• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Business index
  • Contribute
  • Wellesley Square
  • Private schools
  • Camp
  • Eat
  • Schools
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Embracing diversity
  • Kids
  • About us
  • Events
  • Natick Report
  • COVID-19
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Athlete of the Week
  • Seniors
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend

About Wellesley’s “fend for yourself” garbage/recycling system

December 11, 2010 by Bob Brown 18 Comments

Got a note from a Wellesley newcomer this week who was inquiring about the town’s “fend for yourself” garbage and recycling system, in that residents need to haul their stuff to the Wellesley Recycling & Disposal Facility.

It turns out this family has one small car that will make it tough to bring much at a time to the dump. I know some people in town use commercial services, at least for garbage takeaway, but any other advice for our new neighbors? (Other than, join the club and get an SUV.)

Related:

Newcomers Club of Wellesley

Post-Christmas 2009 at the RDF

Shop at the Wellesley-specific Amazon store

print

Share

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    December 11, 2010 at 9:56 am

    We also have one small car. The RDF opens early – 7 a.m. – so we go twice a week in the morning before work. Don’t think of it as “fend for yourself.” It’s about individual responsibility and participation in a community effort to maximize recycling. WellesleyWeston magazine had a nice article on this topic a few months ago. You can read it here: http://www.wellesleywestonmagazine.com/fall10/reduce_reuse.htm

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    December 11, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    “It’s about individual responsibility and participation in a community effort to maximize recycling.”

    In other words, fend for yourself.

    Reply
    • Newcomer says

      December 14, 2010 at 9:45 am

      heh!

      Reply
  3. JenJamilah says

    December 11, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    Suck it up. I have a Prius and go 1x/week for our family of 4. Cutting down on your consumption and the trash that is its byproduct does a world of good.

    Reply
  4. Susan Clapham says

    December 12, 2010 at 10:49 am

    You can contact Roy’s Recycling — they will come pick up your garbage and recyclables on a weekly basis. I used them for several years as it cost about the same as hiring a babysitter to take the kids while I loaded the car and hauled the trash to the dump. Very nice, local people. Check the Wellesley phone book.

    Reply
    • Newcomer says

      December 14, 2010 at 9:43 am

      Thanks Susan. I’ll have to get one of those phone books.

      Reply
  5. mary says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    If Wellesley had municipal garbage/recycling pick up at houses, we could avoid all the polluting traffic traveling to and from the dump and avoid garbage trucks from many different companies barrelling through our neighborhoods for those who pay for private scavenger service. What I fear is the underlying issue is that too many Wellesleyites cannot tolerate seeing garbage cans near the curbs (or lack of curbs) weekly.

    Reply
    • Newcomer says

      December 14, 2010 at 9:42 am

      Thanks Mary. You may be on to something.

      Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:56 pm

    If Wellesley had municipal garbage/recycling pick up at houses, we’d have no easy way to dispose of things like batteries, fluorescent bulbs, electronics, paint and oil, and people would inevitably sneak them into their trash or down the drain.

    Reply
  7. Anon says

    December 13, 2010 at 11:27 am

    I use Refuse Disposal Service in Framingham. They charge $20 per pickup and I have them come by twice a month.

    Reply
    • Newcomer says

      December 14, 2010 at 9:45 am

      Thanks Anon.

      Reply
  8. dennis says

    December 13, 2010 at 12:29 pm

    I don’t see what the big deal is. Get an Escalade like everyone else. If you don’t want to shlep your stuff to the dump, get Roy’s to pick it up. Our high Tax rate would be even higher if we had street pickup. Besides, do we really want to look like Newton on trash day? I think not.

    Reply
  9. Newcomer says

    December 13, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    Thank you all for your responses. I especially appreciated the helpful suggestions about Roy’s and RDS of Framingham.

