Recycling Working, But Hoping for More

After about five months, the town's new recycling program has cut down on the amount of garbage brought to the transfer station, but town officials are hoping that even more will be recycled as residents adjust to the change.

Last December the town launched the program, which included the distribution of 64-gallon and 96-gallon bins to all residents depending on the number of residents or bedrooms per home. 

There's been some kinks since then that are being ironed out, officials said.

"The program was designed to give everyone a single container," said Councilman Andrew Falvey. "We have made some exceptions but haven't hit 100 percent."

Some weren't happy with the containers they got, he said. About 90 households switched from the larger to smaller bins, he said, while others requested switching from the smaller containers to the larger ones.

"At that point we decided that's it, we won't be doing that on an ongoing basis," he said. "Otherwise, we would be having Public Works and Town Hall doing it every day. 

"It's something we will revisit in the future," he said.

There will be an ongoing need to have containers on hand, he said, because they occasionally disappear or get damaged. If they do disappear, the homeowner must file a police report in order to get a replacement free of charge. If they are damaged by the town such as by a snow plow, it also will be replaced free, but if it's the homeowner's fault, there will be a fee.

Originally the town had ordered 2,800 64-gallon containers and there are now 142 left, Town Manager Michael Milone said. Of the 6,400 96-gallon containers originally on hand, there's 168 left, he said.

So far this fiscal year, the town has brought more than 200 less tons of garbage for disposal, Milone said, and is on track to come in below the last fiscal year's 6,925 tons.

"If this continues, we will be under budget," he said. "We were hoping to be twice that amount, but from talking to other town managers, the learning curve is extended, not immediate.

"We have got to keep pushing this, but it's going in the right direction," he said.