Left In Lowell

As a proud (or at least broke) new homeowner in Lowell, I needed a recycle bin, so I headed down to city hall to the office of Gunther Wellenstein, the coordinator for the Lowell Recycling Program. What started out as a simple quest for an official recycle bin, however, became an extremely informative half hour visit where I learned recycling in Lowell can be about more than tossing the soda bottles and tin cans into a receptacle.

We had already planned on capturing water from our roof in at least one rain barrel for watering plants, as one method for reducing our use of resources (we got our rain barrel here, with a discount for driving out to Leominster to pick it up). However, the city also has rain barrels available for a reasonable price. A rain barrel can also help prevent erosion on your property or keep water away from your foundation, if you have weird drainage problems.

Another way to reduce waste, recycle resources, and make your garden prettier, is to buy one of the city’s compost barrels. Imagine if all your food waste didn’t go into your trash (making it smell) but into a bin in your yard, to turn into fabulous rich soil that you can then use for plantings. It means less trash going to the curb, and less landfill space taken up. The city has a great deal on compost systems, at a reduced cost. It’s well worth it when you realize how much you might spend on soil for your garden in any given year. Now, it can be free!

There was a treasure trove of information to be had at the Recycling office, and I recommend every resident of Lowell make their way down there. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Remember, all hard plastics are recyclable, though plastic bags are not, and paper items (including junk mail envelopes with the little plastic windows) should be in a paper bag and placed near the recycle bin, which should be separated from your trash on the curb by several feet (they recommend 10 feet). And the fall Household Hazardous Waste Day is Sat. Sept. 29th from 9 AM - 1 PM, held at the Cawley Stadium (list of items accepted). I have a bunch of things left in our shed by the previous owner so I plan on getting there early!

Kudos to Gunther for running a great office, and I hope that more residents visit him and take advantage of both the monetary and the personal rewards of becoming greener, because it really just makes sense.

The Sun is reporting that Paul Sullivan passed away last night, and the city has lost a vibrant, interesting voice.

I met Paul a couple of times, and he was very respectful to me (an upstart blogger playing with the “big guys” in the reporter trenches of the state Democratic nominating convention in 2006), and my first impression of Paul is he was a man full of mirth and life, and an astute observer of the human condition. He will be missed.