Below is an edited version of “Green Happenings,” a newsletter written by Chris Bibbo, superintendent of the Lincoln Department of Public Works.
Town departments such as Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and the Town Administrator’s Office to continue to work with the various town boards and committees on numerous environmentally friendly projects, procedures and initiatives. Below are some recent developments.
Leaf Blower Study Group / “green” equipment
The town’s Leaf Blower Study Group, which has been working with the DPW and Parks and Recreation to reduce air and noise pollution caused by equipment such as leaf blowers, trimmers and mowers, now has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LincolnLBSC. The page is a great way to learn more about leaf blower issues and stay up to date with developments. It also provides a dynamic and collaborative place to communicate ideas among participants and others who have linked to the page. Materials and links on the page currently include the group’s Town Meeting presentation, a humorous New Yorker piece on leaf blowers, and a list of green contractors serving Lincoln, among others.
You can subscribe to the page by “liking” it (note that in Facebook jargon, “like” does not necessarily mean that you approve; it just means that you are following the topic.) Please suggest to any of your Facebook friends who might be interested to “like” our page as well. Also, please suggest any resources you think we should know about, and feel free to comment on any of the postings.
There’s also a wealth of information about leaf blowers on the Leaf Blower Study Group’s page on the town website, including numerous research links and videos on the noise and air pollution that this equipment causes and how it can be mitigated. In addition to loud noise, this equipment can produce more than its share of air pollution, both through the inefficient burning of fuel and the particulates that become airborne.
The DPW has recently purchased a noise-reduced backpack blower and will soon be purchasing an electric mower as a trial prototype. Other innovations such as solar charging stations are also being considered. The group is also actively investigating the possibility of noise and usage policies or regulations to help mitigate the impact of this equipment. Regulations and experiences from some surrounding communities are being reviewed for possible introduction in Lincoln.
The DPW, located at 30 Lewis Street, maintains a supply of free lawn rakes for residents. Using a rake instead of a gas-powered blower provides good exercise and is less harmful to the environment.
Cemetery
The Lincoln Cemetery Commission and Town Clerk along with the DPW recently held a preliminary conceptual meeting to discuss the possible construction of a storage shed for cemetery maintenance equipment at the Lexington Road Cemetery. The group will be working on the design and siting of the new shed, which will incorporate many green features including a possible solar array and will house green equipment such as electric mowers and trimmers. Minuteman Technical High School students may participate in construction.
Leaching catch basins
The DPW has installed the remainder of the leaching catch basins on Laurel Drive and Moccasin Hill Road. These catch basins are designed with a sump that allows for the periodical cleaning of sand, dirt and other debris from the basin. The drain runoff from rain and snow enters the basins and then percolates into the surrounding soil. This percolation is a more normal, environmentally friendly process for drain runoff management. The process avoids a direct and concentrated discharge of runoff into the surrounding environment.
Transfer station/Recycling Committee
The transfer station continues to see healthy recycling rates, although I believe we could do better. Currently, over 39 percent of material that’s brought to the station is recycled. Please remember to recycle and encourage your neighbors and friends to do the same. In the past decade or so, recycling technology has advanced. Fully 100 percent of what is put into the recycling bins gets recycled. From reports I have seen, recycling vendors would like more supply. There are informational kiosks at the various recycling stations; please pick up a copy to see how the materials get recycled.
Also, please remember to be courteous to the transfer station attendants on duty. They are simply doing their job by checking for access stickers and banned materials. All the solid waste generated from Lincoln gets hauled to a tipping floor. Once on the tipping floor, banned material can be identified. Lincoln could be fined or have its solid waste permit revoked if quantities of banned materials are found in the waste stream. Examples of banned materials include:
- Building and construction debris
- Tires
- Hazardous materials
- Organic material
- Explosives
For a full listing of banned materials or for any other transfer station related matters, please call the DPW office at 781-259-8999. For more information, visit the Recycling Committee web page.
Snow and ice control
The DPW is in the process of purchasing a brine pre-treatment system for roadway snow and ice control. The equipment will be used to apply a salt solution to the major roads in town shortly before to a storm event. The goal is to prevent ice and snow buildup and reduce the amount of both sand and salt put into the environment. For more information, see the DPW’s winter safety tips and its snow and ice removal policy.
LED streetlights
The process of converting the town’s incandescent, sodium and mercury lights to LED lights is on track and should get underway shortly. The Town Administrator’s Office and the DPW are in the process of reviewing contract terms with a lighting innovation firm for the conversion.
Converting the streetlights to LEDs will save considerably on power usage and cost. These lights will also provide a better quality light and the light output can be designed so that more light is directed to the road. This will be consistent with the desired “Dark Skies” goals. The LED streetlights will also be equipped with light deflectors that will redirect light so it won’t shine back into residences.
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