Trash disposal problems date back to ancient Greece; recycling solves centuries of struggle, trash historian says

• "I don't like to throw anything away," Peggy Ayres told the members and guests attending the monthly meeting of the Marlborough Historical Society held at the Peter Rice Homestead.
• It was Ayres first visit to a local organization in her new capacity as the recycling coordinator for the city of Marlborough and she was prepared to discuss historical aspects of the elimination of trash.
• Creating a trash history timeline, Ayres said that in 400 BC the first municipal dump was established in ancient Athens and it was written into the law that the trash had to be taken at least one mile away from the city walls.
• "Fabric was a scarce commodity," said Ayres, something people didn't want to waste.
• In Colonial times, no little scrap of fabric, no matter how small was thrown away."
• Although a lot of people think of recycling as returning plastic bottles or stacking up newspapers to be taken away, there are many other ways people are recycling.
• "If you decide you don't want those old sneakers anymore," said Ayres, "those sneakers could become a field track someplace.
• Citing the recycling that took place in World War I and World War II, Ayres said it became the patriotic thing to do - to save scrap metals, tires, newspapers and even to plant Victory Gardens.
• The more trash we put out there the more we pay for it, she said.
• "We pay a very small amount for recycling, and no matter how much recycling we put out there it's still the same price."