Thursday, December 28, 2006

Increasing recycling

In an attempt to address a looming "solid waste disposal" problem, the State Dept of Environmental Protection is calling for a doubling of recycled trash (AP), increasing the current 30% level to 58%. DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy said

"We must radically and quickly change the balance in favor of waste reduction, recycling, and reuse over disposal."
The article continues:
McCarthy said the state can avoid the need to find additional disposal facilities if it increases the recycling rate.
What's a possible solution?

Well, I seem to recall Diane Visconti citing a study that said the volume of recycled garbage increases as the volume of a recycle bin increases. If that's true, giving everyone in town an additional bin or a bigger bin may be one way to increase recycled garbage. As well, perhaps Cheshire could start adding plastics to our list of "acceptable" recyclables. (Currently, Cheshire accepts 1s & 2s, but not 3-7.)

So I'll say this sounds good. Addressing a looming "waste disposal" problem is worthwhile. But there certainly will be costs. And if the DEP lays down this new rule, will those costs be covered? I doubt it. Similar to the DEPs "stormwater management plan," chalk up this "new solid waste management plan" as another unfunded (or underfunded) state mandate.

Tim White
Town Council, 4th District

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Government is by defintion an unfnded mandate. repeating the CT GOP mantra over and ober solves nothing and that's why the Republicans in CT are basically irrelevant

Anonymous said...

Another unfunded state mandate.

The Democrats in Hartford will do nothing, Rell will comply, towns will raise taxes, the fingerpointing will continue and people will vote with their feet.

Anonymous said...

"and people will vote with their feet" and that's why the elephants are dying because all they can do is snipe!!!!