Despite the statewide decline in recycling, several area communities offered positive reports on their efforts.

City trucks pick up Auburn’s trash and recyclables. Since 1998, the city’s recyclables have been processed at the Lewiston Recycling Facility, which was financed by a grant obtained by both cities. Auburn purchased two recycling trucks last summer.

“Recycling has been steady for quite a few years. We’ve hovered between 25 and 27 percent. I think it’s going to be difficult for us to increase that rate,” said Sid Hazelton, Auburn’s assistant public works director.

“We continue to recycle plastic, tin, newspapers. Our rate is below 30 percent and the state goal is 50. We’re doing our part,” said Turner Town Manager James Catlin.

Markets for some plastics and glass have declined. “When the market goes south, you start paying for the stuff,” he said.

“Historically, our recycling seems to be stable,” said Poland Town Manager Richard Chick. “In 2003, our base recycling rate was 32 percent.” That rate was up slightly from the previous year.

“Our rate is influenced by Poland Spring Bottling. The material they recycle in-plant shows up in our numbers,” Chick said.

The Northern Oxford Regional Solid Waste Transfer Station, serving six towns since 1993, is a success story. Twelve years ago, the region’s recycling rate was 20.7 percent. “It has grown every year since then to 50.4 percent,” said Rumford Town Manager Stephen Eldridge. “We bale everything.”

Regional solid waste facilities have higher recycling success rates, he added.