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| ~ Submitted by Dick Kmetz LONGMEADOW Following are some highlights of recycling and waste disposal for fiscal year 2005. New contractors were worked out with the Recycle Material Resource Facility (MRF) that continues the no- charge for recycles brought there (1,757 tons in FY2005) and will increase the town reimbursement hopefully to $30,000 due to increased world-wide demand (China, for example is consuming one-third the world's copper production as well as large amounts of iron/steel, paper/cardboard products). Fiscal Year 2005 trash equaled 4,951 tons and the town started a new contract with the Central Mass. Disposal Co. to transport curbside trash/recycled goods for a five year time. Recycled goods tonnage went down 6.7 percent and trash tonnage stayed about the same. Prices to handle these continued to rise. For example, it cost $340,000 to burn our trash, up some $80,000 compared to the same tonnage in 2002. FY2005 curbside trash cost was $178 a ton and recycled goods was $103 a ton. Note: if each home in town had reduced trash three pounds a week, the town would have saved $76,000. A new pay-as-you-throw leaf program saved money for those with no leaves or who had their own disposal place. Faster pickup curbside helped traffic flow and reduced curb lawn damage. A 42-page transfer station application was drawn up for the recycle center following completion of the Department of Environmental Protection/town contract regarding area fines, judgements, and further work. Quality operation of the recycle center continued following the appointment and hiring of the new center coordinator/supervisor Roger Couture in April 2005. Costs were reduced at the center when: there were no container rental or transport charges for steel and aluminum (due to high worldwide demand); and markets were found for free delivered ground brush/yard waste. Town special recycling included: collection of bottles/cans at Longmeadow Days with help from the high school students; and collection of about 60 used sneakers for outdoor playgrounds tennis/basketball court resurfacing. Many helped and their efforts were appreciated, among them were townspeople, the DPW, center operators, six center volunteers, town leaders/managers, and schools. |