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Arlington to limit trash and require recycling

The town is rolling out new trash regulations that will increase recycling pickups and limit the amount of household waste that residents can throw out each week. It will also begin enforcing a mandatory recycling bylaw that has been on the books for several years, but has not been enforced because of limited staffing, said Michael Rademacher, director of the Department of Public Works. The changes will be phased in over the next few months to increase recycling and keep down the cost of the town’s waste-removal operation, he said. The first change will come July 2 when the town’s new contractor, Peabody-based JRM Hauling and Recycling, will begin picking up recycling every week instead of every other week. The seasonal pickup of yard waste will also move to a weekly schedule. In September, the town’s contractor will stop picking up trash if it is not accompanied by any recyclables. The town will also start limiting the amount of trash that will be picked up per household to 100 gallons, or three typical-size barrels, Rademacher said; anything beyond that will be left behind. JRM Hauling will place stickers on the excess explaining why it wasn’t picked up. Also, starting in October, any household that leaves trash barrels, recycling containers, or yard waste on the curb later than 9 p.m. the day after their scheduled collection date will be subject to a fine.