Disposal Data Desired, Now!

by Glenn C. Koenig, webmaster at Town Wide Mall

Maynard, MA - Recently, the Department of Public Works (DPW) in Maynard launched a survey regarding solid waste (trash, recycling, compost, etc.) and have asked the public to respond.  The survey was developed by the town's "Solid Waste and Recycling Task Force," who plan to use the results to better serve the public's disposal needs.
The survey only takes a few minutes to complete online and will only be open for a limited time, so residents are urged to respond as soon as possible.

To learn more, first open the DPW's main web page:
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/213/Public-Works-DPW
Residents can scroll down to the Task Force's survey announcement, read the details, then click on the "TASK FORCE SURVEY LINK" to get started.  A QR code graphic is also provided for those wishing to use a portable device to answer the survey questions.
If you have neighbors or know anyone in town without good computer or internet resources, please let them know about this survey and invite them to visit the Maynard Public Library and use a computer available there.  There is more information about this service on the Library's web site:
https://www.maynardpubliclibrary.org/computers-copy-fax
Alternatively, residents with a portable device, such as a smartphone or tablet, can meet with a friend or neighbor without access, somewhere where there is reasonable public WiFi, and help them through the survey questions right on the spot, even during hours the Library is not open.

Comment

Why is this survey so important?
• Maynard spends approximately $1 million per year on these services, some of which is funded by trash sticker revenue and the rest by our property taxes.  If the town can save money on these services, it can free up funds for other purposes provided by the DPW.
• The DPW (and the town in general) wants to arrange their services to best serve the public.  If trash and recycling services become easier for residents to use, then they will better fit our needs, and the entire operation will become more efficient.
• We have a chance to reduce our environmental impact by improving how we handle all our unwanted materials.
• We often think of democracy in terms of voting on election day, or participation at Town Meeting, but this is a rare chance to make your wishes known to local government without waiting for election season.

Beyond this survey, I want to remind everyone of the "Six Rs and an M."  They are:
• Reduce
• Reuse
• Repurpose
• Repair
• Reycycle
• Rot (compost)
• Maintenance
Trying to live by this list can be challenging in a world of millions of products that are designed to be "single use" (use once and throw away) or marketed for the lowest price, and therefore often impossible to maintain or repair.  When shopping, it may help to ask ourselves, "What will happen to this when I'm done with it, or it needs fixing?"  It may seem to be an uphill battle because most products are sold without any information regarding maintenance, repair, or disposal.  Typically, we're left on our own, or our taxes are needed to pay to get rid of all the resulting trash and broken (unfixable) items.  That, sadly, is the hidden cost of an economy largely based on the mass marketing of low cost goods.