YOUNGSTERS Derek Chan and Hannah Martin proudly display a new composting bin the DPW gave them last month. (Jennifer Welter Photo)

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — The DPW was able to help a group of residents get involved with an organic composting program after being awarded a state grant.

DPW Director John Tomasz informed the Villager in an email that the department received an $11,000 recycling grant from the state Executive office for Administration and Finance a year-and-a-half ago. He said some of the funds were used to purchase 10 large recycling tumblers for the DPW yard as well as 20 composting bins for residents so that they could participate in Black Earth Compost’s curbside composting program.

“The town provided approximately 30 kitchen and composting bins for free to those wanting to join the Black Earth program,” said Tomasz. “The home composting bins included bio-bags and signs. There was a lot of interest in the program based on how quickly residents picked up the free composting bins.”

In addition, the grant was used to publish and mail an informational guide about trash and recycling. Recycling Committee Chairman Brian Moreira stated in the guide that the grant was also used to conduct a waste disposal survey in October 2019.

“Out of 4,000 plus households in Lynnfield, we received 1,753 responses via mail and online,” stated Moreira. “The survey results were compelling and showed interest in weekly recycling, composting, recycling education and in-town plastic bag bans.”

Tomasz and the Recycling Committee have been working on educating the public about the benefits of recycling. He noted that the DPW recently signed a new contract with JRM Hauling for fiscal year 2022.

“The recycling market crashed a few years ago when China stopped accepting approximately 95 percent of the materials being sent to them,” said Tomasz. “The U.S. market for these materials at this time does not have the capacity to absorb this significant increase with many facilities now charging customers to accept recyclable items. Many trash contractors are reluctant to sign five-plus year contracts due to the uncertainty of the market.”

Tomasz said curbside composting is equally beneficial to the town as well as the environment.

“Composting reduces the town’s trash disposal costs and reduces waste sent to landfills, which are quickly losing capacity,” said Tomasz.

While Moreira said both residents and the Recycling Committee have expressed interest in the DPW implementing a weekly recycling program instead of a bi-weekly program, he said the town has been unable to expand the program due to increasing recycling costs.

“As a committee, we first focused on bringing weekly recycling to Lynnfield versus our current bi-weekly collection,” Moreira stated. “Unfortunately, countries aboard have imposed long-term contamination restrictions and no longer accept the same amount of recyclables from the United States. This has significantly increased the cost of waste and recycling per ton to all local communities, making it more expensive to offer a weekly recycling program at this time. We will continue to look towards new and innovative ways to support funding a weekly recycling program.”

Tomasz said having more residents participate in Black Earth Compost’s program would be incredibly beneficial.

“I think it will take neighbors who are participating in the Black Earth program to get other residents involved, which would decrease the cost to each participant,” said Tomasz. “Although I believe the town signed a very favorable contract with JRM, costs for trash and recycling will be increasing every year during the length of the contract.”

Moreira agreed.

“The good news is the town continues to have favorable recycling costs per ton relative to waste, making recycling and composting an important part in Lynnfield’s waste program,” stated Moreira. “Waste collected weekly in town is delivered to a local incinerator and costs the community more per ton than recycling or composting. Increased adoption of recycling and composting can reduce our waste costs, improve the vitality of our community and provide an opportunity to help pay for a weekly recycling program.”

Moreira stated that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection informed Lynnfield officials that the town “ranks as one of the communities with the highest amount of weekly waste collected in Essex County.”

“Nearby communities such as Marblehead, Gloucester and Ipswich have more households than Lynnfield and create 50 percent less waste,” stated Moreira. “We know that Lynnfield can do better.”

Moreira noted that Black Earth picks up compost on Thursdays. For more information about the company, visit https://blackearthcompost.com.