Salem's new solid waste collection rules have improved recycling immensely. Not only is recycling pickup now weekly, but revised trash restrictions (barrels no larger than 35 gallons with a three-bag maximum per household) have resulted in a near doubling of recycling in some neighborhoods.
Recycling also saves on municipal solid waste disposal costs between $700,000 and $800,000 annually for a city like Salem.
Despite trash and recycling programs generating or saving money, however, there is still negative feedback, and we've all heard the complaints. Some say Salem's program is unreasonable.
One year ago, Hamilton also implemented new rules — chiefly, trash fees. Hamilton will pick up one bag per household, but any additional trash must be in an official blue "Hamilton" bag, which costs $1.75 each, with five-packs available for $8.75.
Despite the usual grumbles about the new fee-based program, Hamilton's first year of the program was remarkable, according to Gretel Clark, one of five members of Hamilton's Recycling Committee.
"The population is really proud of itself," she says.
The new structure has greatly reduced the city's waste stream. Clark reported a 37 percent to 40 percent reduction, saving Hamilton nearly $70,000.
Trash fees generated also provide communities with funds to improve public programs. Hamilton accrued about $47,000 from the first year's sale of the blue trash bags and is using the money to start a municipal organic waste program that will be the first of its kind in the state.
Gloucester's "Pay as You Throw" system has been in place since 1990, with official "City of Gloucester" purple bags costing $2 each. According to the city's Budget Balance Report for financial year 2009, solid waste fees generated more than $1.2 million in revenue.
By organizing household waste streams and separating cardboard, plastic, paper, glass and aluminum cans — and if composting is approached more routinely — communities really can reduce landfill sizes and solid waste management budgets.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's most recent statistics, in 2005 the nation produced 246 million tons of waste and recycled/composted 79 million tons.
Thus, recycling tonnage can certainly be improved.
Many on the North Shore and elsewhere in the country do not recycle despite restrictions or fees, and there are plastic bottles, copious amounts of paper and cardboard, and glass still making their way into landfills via free or paid-for rubbish bags.
To improve your recycling potential, go to www.msgreenquickfixes.com and click on "Recycling Basics In and Out of the House and Recycling 102: Become an Expert."
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Andrea Fox, a Beverly resident, has been writing about environmental sustainability and eco-topics for eight years. She is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and a watershed protection advocate in Salem Sound Watershed.
