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Write Ahead, Wellesley

We visited the Wellesley RDF for some aromatherapy—seriously

January 31, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Right now, the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility is the most fragrant place in town. In a good way. When we stopped by to deal with our weekly transfer station chores, we inhaled the freshest, most invigorating pine-y aroma as we separated glass from cans, and chipboard from newspapers (whatever those are). As we rounded the corner en route to the trash compactor, we found the scent source. A mountain of discarded Christmas trees towered over the adjacent leaf litter and grass clippings. It was at once both beautiful and sad.

Wellesley RDF
We’re always on the lookout for a bargain to share with our readers. The Wellesley RDF’s self-serve aromatherapy treatments are hot (and free) right now.

Next time you’re at the RDF breathe in the fresh smell. I’m telling you, it’s as restorative as forest bathing. It’s OK to get out of your vehicle and admire the trees. Consider thanking them for their holiday-time service and for all the happiness they brought to Wellesley families.

Just don’t try to walk through the “forest.” Wandering around the yard waste disposal area is strictly against RDF rules. Apparently tripping hazards outweigh the potential health benefits. But you may gaze upon the scene and inhale…exhale. When you’re later asked why you exude such serenity, just smile. Only you need to know about the RDF pine tree pile, the cheapest aromatherapy option out there.

Never say we don’t have a nose for news.

Wellesley RDF
We say the Wellesley RDF mountain of Christmas trees rivals the Whites of New Hampshire (in the visiting convenience category).

Wellesley RDF hours

Monday-Wednesday, 7am-noon
Thursday-Saturday, 7am-3:45pm
Sunday-closed (Sunday hours will resume in April)


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Filed Under: Dump, Entertainment, Outdoors, RDF

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Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley RDF roundup—paint collection; Reusables Area; hazardous waste day; document shredding

April 6, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley RDFThe Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF), located at 169 Great Plain Avenue, is gearing up to help residents take care of all their spring clean-out needs. Dates for the grand reopening of the Reusables Area; paint collection; hazardous waste collection; and document shredding have all been announced. Here’s the lowdown:

Thursday, April 7: paint collection

The RDF will collect old paint on Thursday, April 7 from 3-6pm, and the first Thursday of each month through October 2022.

Paint is also available for the taking from the shed during regular RDF hours except during paint drop-off events. Stop by the RDF office for assistance.


Wednesday, April 13: Reusables Area opens (weather permitting)

For those new to town, the Wellesley RDF Reusables Area is like a daily free yard sale where one family’s trash is another family’s treasures. Drop off your household items that are in working order or easily repairable, then scout the well-organized tables laden with the cast-offs of others. Everything you bring, you donate. Everything you pick up is free, and you don’t have to bring a donation to “shop.” The swap area is a town treasure of a place, run by the Friends of Recycling volunteers (they can always use new members). We can’t prove it, but we guess there’s not a home in Wellesley that doesn’t have something, somewhere from the Reusables Area.

Our favorite find of 2021: a nifty chair, perfect for The Swellesley Report’s editorial office (aka our older son’s childhood bedroom). It takes discipline, but please follow the rules and limit your visits to 30 minutes per day.

Wellesley RDF, Swellesley office
Wellesley RDF, Swellesley office

Sunday, May 1: hazardous waste collection

Wellesley RDF, Hazardous Materials Day
Hazardous Materials Day

Safely, and without a fee, dispose of hazardous household waste and other items on Sunday, May 1, 9am-3pm, at the Recycling and Disposal Facility. Hazardous Waste Collection Day is an important component in Wellesley’s environmentally responsible approach to integrated solid waste management.

Here’s the list of accepted and unaccepted items.

If you miss the Wellesley hazardous waste collection day, you can contact Clean Harbors or New England Disposal Technologies Inc. to dispose of hazardous waste for a fee at their facilities.


Sunday, May 1: document shredding

Safely dispose of sensitive documents at the RDF on Sunday, May 1, 9am-3pm. The spring document destruction event is open to Wellesley residents only. It’s super easy to participate. You don’t even get out of your car, just make sure documents are corralled in a clearly marked brown paper bag or disposable cardboard box in the trunk of the vehicle. Once you give over your paper clutter, it’s goodbye forever. Shredded stuff cannot be returned to you. More guidelines here.

