A square of yellow caution tape in the wooded area behind the recycling dumpsters at the transfer station marks out where a new swap shed will be built in the coming months.
The current swap shed facing the parking lot does double duty, serving as home to bins for recycling light bulbs, batteries, and deposit cans and bottles, as well as a shelf for residents to drop off items they no longer need but that a fellow Lincolnite might be able to reuse. Reclaimed treasures in the past have included everything from fishing lures to a Prada handbag.
The new 675-square-foot building will be a dedicated swap shed so the current site can be used exclusively for recycling, said Susan Donaldson, office manager at the Department of Public Works. the project is being funded by a grant and the DPW’s regular budget, she added. Though it’s still unclear when the project will be complete, the transition will be smooth — the old swap shed will stay in use until the enw one comes on line, meaning no temporary modular sheds will have to be brought in.