    I am a little dismayed that many of you assume that individual responsibility and participation is only practiced properly the way you do it or have been doing it here in Wellesley. We came from a community that practiced very thorough bi-weekly curbside recycling, augmented by a household hazardous waste facilities that were easily accessible, and prompt, easy and clean weekly garbage pickup service by a private collector (Waste Management). It was never an eyesore or a problem. This services cost $56 every two months and WM provided nice, clean bins for each type of waste that were easy to roll to the curb. It wasn’t an eyesore at all.

    I am sure if you added up the time it takes (I assume your time is worth something) and the wear and tear on your vehicle each round trip as well as the carbon burned by an average of 12000 vehicles in Wellesley twice per week on average (my unscientific estimate based on 24000 inhabitants), you would likely find that your garbage and recycling activities are more expensive on average than you think they are.

    However, I am sure we will end up enjoying the process of eliminating our household solid waste and recycling as much as the rest of you regardless of the costs.

    Cheers!

    Reply
  10. Brian says

    December 15, 2010 at 6:18 pm

    Seems like 2 big issues raised are the desire “to maximize recycling” and higher taxes required for curbside pick-up. Newcomer pointed out that, with a good curbside service, the desired level of recycling could be maintained.

    As for higher taxes, has the town ever analyzed the costs associated with this kind of curbside pickup vs the cost of maintaining and staffing the RDF and all the associated equipment? Seems like a town-wide competitive bid process could yield lower per household costs lower than what some residents say they are paying for private services. To further offset costs, could the land used for the RDF be repurposed (e.g. municipal buildings, athletic facilities, etc.) rather than needing to purchase land elsewhere (e.g. the discussed St James purchase for athletic complex)? Alternatively, could the land be sold and developed, adding not only immediate funds, but an increased tax base. Also, I’d think that removing the RDF would increase the values and/or saleability of the homes in the immediate surrounding area further adding to tax revenue.

    Reply
  11. Wellesleyite says

    December 16, 2010 at 3:53 pm

    You gotta love these people who come out of nowhere and want to change the world, one lazy at a time. Just drive to the RDF, recycle and stop whining! if you don’t like it, then why did you come to town?

    About the space, no Escalade necessary, get a tow and a hitch, even a Smart mini can pull that.

    Reply
    • Newcomer says

      December 17, 2010 at 8:26 pm

      …um…have you ever in your life decided to move to a town based on garbage and recycling pickup? We had no idea at all that in 2010, a town in a major metropolitan area in the US would adhere to an antiquated and inefficient mode of removing refuse and recycling. And who’s whining or lazy? We just wanted to get our garbage and recycling taken care of in a responsible way that didn’t require us to join a social dump club once or twice per week. We seriously have better things to do with our time.

      Reply
  12. oy vey! says

    December 4, 2012 at 8:01 am

    Face it-some (mostly men) like to go to the dump. Some (mostly women)-not so much. If it feeds your soul-go. If it doesn’t, there’s nothing wrong with paying for garbage pickup as long as it’s recycled by the pick up company. Not everyone has to behave the same way, think the same way, belief in the same process. You dump-meisters are way too judgemental. You are not always right, and some people have extenuating, and yes, even physical, circumstances which prevent constant dump runs. If you like going so much, why don’t you help the people who can’t go, or don’t enjoy doing it by just taking their garbage too? Help thy neighbor-don’t berate them.

    Reply
  13. Rebecca says

    December 30, 2012 at 9:23 pm

    I’m a Canadian (from Toronto) and have relatives living in Wellesley. I think the dump is fantastic and I’d be all for having a facility like this in our city. I’d be happy to take my garbage to the dump (in my small Mazda) and see the $”s go back in to our city. I also think the Take It of Leave it, The Book Nook, free compost, etc are all added benefits of the dump. It’s unique and you are all lucky to have this.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

Linden Square, Wellesley
Wonderful Wellesley
Riverbend School

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to [email protected]

 

Advertisements

Wellesley Square
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Edge on Science
Sexton test prep
Feldman Law
Fay School, Southborough
Wellesley Theatre Project
Volvo
Cachet, Wellesley
Cheesy Street Grill
Admit Fit, Wellesley
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we appreciate any contribution that supports our independent journalism.

