Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should We Recycle?
This is our favorite question! If a Leicester Resident recycles and purchases with recycling in mind their average cost per year for trash removal is only $96! Compare that to your trash removal costs annually. Now how many dinners out can you experience with that kind of savings?

When is the Recycling Center open?
The Recycling Center is open the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays of every month from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

How Is Recycling Funded In Leicester?
Funding for the operation of the Recycling Center comes from the cost of annual stickers and from a revolving fund established for money taken in from fees, returnable beverage container refunds, and anything that can be obtained for recycled items. If the Center were to be suddenly closed, the town would have to appropriate more than ten thousand dollars to dispose of the municipal items that are currently recycled at the Recycling Center.

What Does It Cost To Recycle In Leicester?
The cost for residents of Leicester is $30.00 per year for a car tag ($25 for Resident Seniors - those 60 years of age or older). The only other cost is for special collections such as electronics, appliances, and bulky waste. If you are a Non-Resident the cost is $35.00 per year for a car tag.  The small fees for some items helps to defray some of the cost incurred by the Recycling Center for handling such items.

What Happens To The Items When They Are Recycled?
What happens to an item depends on the item you are recycling. Plastic is recycled into many things such as: road aggregate, clothing, plastic lumber, park benches, and much more. #5 plastic is made into toothbrushes and razors. Glass and metal are recyclable forever – meaning that they can be recycled over and over and over again. Paper and corrugated cardboard from Leicester is used to make your cereal boxes you open in the morning. Computers are broken down piece by piece and each thing is recycled for its own properties, often being sent to 3rd world countries. If you have questions about where you items are going, ask a volunteer when you visit the Center.

How Do I Sort My Recycling Materials?
Most people sort when they get to the Recycling Center. If you want to sort ahead of time you need to first determine what items you have the most of such as: paper, plastic; corrugated & chipped board; and glass. Sort in this manner and then when you arrive at the Center you can bring the sorted items to the recycling stations for that product. Recycling is not difficult. All paper and cardboard goes in the compactor on the left; plastic is sorted by number (1 and 2 go into the compactor on the right; 5 goes into the large container before you reach the compactors). Volunteers are available to assist you when you arrive at the Center with sorting of your items.  When recycling metal products, a magnet can be used for identifying aluminum versus other metals.

What about bottle caps? Polypropylene (PP), or plastic #5, often makes up the plastic caps on bottles. So, what’s the big deal if the bottle is a #1 and the cap is a #5? They’re both plastic right? It’s not that simple. It all comes down to the melting point, which has a difference of nearly 160 degrees Fahrenheit between the two. If a cap gets mixed in with bottles, the entire batch may be ruined because there is un-melted plastic in the mix. A general rule of thumb is to remove all of the plastic caps and lids from your plastic bottles, jugs and tubs before recycling them.

What Do I Do If I am not sure if something can be recycled?
That’s easy. Just ask one of the numerous Recycling volunteers when you visit the Center. Or use the telephone numbers or email address to find out your answer. NEVER assume that we do not take something unless it is specifically written on the brochures. We have countless outlets for all kinds of thing having been in the recycling business for 25 years! Ask before you throw it away please?

Do You Have People Who Lecture On The Subject Of Recycling?
Absolutely! We have been talking to scouts, students, seniors and others for many years. Just as a volunteer, use the telephone numbers or email the address on the brochure. Please give us at least a months notice. Thanks.