WASTE AND RECYCLING

If you have questions or comments regarding solid waste management and recycling in the Town of Raymond, or if you would like to join the Recycling Committee, please call the Town Office at 655-4742 or fill out the on-line Volunteer Application.

Trash

Household trash is picked up at curbside each week. Residents are allowed up to two 32-gallon containers per week, with not more than 50 pounds per barrel. Households with excess trash can purchase trash bag stickers at the Town Office for $1 each.

1. Pine Tree Waste trucks will run every storm unless the police declare a state of emergency.
2. All private roads that are not plowed and/or sanded will not be serviced
3. Any private roads that fail to maintain a safe turn around will not get serviced
4. Any roads that are not passable will not be picked up that week
5. All barrels should have the resident's address printed on it, plus a free orange sticker, available at the town office.

Link to the map of Trash Collection Routes

Recycling

Recyclable materials are picked up at curbside, too. If you have Tuesday trash pickup, you will have Tuesday recycling pickup and likewise for Wednesday pickup services. 

Easily recognized containers should be used. A typical poly recycling bin or even a laundry basket is best. Sort all items by type (see chart below) into separate paper bags which will be left for reuse. The following list represents what can be recycled. Please keep materials as clean and dry as possible. 

Corrugated cardboard and brown paper bags can be placed in drop off containers located at the District 2 (387 Webbs Mills Road) Fire Station. Please flatten the cardboard and place the cardboard in the container.  Staples and tape are OK.  Please, NO paperboard (see chart below).

Uncontaminated motor and gear oil can be taken to the Lake Region Bulky Waste Facility. 

RAYMOND RECYCLING GUIDELINES

LAKE REGION BULKY WASTE FACILITY 
serves Casco, Naples, Otisfield, Raymond

Leach Hill Road
Casco, ME 04015
207-627-7585

Hours are 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Items accepted for recycling include metal, car batteries and alkaline batteries, wood waste (trees, building materials), sheetrock, asphalt shingles, tires, motor oil, compost (yard waste, leaves), refrigerators. There also is a "Shop and Drop" where residents can bring unwanted (but still usable) books, toys, TV sets, exercise equipment, appliances, etc.

Refrigerator and freezers with doors attached will will incur a $5.00 charge for removal of the doors. Tires are limited to 4 per household per year. If the rims are attached, there is a $5.00 charge for each tire for rim removal. Computers, monitors and television sets are accepted. Fluorescent bulbs are taken with a charge for hazardous waste disposal. Almost all household batteries no longer have mercury in them; therefore they can be thrown in with your household waste. Lithium batteries and other batteries like hearing aid batteries should be considered hazardous waste and should be disposed of as such. Any lead acid type battery like car, tractor, and boat batteries can be taken free of charge to the bulky waste facility. Any completely metal load can be disposed of at no cost. Uncontaminated motor and gear oil can be left with no charge.

BULKY WASTE PASSES:

When a resident requests a vehicle bulky waste sicker, he/she must bring into the Town Office the registration for the vehicle which will be going to the bulky waste facility.  If the vehicle is registered to the resident, a sticker will be issued for that vehicle without a fee.

If a business wants a commercial sticker, it can be procured at the Town Office and the Lake Region Bulky Waste Facility will bill the business monthly.  If the business is hauling for a Raymond resident, the resident may allow the commercial hauler use of their coupons. 

If a resident wants to haul their refuse with a borrowed vehicle, they must use their coupons or pay at the gate.

RAYMOND RECYCLING AND TRASH Q&A

• WHAT TIME SHOULD I HAVE MY TRASH AND RECYCLING OUT?

All trash and recycling must be placed out at the curb by 7:00 A.M. Certain variables such as weather conditions, different trucks being used, the amount of trash, etc., all affect where your crews will start and end the route. To make sure everyone's material is collected, we require it to be ready for collection at 7:00 A.M. If your material was placed at the curb by 7:00 A.M., and has not been collected by 3:00 P.M., please call the Town Office. Occasionally, bad weather or breakdowns will place the crews several hours behind schedule.

• WHERE SHOULD I PLACE MY TRASH AND RECYCLING FOR COLLECTION?

