Summary

Commercial Haulers and private citizens bring standard recyclable material to the MRF, where they are then baled, stored and shipped to a number of outlets on the mainland. These materials include cardboard, newspaper, magazines, mixed paper, mixed plastics, steel and aluminum.

Glass is collected separately at two designated areas (commercial and non-commercial) and used as beneficial daily cover for the landfill, which is considered recycling by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Additionally, Styrofoam packaging (peanuts) is collected at the MRF and distributed to local shippers for re-use. Finally, 5 cent bottles and cans are collected at the MRF and at an on-site "Boy Scout Booth" and shipped off island at the rate of thousands per month.

Municipal solid waste (MSW), commercial solid waste (CSW) and dewatered sludge is delivered to the tip floor at the compost plant by licensed haulers. The Town Department of Public Works delivers the sludge by truck. All MSW and CSW arrives in clear plastic bags.

Residue from the compost plant goes to the lined facility, but not before removing metals and finding a recycle home for any plastics in the residue.

The compost produced is cured for approximately one month inside and then removed from the site to be mixed and manufactured into loam and other beneficial products. The screening plant in the compost facility has been designed so as to remove any foreign material from the compost.

All construction and demolition (C&D) materials are delivered to the C&D processing building, which is large enough to hold at least one week's worth of C&D waste. Clean construction wood, pallets, etc., are sent to a chipper after removing any usable wood to place at the Take It or Leave It for citizen use. Hard to separate demolition, etc., is crushed and separated. All clean wood is chipped and beneficially used. Metals are sent to the metal staging area. Concrete and rubble, stone, etc., is stockpiled for re-use. Non-recyclable wastes, asphalt shingles, etc., is disposed of in the lined cell. Old boats, furniture, etc. comes to the C&D processing building. Dirt and fill materials from construction sites are screened and the component parts sent to the proper area, i.e., metals, wood, sand, soil and bricks.