Lynn City youth publish short video explaining trash, recycling and bulky-item rules

Participants in a Lynn City youth summer program released a short video aimed at helping residents follow Lynn City’s trash and recycling rules.

Jeron, a participant in the Lynn City youth summer program, opens the video by saying, “This summer, we're working at Lynn City Hall as a part of the youth summer program,” and invites residents to watch and contact the group with questions. The presenters walk viewers through basic rules, collection schedules and options for bulky-item disposal.

Hazel, another program participant, said that “the city's waste and recycling hauler is Capital Waste” and described how trucks are weighed before and after unloading to calculate tonnage. Presenters said recycling trucks go to Casella in Charleston, Massachusetts, where materials are sorted at a depot.

The video explains that Lynn City issues two cart sizes: a 96-gallon bin for recycling and a 64-gallon bin for trash. Presenters said trash is collected once per week and recycling is collected every two weeks and encouraged residents to consult the city’s waste disposal calendar for specific collection dates.

Viewers were told that curbside containers must be completely closed when placed at the curb; excess trash should be placed in the purple bags sold at the Department of Public Works during business hours and set on top of the trash can. Presenters warned that overflowing containers can be blown away and that garbage trucks may not pick up overfilled bins.

On bulky items, the video says residents should not leave mattresses, furniture or appliances on the sidewalk (violations can result in fines from the Inspectional Services Department). The presenters described pickup options: call Tuffstock for bulky-item pickup at $55 per item, or bring mattresses to the Department of Public Works for a $35 fee. They also noted that most months the city offers free bulky-item drop-off (excluding construction materials) at 250 Commercial Street on days marked in gray on the waste disposal calendar.

The presenters listed accepted recyclables—paper products, glass bottles and plastic containers—and instructed residents to rinse dirty items; greasy paper plates or pizza boxes should not go in the recycling bin. They also listed items that should not be recycled, including plastic bags, batteries, metal scraps, vehicle parts, mirrors, paint, clothing or textiles, aerosols, chemical containers, tires and construction materials.

The video closes with an appeal to civic responsibility: presenters urged business owners to keep storefronts clean, asked pet owners to pick up after their dogs and proposed a community challenge to pick up one piece of litter a day to improve city cleanliness. For more information or a copy of the waste disposal schedule, the presenters directed residents to contact the Department of Public Works at (781) 268-8000 or visit 250 Commercial Street in Lynn.

The video is presented as an educational outreach from Lynn City’s youth summer program rather than a policy change or new ordinance.