As Marblehead residents prepare for the town’s new automated trash collection system, a citizen-led effort is underway to answer a question many have been asking: What happens to all the old barrels?
At the center of that effort is resident Barbara Roy, who has spent recent days at the Transfer Station helping coordinate the redistribution of discarded plastic trash barrels to communities and organizations that can still use them.
“I see a need and I step up,” Roy said. “I can’t stand the plastic waste. I don’t like when people tell me something can’t be done.”
The effort emerged after the town delivered 16,000 new trash and recycling barrels to homes as part of the transtition to automatic collection. The new system starts July 1. The Board of Health advised residents to bring their old barrels to the Transfer Station. However, many people have expressed concern about the amount of plastic entering the waste stream.
****The Board of Health meets Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Mary Alley Municipal Building and the new trash contract is on the agenda. The meeting can also be viewed virtually here.****
Roy, who has long been involved in environmental initiatives in Marblehead, said her own experience with the new system prompted her to take action.
“As a resident, I wanted to opt out,” she said. “I own a three-family house and live in one unit. We’ve been managing fine with one trash barrel and recycling bins. I knew we didn’t need three sets, so I asked to opt out.”
“The guys delivered three sets anyway,” she added.
With voters approving a $2.3 million override to include increased trash costs in the tax base, even people who opt out will be paying for the service via their property taxes. The same goes for businesses who are no longer eligible for trash pick-up.
Roy also questioned whether the standard-sized carts are practical for every resident.
“These barrels are too big. I can’t manage them. Older people can’t. People want smaller barrels.”
Environmental concerns
Roy said concerns about plastic waste motivated her to seek alternatives for the discarded containers.
According to Roy and Sustainable Marblehead, the initial idea of allowing nonresidents to collect used barrels directly from the Transfer Station proved impractical.
“We asked Andrew (Petty, Marblehead’s health director), ‘Can we have non-residents come in and rescue them?’ He said no … it will be crowded and disorganized,” Roy relayed.
Petty and Board of Health Vice Chair for Waste Tom McMahon have not returned multiple requests for comment and information.
Volunteers are transporting barrels to neighboring communities where they remain in demand, including 500 to Peabody.
Roy noted that Peabody recently entered into a five-year trash contract that does not use Marblehead’s new style of carts.
Environmental impact
Sustainable Marblehead Director Elaine Leahy said the environmental impact of the transition depends largely on the fate of the discarded barrels.
“We also are unclear where they are headed,” Leahy said. “If they are sent to a waste-to-energy facility, they would generate electricity, but the process also produces planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. Many environmental organizations, including Sustainable Marblehead, believe that reducing plastic production and consumption, reusing products whenever possible, and improving recycling are more sustainable long-term solutions than incineration.”
McMahon posted to Facebook that the barrels are being incinerated.
Leahy emphasized that the issue extends beyond Marblehead and reflects broader shifts in the waste industry.
“We have learned that the transition to automated collection and standardized carts is being driven by broader industry changes, and the economics of Marblehead obviously factors in, too. While we wish there had been more opportunities to reuse these barrels before they become waste, we appreciate everyone who has worked to find practical solutions.”
Leahy said the volunteer response has been one of the most encouraging aspects of the situation. She credited several residents and organizations with helping coordinate the effort.
“Ann Murphy created the Marblehead MA Trash Recycling Barrel Swap Facebook group, Barbara Roy has done an extraordinary job leading the effort and many volunteers have stepped up to transport barrels to Peabody, where they are still needed,” Leahy said. “Sustainable Marblehead has been happy to help promote these grassroots efforts and provide volunteers. Importantly, the Transfer Station operation has remained orderly, with all established procedures being followed and respected.”
The number of barrels finding new homes continues to grow.
“Just yesterday, we helped to send nearly 100 additional barrels to the pickup location in Peabody, bringing the total to about 500 barrels that have already been given a second life, including those posted on Facebook,” Leahy said. “One delivery volunteer told me that Peabody residents were actually waiting there to pick up the bins! This process is really working!”
Leahy encouraged residents to continue participating in the effort.
“We continue to encourage Marblehead residents to repurpose their own barrels whenever possible, post your own available barrels through the Marblehead MA Trash Recycling Barrel Swap Facebook group or Buy Nothing Marblehead, and volunteer to sort good barrels and help transport them to people who can still use them,” she said. “Anyone interested in helping can contact Barbara Roy at broylive@gmail.com or email sustainablemarblehead@gmail.com and we will connect you. Hundreds of barrels have already been given a second life, and Sustainable Marblehead encourages more folks to please get involved in helping.”
