Methuen, MA Making Progress in Recycling Program

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): The more you know about recycling, the more money the city can save. That’s why Joe Cosgrove wants to talk about “The How-Tos of Recycling.” Methuen’s environmental planner will host the event at Nevins Library on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend is asked to register for the event at nevinslibrary.org.

The trash and recycling program Methuen adopted last October is moving into its “second phase,” Mayor Neil Perry told the City Council on Aug. 7, and the city is now auditing what’s placed in recycling carts. Along with discussing the new program in general, Cosgrave will focus on things that people should avoid including with their recyclables —things like items made of styrofoam, bulky, rigid plastic toys, or plastic bags, although the latter can often be recycled at supermarkets.

“It’s an education process,” Cosgrove said. “Black plastics are not recyclable because they don’t make it through the scanners. Recycling translates into savings because it reduces the amount of garbage that has to be hauled away, and Methuen has disposed of 5,623 fewer tons of garbage since adopting its new system. “Based on a $100-per-ton tipping fee, that’s about $565,200 dollars in savings,” Cosgrove said. “Our recycling tonnage went up from 2,500 to 3,267. That’s a 30-percent increase.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com