Letter to the editor
To the editor:
The Recycling Committee would like to thank the volunteers at the transfer station. They are very much appreciated — just ask the transfer station attendants!
The volunteers help keep the area neat and clean. They throw out many of the unused items that get deposited in the swap area. They empty numerous bags and boxes so residents can see what is available for the taking. They keep the small shed neat and organized and dispose of books which are outdated and unwanted. The Recycling Committee and volunteers have donated books to the Lincoln Public Library monthly book sale as well as More Than Words, a terrific nonprofit a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers young adults who are in the foster care system, court-involved, homeless, or out of school to take charge of their lives by participation in a book-selling business.
We support Lincoln residents who, on occasion, collect items for charity. There is a particular need right in our backyard at a wonderful organization, Household Goods in Acton, which sets up folks in need with necessary household items — these are usually not “valuable” items in the sense that they’re worth a lot of money ,but they’re tremendously valuable if you don’t have resources to acquire them. We always encourage residents to take their items there directly if possible, but we’re thrilled when residents take it upon themselves to help such worthy organizations.
The main purpose of the transfer station is trash collection and recycling. That means that the more items taken away, the more we keep out of the landfill and the less the town spends in tipping fees. At the end of the day, many of the items left in the swap area are thrown out as there is a need to make room for more that keeps on coming — the less left over, the better.
Lincoln is lucky to have the swap area. As co-chair, I have been asked to speak to the recycling committees of other towns who would very much like to set one up but struggle to get the Department of Public Works to agree. We are appreciative of the support Chris Bibbo, director of DPW, gives to the swap effort here in Lincoln.
I’m amazed at the items I find whenever I show up at the transfer station — it’s always interesting, fun and often rewarding. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
To address some concerns that have been raised: if a resident sees someone they don’t believe lives in Lincoln, they can point the individual out to the attendant, who can then ask to see their transfer station sticker — easy fix there! And, of course, no one should take anything out of someone’s car — that’s theft.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at 781-259-8149. I’m happy to hear what you feel is working or not working, and we are always looking for interested folks to join the Recycling Committee.
Sincerely,
Laura Berland
Co-chair, Lincoln Recycling Committee
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
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