When residents of Sanford and Springvale go to the ballot box on Nov. 2, they will have a chance to repeal the recently instituted pay-as-you-throw trash removal system. Although many are angry by the increase in cost with the new purple trash bags, they should think carefully about what kinds of cuts they are willing to live with or other increases they would be willing to pay if the program is ended.
Municipalities have been cutting across the board in the last several budget cycles due to the stagnant economy, keeping the burden to taxpayers in mind. The problem is, as one Sanford councilor put it, the dollars cannot be stretched further.
Earlier this month, Sanford Town Manager Mark Green said the town would have to make up for a shortfall in the solid waste budget if the repeal is successful at the polls. He estimated the shortfall would be about $500,000 this fiscal year ”“ and about $1.2 million next fiscal year.
Green told the Town Council the shortfall could be made up through new taxes, reducing local services, use of reserve accounts or the town’s general fund balance, or an emergency appropriation.
So, while the cost may sting residents who have to buy trash bags now, the alternative is that those costs will be felt later with higher taxes or cuts will be made to services on which they have come to depend.
Based on numbers from Green, it seems the program is benefiting the town through higher recycling rates and lower costs to the town for disposing of trash.
Green said the program has worked well since it went into effect July 12, with compliance at 99.9 percent.
Recycling, now being picked up every week instead of every other week, has increased from 169 tons to 440 tons for the first 10 weeks, compared to the same period last year.
The amount of garbage being sent to Maine Energy Recovery Company is also down considerably, according to Green. He said the town would send about 3,400 tons of trash to MERC this fiscal year if the program remains in place. Last year, without PAYT, 7,814 tons of trash was sent to MERC.
The program has generated about $200,000 in revenue so far, Green said.
In addition to increasing revenues, the town may see more savings if trash disposal fees decrease. Tipping fees at Maine Energy Recovery Company cost the town nearly $80 a ton and that cost is scheduled to increase by 20 percent starting Jan. 1.
Based on numbers, PAYT is working. Revenues are up, recycling is up and trash generation is down. And while no one likes to see prices increase, using a program like pay-as-you-throw to make an increase seems like a better place than property tax bills.
Those who choose to recycle all of their paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and even food with a compost system should have very little trash left ”“ and therefore few trash bags to purchase. Residents of Sanford and Springvale can make the choice to be more conscientious about how they dispose of waste and how much they recycle, which ultimately benefits individuals, the town and the world.
Instead of repealing the program, residents should stick it out and make it work, because they can be sure the near $2 million shortfall will need to be made up in another way.
— Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at nickc@journaltribune.com.
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