Department of Public Works

Transfer Station Recycling News

May 2007

First Quarter Review - The first quarter of 2007 was better than the first quarter of 2006 in every category.

The Amherst recycling rate increased to 19.4% for Q1 2007 from 17.16% for Q1 2006. So close to 20%! We can do it!

The total revenue generated by recycling was up 50% from Q1 2006

The average value (value = revenue generated + cost avoided by not throwing into the trash container) of a ton of recycled items went from $108 per ton last Q1 to $148 per ton in Q1 FY 2007 – a huge increase.

Prices received for cardboard, mixed paper, and newspapers/magazines increased substantially due to high market demand. Of particular note were the prices in March, the highest in years.

Detailed information is available on the finances page.

Transfer Station to be open one night a week during the summer! - Responding to requests from residents the transfer station will be open Tuesdays from 11:00am to 7:00pm beginning Tuesday June 5th. All other operating hours will remain the same. The 11:00 am to 7:00pm hours will be in effect through Tuesday September 4th. On September 11 the Transfer Station operating hours will return to the standard time, closing at 4 pm.

Beginning June 5 through and including September 4 the hours for the Transfer Station will be as follows:

Mondays		Closed
Tuesdays		11:00am to 7:00pm
Wednesdays		Closed
Thursdays		8:00am to 4:00pm
Friday		7:00am to 11:00am
Saturdays		7:30am to 4:30pm
Sunday		Closed

Mow Down Pollution - Lawn Mower Exchange Program - According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, each weekend, roughly 54 million Americans mow their lawns using 800 million gallons of gasoline per year. Now thanks to Mow Down Pollution program, local residents can keep their yards and the planet clean and receive credit for big dollars as well.

Recycling and Compost Bins Available - Amherst residents can now purchase both the blue recycling containers and the composting bins at the transfer station. The recycling containers are only $5.00 and the composting bins are only $35.00. The composting bin comes with a guide on how to compost, what to put in and what not to put in – it is actually quite simple and produces very rich compost for virtually no effort.

Mow Down Pollution - Lawn Mower Exchange Program - According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, each weekend, roughly 54 million Americans mow their lawns using 800 million gallons of gasoline per year. Now thanks to Mow Down Pollution program, local residents can keep their yards and the planet clean and receive credit for big dollars as well.

Mow Down is quickly becoming a national movement to encourage residents to replace their gas powered lawn mowers with cleaner alternatives While several states across the country have implemented similar programs, the Nashua Region is the first in New Hampshire to offer this exciting program to its citizens. Mow Down is a partnership between the NH Department of Environmental Service, Nashua Regional Planning Commission, Nashua Region Solid Waste Management District, and Neuton Power Equipment. Amherst has decided to join with Nashua and other surrounding towns to participate in this innovative program.

Mow Down provides residents a simple way to trade in their gas powered lawnmowers for a cordless electric model. Simply empty all of the oil and gas out of your lawn mower (be sure to recycle the oil at the transfer station.) When you part ways with your gas mower at the transfer station, you will receive a voucher for a brand new Neuton 3-in-1 cordless electric mower, with bagger and mulching kit. This entire package can retail for $418.95, but with the voucher you will only pay $289!  Imagine the benefits – no more gasoline to buy or store, significantly reduced maintenance, and no more yanking on the cord to start!

Hurry, the offer is good only through June 30, 2007!

Neuton mowers may be purchased at the DR Factory Store in Merrimack.
DR Factory Store
674 Daniel Webster Highway
Merrimack, NH
1-877-423-7810

For additional information on the program read the details at the Nashua Regional Planning Commission web site.

CRT and TV e-Waste - July 1 of this year there is a new NH law that will go into effect which bans disposal of video display devices. The exact wording of the law is as follows: "House Bill 1455 bans the disposal of video display devices in New Hampshire landfills and incinerators starting July 1, 2007. Video display devices include televisions, computer displays (CRT), liquid crystal displays and plasma screens larger than 4 inches in diagonal." Read the details on the state website for more information.

The chemicals in video display devices are extremely harmful to the environment so they can not be disposed of in a landfill or incinerator. Video display devices are considered a hazardous waste once they are no longer usable or repairable and must either be donated (if working) or sent to a hazardous waste disposal facility.

For quite some time Amherst has addressed this issue well ahead of many communities by providing a separate area for all disposing of all electronic devices (e-waste) including video display devices. There is a charge of $5 for video displays (larger than 4 inches, measured diagonally); all other e-waste is accepted at no charge.  The e-waste shed is located behind the scale house. The e-waste is periodically picked up by a licensed e-waste recycling company that charges Amherst $.10 per pound. Obviously the $5.00 charge only partially offsets the charge to Amherst.

Do not; do not dispose of your video display devices in any manner other than by taking them to the scale house. It is a serious environmental and now legal issue.

While the law specifically addresses just video display devices you should dispose of all unusable electronics in the e-waste shed. Everything except the video display devices is accepted free of charge. You can of course donate working CRT’s and TV’s and other functioning electronics to organizations such as non-profits and schools.

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