Yard waste/hazardous collection schedule is up

[avjudge]

I just noticed that Somerville's 2008 Environmental Services Guide - with the yard waste collection calendar, hazardous waste collection dates (for your CFLs!), and information on discounted composters and rain barrels - is now on line:

http://www.somervillema.gov/CoS_Content/documents/EnvironmentalGuide2008.pdf

I think they'll mail a copy, but I always lose that, so I depend on this electronic version through the year.

Anne

Comments

Rain Barrels?

[derekp.livejournal.com]

From the PDF (how hard would it be for them to put this into HTML?):

Environmentally friendly tips for residents
• Compost food scraps and collect rainwater
(composters and rain barrels available at DPW)

Are the rain barrels new this year? I don't remember those being available and I am in the market.

Re: Rain Barrels?

[avjudge]

I didn't remember it from the 2007 Environmental Guide flyer, either). But when I googled "rain barrel Somerville" about a month ago I found a 2005 city press release so it goes back at least that far. And then when I just tried that search again, the press release is gone from the top hits, but now the *2007* flyer shows up, and it does mention the rain barrel event, so I guess it's a regular thing in recent years.

The flyer mentions the May 10 pickup date, but the NE Rain Barrel site says order by May 6. The direct link to order is here - http://nerainbarrel.com/Somerville.html - I thought they seemed a bit steep for a few fittings added to a reused 55 gallon drum, but figure if I still feel the same way after I get them, I can use these as a model for any future ones I might make. (My roof has a ton of downspouts.) I'll definitely be getting that plastic paint they recommend. (See toward the end of their faq).

Anne

minor thread hijack

[fantastic-salad.livejournal.com]

Sorry, this is only marginally related. Delete if you like:
Has anyone actually had a CFL stop working on them yet? I know they're rated to last something like 3-7 years, and I've yet to have one quit working on me.

Re: minor thread hijack

[avjudge]

Me again - I really do need to upload a pic . . .

Yes, I have 5 sitting out in a bucket in the garage waiting for the next hazardous waste collection that I'm in town for (a problem with Saturdays!) - part of the reason that I was watching for that environmental flyer. (The other reason is the barrel full of deconstructed Christmas greens & shrub trimmings.) These are the CFL reflector-style bulbs from Costco, and they've been rather disappointing, I think less than a year (but I have at least a dozen and a half in use in my kitchen & basement, so they haven't all failed prematurely). I've had other styles fail, but not as consistently as these, and I've been using them for enough years that some of these others probably failed after reaching their rated age.

Consumer Reports magazine just had a note about some - one model in particular that was failing consistently early. But their calculations showed that even with the reduced life, the bulbs saved enough electricity to come out ahead in cost.

Anne

Re: minor thread hijack

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

You can recycle CFLs at Greenward on Mass. Ave. whenever the store is open. I've seen other places to recycle CFLs, too, but at the moment I can't recall where those other places are.

http://www.greenwardshop.com/

[ron_newman]

The 2008 guide doesn't have the information on Special Waste Disposal (TVs, CRTs, "white goods") that is in the 2007 guide.