Boats being put into the trash dumpsters wouldn’t seem to be a major problem in the St. Louis area, even with our proximity to the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, but when we say, “Don’t put BOATs in the dumpsters,” we have something else in mind.
BOAT stands for:
- Batteries
- Oil
- Appliances
- Tires
For these items to be recycled or otherwise disposed of properly instead of going into the landfill, they should be placed in the alley approximately four feet away from the dumpsters. The law prohibiting disposal into landfills and imposing fines will go into effect next year.
Remember also that large “bulk” items are picked up the first week of each month. Wait until the first of the month to put those old chairs and bed frames out into the alley. These items also should be placed far enough away from the dumpster that the truck can empty the dumpster and replace it without them falling over.
We seem to be getting better about separating the yard waste from the “landfill refuse,” but some folks are still tossing plastic trash bags into the yard waste dumpsters. Empty the bags into the container and use them again and again and again. That’s recycling at the simplest level.