Last year’s shredding event resulted in shredding seven tons of documents from 305 cars.


RDF hours

Monday-Wednesday: 7am-noon
Thursday-Saturday: 7am-3:45
Sunday: 10am-3pm

Filed Under: RDF

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley

Wellesley RDF adds flag retirement box to books area

January 25, 2022 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

According to the U.S. Flag Code, American flags that have seen better days, “should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” The problem is that most American flags are made of nylon which, when burned, releases toxic fumes. So no, do not throw your frayed flag into the fireplace on a cold winter night and set it ablaze. Instead, bring it to the new flag retirement box at the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF).

The RDF this month placed one of the USPS-like boxes in the used books area to ensure that old American flags are respectfully treated. RDF Superintendent Jim Manzolini says, “Myself and the staff here have seen far too many flags in the trash compactors and on the floor of the trash building.  We would prefer that flags be folded (correctly). If you need help doing so please stop by the office and someone will help you do so.”

The retired flags are properly disposed of by the Veterans’ Services Officer.

Worn-out flags can also be brought to Town Hall.

Flag disposal, Wellesley
The Wellesley RDF has added a U.S. Flag Retirement box, located in the used books area.

 

RDF Recyclable of the Month—textiles

These include clothing, blankets, gloves, jackets, hats, drapes, bedding, rugs, sneakers, backpacks, etc. (But not American flags. See above.) As long as it’s dry, it can go into the “Textiles Area” of the RDF. Even single sneakers, gloves or mittens without mates, and ratty old and frayed sweaters are acceptable. These poor-condition textiles get recycled, which keeps them out landfills.

Wellesley RDF hours

Mon.-Wed.: 7am-noon
Thur.-Saturday: 7am- 3:45pm
Closed Sundays–(Sunday hours resume April 2022)

Filed Under: Dump, RDF, Safety

Refined Renovations, Wellesley

Final paint collection for the season at Wellesley Recyling and Disposal Facility

October 3, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley RDFSafely dispose of your used paint at the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility‘s  (RDF) paint drop-off area on Thursday, October 7, 3pm – 6pm.

The following materials are accepted: interior and exterior latex paint, interior and exterior oil-based alkyd paint, and solidified paint.

Materials that are not accepted are: creosote and turpentine, other solvents, and unmarked containers. These materials may be brought to the RDF on Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, which is to be announced.

This is the last paint drop-off day for 2021. Paint recycling will resume in spring 2022.

Paint is available for the taking from the shed during regular RDF hours except 3pm – 6pm on scheduled paint drop-off days.

Other methods of paint disposal

Empty cans of paint can be disposed of in the regular household trash.  The empty metal cans cannot be recycled due to the high level of paint contamination.  If a gallon of paint is less than 3/4 full, dry the paint out by mixing it with kitty litter.  Once it is dry, dispose of it with the regular household trash.

Wellesley RDF hours:

Mon. – Wed.: 7am – noon
Thur., Fri., Sat.: 7am – 3:45pm
Sun: 10am – 3pm

Filed Under: Dump, Environment, RDF

Call and Haul, Wellesley

Hanging out at the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility

August 27, 2021 by Deborah Brown 12 Comments

We stop by the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF), affectionately known around town as “the dump,” on a regular basis ostensibly to keep things tidy in the garage. But our weekly visit is so much more than just a way to dispose of trash and deal with our recyclables. Going to the dump is part chore, part fun. We never know what we’ll find—a discarded rose of sharon, root ball intact, while we’re tossing our yard waste; the very book we need for next month’s book group; or almost the entire contents of our swell office.

Here are a few Wellesley RDF summer pics, just in case you’re away and miss the old place.

Wellesley RDF, books area
Wellesley RDF, books area. The box usually holds notices about town doings, but for the past couple of weeks it’s been repurposed as a natural history display. The feather on the left looks to us  like it came from a turkey. We’re not sure about the one on the right. Same turkey?

 

Wellesley RDF, books area
Wellesley RDF, books area. Move fast if you need to round out your John Grisham collection.

 

Wellesley RDF, chair
This is our most recent find from the Reusables Area, the perfect chair to go into our swell office. We’ve been looking for just such a treasure all summer.

