The Brattleboro Solid Waste Committee has sent a four page letter to Brattleboro Town Meeting Representatives. In it, they explain their recommendation to institute Pay As You Throw as the way to help save the town money and increase recycling. Here is a copy of the Solid Waste Committee's letter for those who weren't able to be elected and might still be interested.
The Committee says in the letter that they have worked hard to find out what bothered Town Meeting members about PAYT at last year's Town Meeting, when reps voted to rescind Pay As You Throw. The Committee has surveyed them twice in the past year and have since worked to answer the "thoughtful" questions Town Meeting reps posed to them.
The Committee's letter recycles arguments from last year's debate on the issue. Recycling is good! Other places do it! Brattleboro can do better!
The Committee says that opponents of PAYT say recycling can be increased using "informal methods such as the the Recycling Challenge issued by our Selectboard last year, articles in the paper and presentations on BCTV."
However, the Committee also says they have tried these ideas and informal methods have not worked, which is why they recommend the "proven tool" known as Pay As You Throw.
It's the answer, they say, because it eliminates "subsidizing" of those who won't or are unable to recycle. In addition, they say that it provides an economic stick (rather than a carrot) to manipulate people's behavior, and is "environmentally sustainable."
The letter then concludes with Committee answers to Town Meeting member questions and concerns. I've decided to toss out some of their wording and paraphrase their responses with shorter versions of my own.
Price of bags? A 30 gallon bag will be $2 and a 15 gallon bag will be $1.
Where can I get them? At stores and at the Municipal Center.
Tell us about the bags. They are plastic.
What about those people on low or fixed incomes? We looked at helping them, but it would be hard and, also, it would wipe out some of the cost savings we're projecting. We'll use informal methods (like those we've already determined to be ineffectual) to share information with them after PAYT is in effect.
Will PAYT cost me more? Can't say. Maybe. Maybe not.
What about illegal dumping? It won't happen here because it didn't happen in some other places.
What about bulky waste that doesn't fit in the small bags? Like couches, mattresses and other large items? Call the vendor and have them come and get it, or drive it to the WSWMD. Yes, we know some people don't have cars, but, solid waste is everyone's responsibility...
What about all the things we currently can't recycle in Brattleboro? Yes, well, nothing has changed in that regard. We haven't done anything to improve things there for you.
Will the Town pick up compost at the curb? Not now. You can compost in your backyard, or save it up and then load it into your car or take it on the bus to Project Cow every few days.
We Town Meeting members do think education is important, especially with new programs. Oh, right, yes, we do, too. We want to hire a part-time coordinator to help start the program using informal methods because we are busy people with limited time.
What about the economic impact on renters? We see tenants as getting a free ride right now, and homeowners are subsidizing them. Our letter says "Just because you rent doesn't mean you shouldn't be responsible for your trash." Tenants have to work to reduce trash, too, you know.
Will we get weekly recycling pickup? No.
What about storing recyclables in an apartment? If you do a good job recycling, it should really pile up. We know some people don't have cars, but you can drive to Old Ferry Road every time your bin is full if you want.
Why not enforce the existing mandatory recycling ordinance? That would take time, money, and energy.
Will there be downtown recycle bins on Main Street? Hey, that wasn't a question in our letter.
The Committee offers to answer additional questions at the informational meeting at Academy School on Wednesday, March 10.