RANGELEY — The Board of Selectmen met Tuesday with representatives of three waste-management services to discuss the town’s recycling options.

Presenting information and answering questions were Peter Lachapelle, account manager, and Matt Fullerton, route manager, from Waste Management of Rochester, N.H.; Karen McNaughton, municipal sales agent from Pine Tree Waste Services in Scarborough; and Alan Archibald from Archie’s Inc. of Mexico.

Prompting the workshop was news that Rangeley’s current recycling service, Sandy River Recycling Association, is disbanding.

“I guess we’re coming to a crossroads in trash for the town,” board Chairman Dave Burgess said.

Company representatives were asked to come up with detailed plans for public bid.

Answering the board’s questions about recycling, hauling and contract options, Lachapelle and McNaughton heavily favored the single-stream recycling option.

“The latest town in our system to switch to single-stream has doubled its recycling percentages,” McNaughton said.

She said the Pine Tree program accepts all rigid plastics and colored glass, though transport is a big part of the expense because the only single-stream sorting plants are in Lewiston and Portland.

Archibald said it’s hard for small towns to manage the cost of single-stream and favored taking hand-sorted recycling as Rangeley does now.

Transfer Station Manager Rick Godaire said Rangeley has been a leader in recycling for 20 years, because many of Rangeley’s summer people come from places where recycling is mandatory. But he admitted that when the town tried to institute a clear bag program, it was voted down 91-4.

Selectman Gary Shaffer said education is the biggest factor, but it comes down to what people can save as opposed to what it will cost.

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