Residents can compost waste at home rather than paying to ship it
to Auburn.
OTISFIELD – At town meeting Saturday, residents will have an opportunity to lower taxes by buying a home composting bin.
Selectmen’s Assistant Marianne Izzo-Morin said composting will save residents money because it will lower the amount of waste shipped to Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp. in Auburn. It will save on shipping charges as well as disposal fees.
An estimated 25 percent of an average household’s waste consists of yard trimmings and kitchen scraps, which can be composted.
As part of Earth Day 2004 celebrations, Otisfield is participating in a statewide composting bin sale. Through May 22, a home compost bin and how-to-guide with a combined retail value of $80 may be purchased for $31.50 each.
The program was set up through the State Planning Office and Waste Management Recycling Program.
During the selectmen’s meeting Wednesday night, Izzo-Morin noted that Selectman Tom Nurmi expressed an interest in the program in the past, but the bins had been all spoken for.
She said when she heard about the program again this year; she immediately got the information needed to participate. A minimum order for bins is 34 and Izzo-Morin is confident there is enough interest in them to meet the quota.
The bins are black, have a 10-year warranty, and are made with 100 percent recycled plastic. They are approximately 35 inches high and 33 inches wide and are large enough to accommodate a family of five.
A bin will be on display at town meeting and Izzo-Morin will have order forms for residents to fill out. Payment is due with the form and the bins will be delivered to the town office on June 28.
The annual town meeting is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Otisfield Community School on Powhattan Road.
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