Material placed at the curb should be in plain view for the work crews. Placing the material behind telephone poles, bushes, walls, snow banks, or any other object that could hinder visibility should be avoided. At the end of the driveway, one pace from the street, is the optimum location for collection purposes. To avoid any confusion, trash and recycling should be placed in separate locations, such as opposite sides of the driveway. No material should be placed in front of mailboxes as this hinders the postal workers. Every effort is made on the part of the crews to place empty receptacles in the same location in which they were found. Barrels should be taken in from the curb as soon as possible to prevent them from being drafted into the road by passing vehicles or blown about by the wind.

• WHAT IF I PLACE UNACCEPTABLE MATERIAL OUT FOR COLLECTION?

Unacceptable material placed in the recycling bins or with the trash shall be left behind, and a tag explaining the reason why will be left whenever possible. Only household trash can be picked up at the curb. Demolition and construction debris, metal items, and furniture, etc., must be taken to the Lake Region Bulky Waste Facility.

• DO I HAVE TO USE BARRELS OR CAN I USE BAGS?

All household trash should be bagged and placed in barrels to help prevent the spread of litter. Baby powder sifted over the bags works wonders at keeping animals at bay, and also will not injure the worker's eyes or skin as bleach and ammonia do. Barrels are mandatory for trash collection. Black and dark colored trash bags are preferred during the winter months because of their high visibility against the snow. Plastic bins should be used to help distinguish recyclable material from your trash. Trash and recycling should never be placed behind snow banks or other objects that would hinder quick and safe collection.

• IS THERE A LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL I CAN PLACE OUT FOR COLLECTION?

There is no limit on the amount of recycling you can place out each week. Recycling is strongly encouraged. There is a two 32-gallon barrel limit of trash per household unit per week. Buildings with two units may place up to four barrels of trash out for collection each week. Buildings with three or more units are considered commercial properties and do not receive residential service. Special stickers may be purchased at the Town Hall for $1.00 each for any trash over the allotted limit. Pine Tree Waste is authorized to collect any amount of trash that is contained in these special bags. Please note that there is a weight limit of 50 pounds per barrel.

• WHAT TYPE OF BARREL IS THE BEST ONE TO USE?

If you are purchasing a new trash barrel, avoid the styles with wheels. Though they are easier to drag out, the wheels often break off and the barrel will no longer stand. If your barrel does not perform to your expectations you should return it to the place of purchase. Neither the Town of Raymond nor Pine Tree Waste can be responsible for low quality containers. The heat of summer and cold of winter will weaken plastic barrels over time. Dents may occur in metal barrels due to weight and normal emptying. Round, plastic trash cans with no wheels, such as the dark green Rubbermaid with the light tan covers, are the barrels that we have seen to work the best and hold up over time. The tall thin trash barrels are easily blown about by traffic and wind when empty. Full barrels should weigh no more than 50 pounds to help prevent injury to the worker and damage to the barrel.

• WHAT IF I HAVE A QUESTION, COMPLAINT, OR CONCERN?

Notify the Town Office at 655-4742 x21 or Pine Tree Waste directly at 1-888-857-0800 with any concerns you may have. Pine Tree Waste is your waste removal specialist and is ready and able to answer questions or fix any problems that may occur with your waste collection.

REDUCING WASTE

~ COMPOST 

Compost is Black Gold. This can be as simple as a pile in your backyard and can reduce trash by 25% while providing nutrient-rich soil for gardens. Any amount of yard debris can be taken to the Lake Region Bulky Waste Facility.

~ ELIMINATE JUNK MAIL

To remove your name from junk mail lists, write to:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
Box 3861 Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163-3861

To eliminate junk mail permanently, tell the service that your name may not be sold or given to any advertiser. There is no charge for this.

~ CHOOSE ITEMS WITH MINIMAL OR NO PACKAGING
~ USE CLOTH INSTEAD OF PAPER (TOWELS, NAPKINS, BAGS)
~ REUSE PACKAGING AND OTHER ITEMS
~ BORROW OR RENT ITEMS YOU USE INFREQUENTLY
~ MAINTAIN AND REPAIR ITEMS TO ENSURE LONG, PRODUCTIVE LIFE
          FOR TOOLS, APPLIANCES AND CLOTHING
~ BUY DURABLE, LONG-LASTING PRODUCTS
~ DONATE WHAT YOU NO LONGER NEED