Nothing like some good, old-fashioned competition to get everyone in the recycling spirit.
The recent release of community-by-community recycling rates by the state Department of Environmental Protection produced smiles in Ipswich (best on the North Shore) and red faces in Peabody (worst).
A member of the Hamilton recycling committee (letter to the editor, Monday, Sept. 28) was quick to point out that the DEP figures are based on 2007 experience and her town has in the meantime taken steps both to increase the collection of traditional recyclables (paper, glass, plastic, etc.) and encourage the recycling of organic material (kitchen and yard waste).
Meanwhile the city of Salem has implemented a competition among its various neighborhoods to pick up the recycling pace.
The city's contractor, Northside Carting, is tracking how much recyclable material is put out at the curb each day, and the route (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.) showing the most improvement in a quarter will have a tree planted in the neighborhood. So this afternoon city and Northside officials were scheduled on Jefferson Avenue (Wednesday collection) to plant a tree in recognition of the 2.3 percent improvement in that neighborhood's recycling rate over the previous quarter.
According to a release from City Hall last week, "Statistics show that for each ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are saved from destruction. Over the last year, Salem residents have recycled over 1,700 tons of paper; thereby saving nearly 30,000 trees."
Little wonder the Witch City has also won "Tree City" designation.
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