FARMINGTON – The fee charged to the 20 Sandy River Recycling Association towns for processing and transporting their recyclables has been cut.

Directors voted last week to lower the fee from $40 to $35 a ton. It means, for instance, that Rangeley would save about $670 in 2009. It paid $5,500 in 2008.

“The board would like to reduce the price every year although we haven’t been able to yet. Our goal eventually is that towns won’t have to pay for the service, which may help people recycle more,” said Ron Slater, who runs the transfer station on Dump Road.

This is the third time the nonprofit organization lowered fees in recent years. It reflects the steadily rising returns on recyclables, said Richard Doughty, president of the 21-member board of directors. Income from the sale of recyclables went from $153,600 in 2007 to $211,500 in 2008, he said.

“We are in a position to do this. Over the years, we’ve set aside revenues while replacing most of our equipment, two trucks and a baler,” he said.

While prices have been good in recent years, the markets for recyclables go up and down, Doughty said.

“Prices have finally started downward after a year and a half of super prices,” Slater said, suggesting a possible impact from global economic events.

In his quarterly report to the board, Slater said cardboard that was selling for $61 a ton is down to about $50 while newspaper is down $20 ton to $131. And that “the bottom has dropped out of the steel market with cans selling for $0 to $10; last month they were selling for $157 a ton.”

“Ron reported a real dip but until the markets calm down, we don’t sell,” Doughty said.

The amount of recycled items received by the association is down. Member towns recycled 1,416 tons of recyclables in 2006 compared to 1,283 tons in 2008.

“While most people believe recycling is a good thing … and value our resources … we need to keep people thinking about it,” Doughty said. “If recycling is not on the front burner, it seems there is an overall drop in recycling.”

No one item is responsible for the decline in recyclables, he said, while reflecting on the trend of cardboard recycled over the past six years. There has been a big decline in cardboard, which Doughty believes may be related to the general decline of business and industry in Franklin County.

The board has considered recognizing towns that increase their recycling rates. A load of compost created from the association’s food recycle program may be one incentive used for towns to increase recycling, Doughty said.

But, the reduction in fees to towns for processing and transportation at a time when everything else is going up may be a good incentive to keep homeowners interested in separating recyclable items from their household trash, Slater added.