Have you noticed the new sign on the “metal” recycling bin at the transfer station that says “Sort and Support?” If you’re wondering what that is all about, please keep reading.
Did you know that the Hingham Transfer Station has specially marked bins for redeemable cans and plastic bottles (those marked with the nickel redemption) at the far-right end of the baler building?
The money from the cans and bottles that are deposited in these special recycling bins is donated to 25 Hingham youth groups each year such as scout groups, sports teams, church youth groups, school clubs and more. Each group must perform a community service project for the town before receiving the cash which can be as much as $1,000. The DPW office keeps track of the waiting list for this program which is currently 18 months long! Projects done last year include weeding and raking leaves at the bathing beach, parks, playgrounds and ball fields around town, sorting lost and found items at the high school, putting flags on the graves of Veterans for Memorial Day in Hingham Cemeteries, and more.
The Cleaner Greener Hingham Committee (known formally as the Long-Range Waste Disposal and Recycling Committee) encourages residents to take the time to separate cans and bottles with redeemable nickels to support our town’s youth programs. Hingham resident Ed Bartholomew has repeatedly expressed his concern to the committee over all the redeemable cans he notices in the general metal recycling bin. “With just a little extra bit of organization on the home front, $upport for our local youth organization$ could double or triple!” It’s really not much extra effort as the collection bin for redeemable metal cans is approximately 50 feet to the left of the metal recycling bin. In 2025, the DPW donated over $25,000 to 25 youth groups in town from these redeemable plastic bottles and cans. This photo of the metal recycling bin shows what Ed Bartholomew has noticed – there are a lot of redeemable cans that can be separated out and deposited in the redeemable bins. Imagine how much more we could donate to these youth groups if each of us made a bit more effort to “Sort and Support.”
How many of these cans are worth a nickel redemption to support Hingham’s youth groups?