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The TRC is always working to keep people in the community thinking about reducing their trash output via recycling. The following are some of the projects that the committee has been involved with over the years.
“Reduced Costs in the Town of Tewksbury Through Increased Recycling” |
In September 2005, the TRC developed a report which evaluated potential options to reduce costs in town via increased recycling. Options reviewed included continuing the current promotional activities, enforcing waste ban restrictions (i.e., not collecting cardboard which isn’t broken down properly for recycling, and Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT).
The report was presented to the Selectmen and progress was made towards developing a by-law for enforcing waste ban restrictions. Limitations due to multi-family dwellings (MFDs) put this on hold at the time, but since then, enforced cardboard recycling has been implemented, as well as automated refuse collection and adding MFDs to the town's collection program. All of these action have reduced our town's costs noticeably.
If you have interest in viewing the report, please contact TRC member Sean Czarniecki.
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Neighborhood Pilot Program
The TRC gathered many volunteers on one Saturday and went door-to-door in a neighborhood to discuss why people may not be recycling and to attempt to convince more people to recycle. Over the next weeks, recycling in that neighborhood was tracked and shown to be increasing, not necessarily significantly, but increasing. This shows that programs like this work, but the manpower/effort needed to comb all neighborhoods would be significant and can probably be used for more effective programs.
Yard Sale
 The TRC attempts to hold a yard sale each year to encourage selling things that you no longer want around the house. Keep checking back for upcoming dates.
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Tidy Up Tewksbury
The TRC attempts to hold one to two days each year to pick up trash from one area of town. Volunteers are always needed. Check back for upcoming dates!
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Recycling in Schools
 We’re always attempting to improve recycling in Tewksbury schools and one of the best examples is at the Wynn middle school. Kris Rogers runs an excellent program which is an example for all the schools. Volunteers from Stoneham Bank (Thanks!) were previously heading down every week during the school year to weigh the recycling toters so that we can track the progress of the program. These results have been used to determine the best methods for improving
recycling in the other schools.
On 03/19/09, there was a recycling presentation by Terry Connolly for the 2nd-graders at Dewing School called “In The Bin.” While this program is no longer available, look for Allied Waste to provide a similar program soon!
Festival of Trees
 As you are likely aware, there is an annual Festival of Trees held in the library each December where local entities decorate their own tree for everyone to see. The TRC received their tree via a donation from Home Depot and often attempt to decorate using recycled items. It has sometimes resulted in quite the interesting tree! Make sure to check it out this year and thanks again to Home Depot!
February 2007 to February 2008 — REWARDS PROGRAM
Chairperson Kris Rogers and our Grand-Prize winners—Isabelle and Dave Picher!
For one year, TRC members randomly picked houses which were recycling, and left a small gift behind as a reward. Each of these houses were then added to a monthly drawing pool for bigger prizes (gift certificates donated by Longhorn Steakhouse, movie passes, and an annual subscription to the Town Crier). A larger prize (savings bond from Stoneham Bank) was also given out halfway through the program. The grand prize for the year was handed out at the March 11 Selectmen’s meeting - a $100 American Express gift check! Almost 300 coolers were
handed out!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRAND-PRIZE WINNERS - THE PICHER FAMILY!!
Winter 2007/2008 — LIBRARY INFORMATION STATION
 If anyone has stopped by the TRC corner of the first floor of the library (turn right immediately after entering the library), you will notice the improved look and content of the area. New information is/will be available, as well as collection containers for rechargeable and button cell batteries, eyeglasses, and aluminum can tabs. The coolest feature is the digital picture frame which shows a lot of the information available on the website in a slideshow format. Make sure to check it
out!
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