Bridgton Recycling Committee: Pay-Per-Bag is ‘fair & equitable’ option
Q: What are the main purposes of a Pay-Per-Bag Program?
A: The primary purpose of the program is to decrease the cost of solid waste removal for both the town and the taxpayers by increasing the town’s recycling and composting rates. Additionally, the program promotes greater fairness and equity by linking the cost of waste disposal to the amount of waste actually generated by a person, household, or business.
Q: How many Maine towns have adopted Pay-Per-Bag and what results have they seen?
A: One third of towns in Maine (138 towns as of 2021) have implemented Pay-Per-Bag (PPB). In Bath, the taxpayers save $171,000 per year and have seen a 60% decrease in solid waste.
Q: How does it create greater equity among residents?
A: Currently someone who generates one bag of trash per week pays the same amount as someone who generates several bags. The fairer approach of PPB allows people to have greater control over their costs — just like with electricity and water bills. People who responsibly reduce their waste are rewarded with lower costs.
Q: I don’t pay for my trash disposal now. Why will I pay less with Pay-Per-Bag?
A: You do pay for your trash through your property taxes, and you pay for the trash of others including commercial haulers, businesses, and possibly non-residents. With the PPB program, you’d only pay for what you yourself throw away and don’t recycle or compost.
Q: I’ll still be paying taxes for trash disposal, won’t I?
A: Yes, but to a much lesser extent. The goal of PPB is to free up tax dollars that would have been allocated to the Transfer Station’s budget to cover the rising cost of waste disposal and allow those dollars to go toward other vital town services.
Q: How much will it cost me to dispose of trash?
A: A price for bags has not been set, but this will be set by the Select Board. Most towns sell two sizes of bags. Prices locally average $1.25/15 gallon bag and $2.50/30 gallon bag. This cost would be evaluated and adjusted annually.
Q: Where will I be able to buy the bags?
A: The bags will be available at local retail stores and the Transfer Station.
Q: Occasionally people dump trash on roadsides, in woods, or on private property. Won’t this problem increase with Pay-Per-Bag?
A: There might be a temporary increase in illegal dumping. In almost all towns in Maine which have converted to PPB, the illegal dumping reverts back to previous levels within 3 to 6 months thanks to police enforcement of regulations.
• Pay-Per-Bag offers you an incentive to recycle and compost.
• Pay-Per-Bag promotes sound economics, a healthier environment and equity for all.
By Wayne E. Rivet
Staff Writer
As the cost of disposing household waste continues to climb, what is the fair way to slow the flow?
Bridgton’s Recycling Committee has been studying the question for months, and believes the fair and equitable approach is Pay-Per-Bag.
In a workshop meeting with the Select Board last Wednesday, Recycling Committee members had leaders review a proposed ordinance and fielded a variety of questions.
For one, the line regarding how much it will cost to purchase trash bags is presently blank. RC chairwoman Sally Chappell pointed out that the fee is set by the Select Board. Town Manager Bob Peabody said the approach is appropriate, since the figure can be adjusted yearly based on costs.
How much would a bag cost? Officials will delve into the total cost of waste disposal, from the operation of the Transfer Station, to transporting waste to ecomaine, to the tipping fee. Then, officials would decide whether to recoup all costs or a percentage.
Admittedly, the idea of switching to a Pay-Per-Bag approach could hinge on the bag cost, since many voiced in a past attempt to go to this method concerns about paying a rumored $5 per bag. Price could range from $1 to $2.50 to $3.50. RC members would like to see a firm figure decided upon before the question goes to voters at the June 2022 annual town meeting.
Bags would come in two sizes, 13 and 30 gallon, and be sold at some local stores, as well as the Transfer Station. Peabody pointed out that when the Select Board decides upon a bag cost, the figure will also need to include sales tax. If local vendors agree to sell the bags, it would have to be at the price set by the town — vendors would not be allowed to “add on.”
If residents worry about overall cost, two ways to reduce the number of bags tossed into the Transfer Station hopper each week — recycle and compost.
While the town has pushed recycling, Bridgton could certainly make a bigger push to remove items from the waste stream. Pay-Per-Bag may be the best way to increase recycling. Chappell noted that removing food waste from the trash can and placed in composting is another way to cut down on overall garbage headed to the Transfer Station.
“According to surveys, Pay-Per-Bag increases recycling up to 40%,” said RC member Therese Johnson.
RC members emphasized that Pay-Per-Bag is the “fair and equitable” approach to waste disposal, noting those that generate less and recycle more should not pay the same rate as those who fail to recycle and toss numerous bags into the hopper on a regular basis.
Chappell noted that the committee was looking at ways to help low-income families with bag purchasing.
Officials noted that demolition items would continue to be weighed and a charge levied for disposal.
If Pay-Per-Bag is instituted, the town would likely need to continue with the sticker program due to disposal of demolition and other ticketed items.
Early comments about Pay-Per-Bag heard by Transfer Station staff indicates the Recycling Committee has its work cut out to sway public opinion. Mainly, with the cost of gas, food and other necessities continuing to climb, folks don’t want to dish out money to pay for trash disposal. If they do pay per bag, they certainly will want to see some type of reduction in their taxes.
Another concern is illegal dumping to avoid paying for bag disposal. RC members noted that other towns that switched to Pay-Per-Bag did experience some illegal dumping during the first few months after the program went into effect, but when law enforcement stepped in, tracked down violators (whose names and addresses appeared on envelopes inside the bags) and prosecuted offenders for littering, compliance eventually took hold.
Selectman Bear Zaidman asked Recycling Committee members what the board could do to assist them in their planned educational campaign?
“What do you need from us?” he asked.
Since the group is advisory in nature, it has no budget. With the Select Board set to enter its budget season, officials will look to carve out some money to assist with a public education campaign (likely to start in January), which will include newspaper advertisements, flyers mailed to households and social media spots.
RC members have spoken to some local civic groups, but were encouraged to set up informational tables at public events (possibly the Bridgton Farmers’ Market) to get the word out.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, Zaidman suggested one way to catch people’s attention is to videotape a segment of bags of trash being ripped open and showing what items could have been taken out of the waste stream — ultimately saving tax dollars (which, as Select Board members noted, could be used for other needed projects).
Select Board commended the committee on its work and gave them the green light to work with town office staff to develop a public awareness campaign. Meanwhile, town officials will review the proposed ordinance.
“Change is not easy for any of us,” Chappell said. “The (Recycling) Committee is under no illusions that this would be easy, but it’s worth it. We’re ready to keep going.”