 

Wellesley RDF, Swellesley office
Most of The Swellesley Report’s office decor (formerly known as Our Oldest Son’s Bedroom) has been sourced from the dump. The linen panels, braided rug, mirror, and  chair have all been dragged home by Mrs. Swellesley over the years. Thanks, Wellesley. You all have such good taste in home cast-offs.

There’s always a face palm at the end of the trip. What did we forget to bring this time? Dammit. The food waste. Again. We keep leaving it behind in the freezer. So now there’s officially more garbage in our freezer than consumable food. Oh well. Next week.

Wellesley RDF hours

Monday – Wednesday: 7am-noon
Thursday – Saturday: 7am-3:45pm
Sunday: 10am-3pm

Upcoming RDF event

Wellesley RDF, hazardous materials day

 

Filed Under: Books, Dump, Environment, RDF

Rumble Boxing, Natick Mall

How to safely dispose of your old paint at the Wellesley Recycling & Disposal Facility

August 26, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley RDFSafely dispose of your used paint at the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility‘s  (RDF) paint drop-off area on Thursday, September 2, 3pm – 6pm.

The following materials are accepted: interior and exterior latex paint, interior and exterior oil-based alkyd paint, and solidified paint.

Materials that are not accepted are: creosote and turpentine, other solvents, and unmarked containers. These materials may be brought to the RDF on Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, which is to be announced.

There will be one more paint drop-off day this year on October 7, 3pm – 6pm, and then paint recycling will resume in spring 2022.

Paint is available for the taking from the shed during regular RDF hours except 3pm – 6pm on scheduled paint drop-off days.

Other methods of paint disposal

Empty cans of paint can be disposed of in the regular household trash.  The empty metal cans cannot be recycled due to the high level of paint contamination.  If a gallon of paint is less than 3/4 full, dry the paint out by mixing it with kitty litter.  Once it is dry, dispose of it with the regular household trash.

Wellesley RDF hours:

Mon. – Wed.: 7am – noon
Thur., Fri., Sat.: 7am – 3:45pm
Sun: 10am – 3pm

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Filed Under: Dump, Environment, RDF

Wellesley RDF paint collection day is June 3rd

June 2, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley RDFThe Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF) will hold its next monthly paint collection day on Thur., June 3, 3pm – 6pm, at the Recycling and Disposal Facility paint shed.

The following materials are accepted: interior and exterior latex paint, oil based alkyd paint, and solidified paint. Materials that are not accepted are: creosote and turpentine, other solvents and unmarked containers. These materials may be brought to the RDF on Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, which is to be announced.

Paint is available for the taking from the shed during regular RDF hours except 3pm-6pm on the scheduled paint drop-off day.  Stop be the RDF office for assistance.

Other methods of paint disposal

Empty cans of paint can be disposed of in the regular household trash.  The empty metal cans cannot be recycled due to the high level of paint contamination.  If a container of paint is less than 3/4 full, dry the paint out by mixing it with kitty litter. Once it is dry, dispose of it with the regular household trash.

Food waste program

Wellesley residents can drop off food waste into the bins located in the trash compactor area. The food waste drop-off initiative has been a permanent and voluntary town program since 2019. Residents do not need to sign up. Just put your food waste in compostable bags, which are available at Green’s  Hardware, Roche Bros., Whole Foods, and on Amazon.

The food waste is brought to an anaerobic digester where it is turned into biogas and converted into electricity.

Acceptable items are food scraps, fruits and vegetables, meats (both cooked and raw), eggs, dairy, baked goods, tea bags, coffee grounds, paper towels, and napkins.

Unacceptable items are recyclables, cooking oil, cups, cartons, and yard waste

The program was put into place by the Department of Public Works, the Natural Resources Commission, and the Sustainable Energy Committee as part of the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Working Group.

More on the Food Waste program.


Wellesley RDF hours

Mon-Wed:  7am-noon
Thur-Sat: 7am-3:45pm
Sun: 10am-3pm


Wellesley Reusables Area hours

The RDF has a rotating schedule of drop-off only days and shopping-only days.

Sun., Mon., Tue., Wed.—Reusables Area is closed
Thursdays: 7am-3pm, drop-off only
Fridays: 7am-3pm, shopping only
Saturdays, 7am-3pm dropping & shopping

10-minute shopping limit


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Filed Under: Dump, Environment, RDF

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