WESTFIELD – Westfield currently brings its recycling to the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility in Bondi’s Island, which remains open as an essential service. The MRF has given direction to residents on how to dispose of personal protection equipment and pandemic-related materials.
Personal protective equipment, such as plastic gloves and face masks, are not recyclable and must be placed in the trash.
Sanitizing wipes are not recyclable and must go in the trash. “Flushable” wipes and any other type of wipes should be placed in the trash, not flushed down the toilet. All types of wipes are clogging the systems at wastewater treatment plants and personal septic systems. Wipes must always go into the trash.
When placing household trash on the curb for pickup, or bringing to a municipal transfer station, trash bags should be tied securely.
During the closure, many residents are cleaning out and de-cluttering garages, basements, closets, and home offices. A list of items that may by recycled and those which may not is available at www.cityofwestfield.org under Department of Public Works, Refuse and Recycling.
Some common de-cluttering categories that may not be recycled include CDs, DVDs, VHS, and other electronic media. If selling or donating used media is not an option, www.greendisk.com offers a fee-based, mail-in recycling option.
Glossy photographs are not acceptable in recycling because of the photographic chemical coatings in the paper and should be placed in the trash. Slides and negatives are also not recyclable.
Clean and dry clothing can be placed in drop-off boxes for recyclers such as Salvation Army (easternusa.salvationarmy.org). Acceptable items include: all clothing and accessories in good condition, and linens such as curtains, bedding, towels, and stuffed animals in any condition except moldy or wet. Do not donate used face masks.
Please note that thrift stores are currently closed, but some drop boxes are still being serviced. Do not leave materials at overflowing boxes. If residents can wait to drop off items until the “stay-at-home” advisory is over, this would greatly assist organizations in managing materials with fewer staff members.
It is suggested that residents separate items intended for reuse or donation into different categories, bag or box them, label them clearly, and store them until the stay-at-home advisory is over.
In honor of Earth Day 2020, Congressman Richard E. Neal was slated to visit the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility on April 22.
Westfield’s contract with the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility ends in June. The city is currently seeking alternatives due to the large increase in the cost of single-stream recycling.
