This story by Chris Mays was published by the Brattleboro Reformer on Aug. 18.
BRATTLEBORO — With nearly 64 percent of Brattleboro’s solid waste stream being diverted from landfill disposal, the town has bragging rights to leading the state in residential recycling. In fact, Brattleboro already surpasses the state’s goal of having 50 percent of the solid waste stream diverted from landfill disposal by 2020.
The Windham Solid Waste Management District made the announcement after a recent analysis of the town’s residential curbside trash, recycling and organics collection program.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” said Bob Spencer, executive director at WSWMD. “Over 60 percent is pretty amazing.”
Spencer believes society could ultimately reach 80 or 90 percent but that is far off from now. He said going above 65 percent will be “a great challenge.”
Collection of food scraps and other organics was cited by Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland as reasons behind why Brattleboro exceeded the goal. He oversees the town’s solid waste program.
For fiscal year 2018, the town reported that it collected 2,615 tons of materials: 930 tons of trash, 1,080 tons of recyclable materials and 605 tons of organics.
“The analysis showed the collection of recyclable materials contributed 41 percent of the diversion, and 23 percent is attributed to organics,” says a press release issued Aug. 9. “The actual landfill diversion rate is probably 2 percent less due to contaminants in the recyclables and organics.”
The composting program is said to have brought about $24,200 in savings to the town this year due to its lower tipping fee. Each trash disposal costs the town $105 per ton while organics delivered to the WSWMD’s composting facility on Old Ferry Road costs only $65 per ton, according to the press release.
The curbside program in Brattleboro began in 2012, before Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law starts requiring residential food scraps be diverted starting in July 2020. The program serves single-family residences and multi-family homes up to four units.
Spencer said the town did a good job of educating the public on how the curbside program works. A position had been temporarily funded for doing just that.
The press release, Spencer said, is meant “to let the people in Brattleboro know what a great job they’re doing and hopefully that will be positively reinforcing other towns’ recycling habits.”
He called the town’s Pay As You Throw program a financial incentive for residents to think more about recycling. Bags for trash are purchased for $3 each but there is no charge for recycling or food scraps.
“We are thrilled to see the success of Brattleboro’s curbside compost and recycling program,” Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore said in the press release. “Brattleboro residents have demonstrated how waste can be managed sustainably. They are creating local compost products that improve soil health and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions from landfilling food scraps.”
Town officials credit the program’s success to a “working relationship” with contract hauler Triple T Trucking and the WSWMD.
More than 1,500 cubic yards of compost was sold this season so far, Spencer said in the press release, noting that it was a significant increase in sales over previous years.
“Food scraps and other organic materials are some of the few recyclable materials that are available for reuse locally, ” he added.
Spencer hopes to get numbers on Vernon next. The town joins Brattleboro and Westminster as the only other WSWMD member towns with curbside programs.
In a report from Thursday, the WSWMD said about 76 percent of the solid waste stream processed at its transfer station on Old Ferry Road is being diverted from landfill disposal. The district serves residents, institutions and businesses in Brattleboro, Brookline, Dover, Dummerston, Guilford, Halifax, Jamaica, Marlboro, Newfane, Putney, Readsboro, Somerset, Stratton, Townshend, Vernon, Wardsboro, Westminster and Wilmington.
The district said in 2017, it collected 1,221 tons of trash, construction and demolition debris, which was hauled away by Triple T at a cost of $102.50 per ton. An additional 3,822 tons of materials were reportedly recycled including food scraps, soiled paper/cardboard, leaves, grass clippings, appliances, scrap metal, tires, textiles and propane tanks.
Since the district’s materials-recovery facility closed in July 2017, its composting program has been expanding, the report says. That is said to contribute “significantly to the overall diversion rate.”
“Another significant outlet for recyclable materials are four Vermont Product Stewardship programs which ensure that convenient and environmentally sound recycling options exist for computers, TVs, paint products, batteries and mercury bulbs,” the report says.
Anne Bijur, of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, said Addison County is another region in the state “doing a great job with waste reduction, recycling and composting of food scraps.”
Addison County Solid Waste Management District reports that it has exceeded the state’s 50 percent landfill diversion goal for the last 11 years. In 2016, it reduced landfill disposal by 55.3 percent.
“The town of Brattleboro’s diversion programs have served as an inspiration for all of us!” Teresa Kuczynski, Addison County Solid Waste Management District manager, wrote in an email. “Organics collection is a new frontier in Vermont. The deadlines established in the Universal Recycling Law have served as a catalyst in the creation or expansion of organics facilities in Vermont. Collection of organics at the curb or at drop-offs has proven to be more of a challenge, particularly in rural areas. The town has shown that curbside collection of food scraps can be viable.”
Read the story on VTDigger here: Brattleboro leads state in residential recycling.