Written by Gwyneth Artkop.
(June 17, 2019) — When you drive into the Haddam Transfer Station, the first drop-off spot you come to is the Household Trash (MSW: Municipal Solid Waste), Recycling, and Bulky station. There are two receptacles for garbage, one for recycling, and four for bulky waste. This is also where recyclable plastic bags are collected and past the bulky waste is where you should deposit 20 gallon propane tanks and tires with no rims. But do you know what should be put into those bins, and what shouldn’t? It pays off to properly dispose of all of your waste, because it comes at a cost for the town. When waste is not properly disposed of, it costs the Town of Haddam more and this affects the price of the Haddam Transfer Station Pass. Passes currently cost $75 for the fiscal year (July through June) for those under 65 years of age; if you are over 65, the price is $50. This is the same price as last year, but transfer station staff said that hazardous waste materials are often carelessly left behind at the Haddam Transfer Station, thus increasing the likelihood of the price increasing.
More than that, improperly disposing of our waste comes at a cost for the cleanliness of our water and greenspaces, and our own quality of life. If hazardous chemicals are thrown in the trash, they seep into the ground and enter the groundwater. If trash is tossed on the ground or out of a car window, it pollutes our roadways and backyards and kills the animals that eat it. Local efforts are being made to make Haddam more sustainable, including the plastic bag recycling program, razor collection and compost bin at the Town Office Building. Another way we can all help keep Haddam clean, healthy, and beautiful is to properly dispose of the waste we generate.
To avoid an increase in price for Transfer Station passes and prevent harmful pollution, hazardous waste must be properly disposed of. What is considered hazardous waste?
- Cleaners
- Aerosols (if empty, it can be recycled)
- Mercury thermometers
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- Gasoline
- Transmission fluid
- Brake fluid
- Waxes & polishes
- Wood strippers
- Paint
- Paint thinner
- Weed killer
- Insect sprays
- Pool chemicals
- And more! You can pick up a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) brochure at the Haddam Transfer Station; just ask a staff member.
Upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collections include: June 22, July 13, August 10 at the Essex HHW Facility at 5 Dump Road in Essex. Identification is required, but there is no fee.
Items that are hazardous, but not accepted by the Essex HHW Facility includes:
- Explosives
- Fire extinguishers
- Drugs
- Bottled gas
- For a full list and where to dispose of these items, pick up a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) brochure at the Haddam Transfer Station; just ask a staff member.
For more information about Household Hazardous Waste Collections, visit: www.rivercog.org, contact info@rivercog.org, or call 860-581-8554.
Items that can be recycled should also be left out of the garbage. That includes soft plastic bags such as grocery bags, bread bags, and cereal bags but not crinkley bags such as chip bags, plastic containers (except black plastic, which the State of Connecticut does not recycle), mattresses (clean mattresses can be recycled and unclean mattresses should go in the bulky bin), fire alarms, steel, aluminum, propane tanks, textiles, yard waste, e-waste, and items that are in good condition that someone else could still use. You can also keep your produce scraps separate and bring them to the compost bin at the Haddam Town Office Building.
So, what should you actually throw into your trash bin/bag? Items that should go in the trash include: disposable coffee cups, styrofoam, greasy pizza boxes (if clean, can be recycled), napkins, paper towels, Pyrex baking dishes, incandescent light bulbs, broken glass, window glass, corks, loose plastic caps (can be recycled when replaced on a clean container), shredded paper, chip bags, popcorn bags, dirty plastic bags, animal waste and bedding, balloons, blister packaging (pills often come packed this way so you can pop individual pills through foil), wax paper, used candles, candy, candy wrappers, CD cases, meat, cosmetics, cotton balls, padded envelopes (plastic bubble mailers can be recycled), old garden hoses, spent gift bags, ice cream containers, juice pouches, empty nail polish remover containers, plastic plates, dirty plastic wrap, receipts, spent ribbons or bows, spent 3-ring binders, six-pack rings (please cut first), spent string or twine, and more. If you want to find out if something can be recycled or should go in the trash, please visit https://www.haddam.org/transfer-station.
In Our Area: Middletown Public Works and Russell Library will present: What’s In, What’s Out? Learn all about recycling at this event: What goes in the bin? What stays out? Should I still recycle? Can I save money recycling? This event will be held on Monday, July 8, 2019, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.
Photos by Gwyneth Artkop.