Click on Entering Natick sign to read our Natick Report

Entering Natick road sign

Most Read Posts

  • Restaurants in Wellesley, Mass.: more than 50 dining options
  • Wellesley Business Buzz: New parklets popping up; Papa Razzi taps GM; Babson Beaver Bite
  • Wellesley's plan for Morses Pond beach this summer: Return of the lifeguards
  • Wellesley, football world mourn death of longtime Patriots star Gino Cappelletti
  • Letter carriers' food drive this Saturday to benefit Wellesley Food Pantry

Upcoming Events

May 21
8:00 am

Pancake Festival

May 21
9:00 am - 10:00 am

Centennial Reservation trail walk

May 21
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Wellesley Pooch Parade

May 22
8:00 am - 10:00 am

Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club Wonder Run

May 22
1:00 pm

Atelier Boutique Salon Grand Re-opening

View Calendar

Popular pages

  • Wellesley’s 2022 Boston Marathon charity runners

  • Wellesley’s 7 official scenic roads

Recent Comments

  • Jan Matejka on Sneak peek: We visit Wellesley’s Laughing Monk Cafe
  • Steven scott on Wellesley, football world mourn death of longtime Patriots star Gino Cappelletti
  • Eric on Wellesley Business Buzz: New parklets popping up; Papa Razzi taps GM; Babson Beaver Bite
  • Herb Gliick on Wellesley Business Buzz: New parklets popping up; Papa Razzi taps GM; Babson Beaver Bite
  • Dianne Dowling on Wellesley POPS senior profile: Caroline Mack takes on theater both center stage & behind the scenes

Links we like

  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Taquitos.net
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • 2021 Town Election (24)
  • Animals (411)
  • Antiques (49)
  • Art (575)
  • Beyond Wellesley (45)
  • Books (364)
  • Business (1,492)
  • Camp (11)
  • Careers/jobs (48)
  • Churches (79)
  • Clubs (226)
  • Construction (291)
  • Dump (127)
  • Education (3,084)
    • Babson College (250)
    • Bates Elementary School (16)
    • Dana Hall School (33)
    • Fiske Elementary School (9)
    • Hardy Elementary School (42)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (40)
    • MassBay (55)
    • Schofield Elementary School (24)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (2)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (11)
    • Upham Elementary School (34)
    • Wellesley College (608)
    • Wellesley High School (945)
    • Wellesley Middle School (201)
  • Embracing diversity (69)
  • Entertainment (781)
  • Environment (742)
  • Fashion (140)
  • Finance (14)
  • Fire (159)
  • Food (341)
  • Fundraising (608)
  • Gardens (156)
  • Government (550)
    • 2020 Town Election (47)
    • 2022 Town Election (14)
  • Health (843)
    • COVID-19 (198)
  • Hikes (2)
  • History (386)
  • Holidays (402)
  • Houses (152)
  • Humor (47)
  • Kids (843)
  • Law (7)
  • Legal notices (6)
  • Letters to the Editor (61)
  • Media (68)
  • METCO (4)
  • Military (10)
  • Morses Pond (108)
  • Music (562)
  • Natick Report (29)
  • Neighbors (272)
  • Obituaries & remembrances (71)
  • Outdoors (637)
  • Parenting (62)
  • Police (754)
    • Crime (386)
  • Politics (551)
  • POPS Senior Profile (3)
  • RDF (6)
  • Real estate (328)
  • Religion (131)
  • Restaurants (328)
  • Safety (149)
  • Scouts (1)
  • Seniors (120)
  • Shopping (140)
  • Sponsored (5)
  • Sports (975)
    • Athlete of the Week (6)
  • STEM (107)
  • Technology (164)
  • Theatre (392)
  • Town Meeting (23)
  • Transportation (224)
  • Travel (16)
  • Uncategorized (1,229)
  • Volunteering (346)
  • Weather (177)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (276)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (16)
RSS Feed Icon Subscribe to RSS Feed
Wellesley Pooch Parade

© 2022 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login