11/19/2007 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 Board of Selectmen Minutes November 19, 2007 Assistant DPW Director: Catherine Laurent,Assistant Director of Public Works was in attendance to discuss the following agenda items with the Board of Selectmen; Recycling Camnaim: As a result of a decrease in recycling, Catherine Laurent recommended the Selectmen consider a pay-as-you-throw{PA"program to encourage and compel residents to recycle. In the PAYT initiative, households must pay for each bag of trash being disposed. Recycling is provided at no charge. The direct cost to a household is based on the amount of trash generated rather than an annual flat fee for disposal of an unlimited amount of trash. It was noted the Town of Mashpee charges $70 for a transfer station permit. Many of the surrounding towns charge $100 or more for a permit. The Department of Environmental Protection calculates the recycling rates for the Town. In 2006,the recycling rate in Mashpee was 24%. This is a 2%decrease from the 2005 calculated rate. It was noted there is a decrease in part because of the 8% increase in solid waste collected by private haulers at residential and commercial locations. The Board of Health is now requiring commercial haulers to offer recycling. The Board of Health is also requiring the haulers to calculate the amount of recycling collected. Y g Educational initiatives were considered. Ms. Laurent indicated she is working with the School Department to educate students and continues to mail the recycling brochure'to residents on an annual basis. Information relative to recycling is also located on the Town's web page. An on-site campaign at the transfer station was considered to promote awareness. Due to budgetary constraints, curbside collection is deemed too costly to initiate at this time. Ms. Laurent recommended the Selectmen consider a$100 fee for the average household. For an example, a household disposing of two 30 gallon trash bags per week at a cost of$.75 per bag that includes a$25 permit fee would equate to a fee of$103 per year. The mandatory recycling of newspapers was also considered.