RESCHEDULED! On Tuesday January 17th Wednesday January 18th 2012, the Town of Easton will be considering a mandatory curbside recycling program to begin this summer. Please attend this important public hearing!
The time has finally come for the town of Easton to implement curbside recycling! Following the successful recycling programs in nearby St. Michaels and Centreville, Easton will be holding a public hearing on ordinance No. 589 (see here), which will create a new mandatory curbside recycling program. It is envisioned that this service would be done by a private contractor who would provide a single-stream service – that is, a service with a greater variety of recycled goods and no need to sort into different waste streams (paper, glass, metal, etc.)
While it has always been a 
good idea to recycle, in these economic times it now makes even more sense. The recent closing of the Talbot County landfill has dramatically increased our waste disposal costs. What was once a $55/ton tipping fee is almost $110/ton when you account for increased fees and transportation to the Ridgely landfill. Anything that can be done to reduce our waste will reduce this cost. In fact, while there will be some cost to a recycling program, we believe that will be much less than solid waste disposal – the current market for the sale of single-stream recycling products is about $20/ton in revenue.
Curbside recycling in Easton is something that meets the triple bottom line of being good for the environment, good for society, and good for our local economy. Please attend the public hearing on Tuesday January 17th Wednesday January 18th at 7:00pm at Easton Town Council Chambers on Harrison Street. (rsvp here)
More information
Recycling saves money and resources
Eliminating recyclable materials from the stream of landfill-bound waste means less money spent in hauling and tipping fees. It will cost as little as $40 per ton to move the recyclable product from a transfer station in Talbot County. There is also a current market of about $20/ton for single-stream recycling product. It will cost $110 if those same products are transferred and landfilled at the new landfill in Ridgley. It makes good financial sense to divert that waste.
A majority of the Easton Town Council has promised to institute curbside recycling
St. Michaels adopted a resolution to institute mandatory curbside recycling in February 2011. A majority of town council members in Easton have campaigned on having curbside recycling in town. It is time to make recycling a reality for Easton residents.
Igloo Recycling will continue
Some have expressed concern that they want to keep igloo recycling, the multi-colored “bullets” found at places like the Amish Market and Auto Zone where recycling can be sorted. This ordinance would not eliminate the igloo program. However, the ease of recycling all those items and many more at the curbside without the need to sort should greatly increase recycling rates. The igloo system would continue to serve those outside of Easton who would like to recycle.
Show your support
Attend the Public Hearing on January 18th at 7:oopm by RSVPing here.
If you cannot attend in person, please share your support by contacting the Easton Town Council and Mayor, especially if you are an Easton resident. You can contact them at the email addresses and phone numbers below. If you are unclear on who your council members are, you can contact all of them, or use the map of the town wards to email the Mayor Willey, At-Large Councilmember Ford, and your Ward’s councilmember.
Phone
(410) 822-2525
By Email…
Mayor Robert C. Willey
Council President John Ford
1st Ward Kelley Malone
2nd Ward Pete Lesher
3rd Ward Leonard Wendowski
4th Ward Megan Cook
Town Manager Robert F. Karge
By Mail…
Town of Easton
PO Box 520
Easton MD 21601