Transfer Station as a destination, some types of recycling are just not working as we might imagine and this is a global problem. If we take “recycle” to mean that objects for human use, after that use is no longer needed, are converted to other objects for human use that are needed, then much of what goes into the “co-mingled” recycle hopper is not recycled. (Other hopper contents are recycled in that sense.) The reason is simple, the cost of converting the waste stream into new usable products is either higher, far higher, than using new materials, or it simply cannot be done. The problem was masked for decades by China’s willingness to accept such waste and devote low cost labor to processing the waste stream. That ended years ago and with it the myth of recycling such materials as a solution to solid waste disposal faded with it. The bottom line is that a lot of intended recycling, globally, doesn’t actually recycle. The answer for such solid waste accumulation must be source reduction, ie. make less waste. This has nothing to do with the Transfer Station, but everything to do with the world at large.
Thanks, John, great to have a credible source!
It does amaze me how often I see others polluting the recycling stream with patently non-recyclable items such as styrofoam, as if their hope to recycle them didn’t incur the cost of manually filtering them out. I’ve seen lots of plastics filthy with food remnants, too.
I also see tons of non-returnable plastic bottles in the chain link cage for bottle bill containers. Those go into one of the container dumpsters. It’s not that hard!
My understanding is that aluminum is the most economically recyclable material. If people out there want less effort, they should at least be rinsing, saving, and recycling their aluminum.
Just a quick note to say that it’s nice to see the “Recent Comments” back.
Just to share my fascination with maps, I recently discovered a cool map of public works created by the New Deal. The authors stated that they’ve only catalogued about 10% of the total projects. There’s quite a few in Framingham and Worcester that are already listed, but I wonder if anything in Southborough was put up during the New Deal.
Check It Out: https://livingnewdeal.org/map/
Hi, the Sboro Sr Center is looking for BILLIARDS players ( beginner or experienced) to join our team that plays weekly in a Metrowest league against other Sr Ctr teams. Matches are once a week from Sept to Nov. We play 8 ball.
Please call the Sr Center for information.
Hi,
I’m looking for a used wooden desk and chair, but wanted to reach out locally first. Also, does anyone know how I get on a local list of yard/garage/estate sales on weekends? What about Free Cycle?
Please note – I am not on Facebook or any social media – I have sworn off that and am ‘clean’ for almost four years! Social Media has not been very social for me, and I went ‘Dark’ on purpose.