WEST PARIS – The town will return to a full recycling program at the transfer station on Pioneer Street before the end of the month, according to town officials.
The return to recycling, which was in effect briefly several years ago, was approved by voters at the March annual town meeting when they authorized the town to become a member of the Oxford County Regional Solid Waste Association based in South Paris.
As explained by former board Chairman Wade Rainey, “By joining with that group of 18 towns, we can save our people money by cutting the amount of trash that now has to be hauled away each month at a price of $90 per ton. It may mean more work for people who will need to separate their waste but we on the board feel it will be worth the extra effort if we can cut our solid waste costs.”
The new recycling program is expected to be under way as soon as bins from the OCRSWA are received.
When the new bins are in place, people will be asked to separate and place in the proper bin corrugated and non-corrugated cardboard, newspapers, office paper, plastic milk bottles, junk mail and glass.
Metals, construction debris and cans will continue to be separated as they have been in the past.
Town Manager Donald Woodbury said recently, “Membership fees in the association have been paid and the containers needed for recycling are expected to be in place soon. People will be informed when everything is in place.”
Selectmen said they hope to see transfer station patrons cooperating with the program when it gets going, as it is their money the board is trying to save by joining the OCRSWA.
Town officials are also going to make the purchase of home composting bins available through the town office, which will be another step toward further reducing costs at the transfer station.
According to officials of the OCRSWA, kitchen scraps and yard waste account for 25 percent of the waste generated by the average household.
Composing offers another way to reduce solid waste disposal costs and generate fertilizing agents for garden and lawn soils.
Anyone interested in purchasing a home composting bin may call the town office at 674-2701 for the price on the bins and delivery dates.
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