Letter: It’s Time to Repoen Take It Or Leave It At The Transfer Station
Amherst transfer station. Photo: amherstma.gov
The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on February 26, 2022
I am writing to ask for your help in reopening the Take It or Leave It (TILI) tables at the Town Transfer Station. I believe the TILI area is a real part of our town’s uniqueness. It began decades ago, when the landfill/transfer station was opened after the previous landfill site was closed. It serves (along with the Book Shed) as a place for residents (who purchase a yearly “sticker”-currently $100.00) to leave household items that others might take if they find them useful. It has also been a place for residents to meet, socialize a bit, discuss town affairs and gather signatures for nomination papers and petitions. It was closed 2 years ago as part of the response to the pandemic.
Steve Telega is the manager of the Transfer Station and has shared with me some of his concerns about the TILI area and why he would prefer not to reopen it. I believe his concerns are real and can and should be addressed. I would be willing to be part of a group that meets to resolve these issues so that this special place can be reopened.
Norman Brown
Norman Brown is a resident of Amherst.
I too share Norman’s desire to reinstate the TILI area at the landfill. I had asked Steve Telega about that possibility some time ago and he told me it would not be reopened because it was costing the town money to upkeep. I left the topic alone beyond that, though pondered on it. It seems most things are usable and left in a desire for others to possess items that might be useful to them. I have found a few things over the years that became part of my desirable findings. There is also the things that are left, merely to get rid of them and not have to pay to discard them. These are eventually removed and dealt with by the landfill to discard. That’s a problem, indeed.
If there can be a way to reinstate the TILI in the future it would please me, and many others who made a peek at what there was for the taking (or leaving).
I would be more than willing to be part of a group to discuss this as well. Take it or Leave It has a ton of value, but it should not make work for a lot of other people in the process. I would love to find a solution.
Here:
REUSE RECENTER SWAP SHOP
over in ‘Hamp:
The ReCenter season runs from April through October. It is open on the first and third Saturdays, 8:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m.
ReCenter permits are available for $10 to both City and non-City residents and can be obtained on site during open hours.
Please note that the ReCenter permit ONLY grants access to the ReCenter Swap Shop. Other Transfer Station services are only available to City residents with a full Transfer Station permit. Residents can purchase a Transfer Station permit via the Transfer Station’s Online Payment Center.
June 2017 ReCenter exterior
Location
170 Glendale Road, Northampton
ReCenter Operations
The ReCenter Swap Shop (pdf), located at the Glendale Road Transfer Station, allows individuals and organizations to donate durable, useful homegoods and furnishings for reuse. Donated items are available to ReCenter members free of charge. Membership is automatic for city transfer station permit holders. For those who do not want access to other transfer station services, or those who live outside of Northampton, an annual ReCenter member permit is available.
The ReCenter is open seasonally (April to October) on the first and third Saturday mornings of each month from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Our zero-waste and zero-cost pledge requires that we accept material selectively. Our goal is to avoid trash generation and its financial drain on city resources. When high demand items are quickly adopted, or unadopted items are recyclable (e.g. bicycles and books), ReCenter exchanges are cost and waste-free. If an item is not recyclable or is not in demand, we can accept the item only if the donor pre-pays the normal disposal fee. This allows us to accept more risky items without the City of Northampton being saddled with landfill tonnage costs.
A small army of volunteers passionate about reuse and waste reduction staff the ReCenter. It is managed by Public Works and the ReUse Committee. New volunteers are always welcome. Inquiries about volunteer opportunities should be directed to dpwinfo@northamptonma.gov or 413-587-1570.
Other Local Reuse and Repair Opportunities
There are a number of local and state directories to help you find ways to make sure durable household items are reused or recycled.
Who Takes What is an online directory that provides reuse and recycling options within the Pioneer Valley.
Each year the Daily Hampshire Gazette publishes a Reduce Reuse Recycle guide, which provides an exhaustive “What do I do with” listing. The information in this year’s Guide is current through April 2023.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection offers Donation & Reuse options and a Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory (both of which tend to be Eastern Mass oriented).
Greater Northampton is home to many organizations promoting reuse and repair. We have businesses specializing in repair, vintage, consignment and charity clothing, furniture and decorative item stores, used book, CD and DVD stores, antique stores, and stores selling furniture and décor fashioned out of repurposed items. Search the Yellow Pages under repair, used clothing, used furniture, used records and antique stores to learn more.
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THEY ALSO Have a ‘repair even occasionally’ :
https://northamptonma.gov/1882/Repair
Both take some community efforts. Just like the food coop, if no one volunteers to do the heavy lifting, nothing happens…