The Hopkinton Recycling Committee with host a public forum to inform residents about benefits of Pay by Bag, a program that is aimed to save money and increase recycling efforts.

Selectmen also planned a public session to discuss the warrant article on Thursday, Feb. 12. If passed, the article would authorize the program and set up an account for any revenue generated.

The program is also known as SMART (short for Save Money and Reduce Trash), and residents would pay to get rid of trash with the purchase of special trash bags, not with tax dollars.

“It will set up revenue for reduction in tipping fees paid by general taxes and encourage at the same time recycling, which should be in more rational economic days a plus for the town,” said Town Administrator Leon Kenison.

The Recycling Committee’s public forum will take place Tuesday, Feb. 17, at St. Andrew’s Church beginning at 7 p.m.

“Increased recycling benefits the environment by conserving resources and energy, as well as reducing carbon emissions,” said a release about the forum. “As an added bonus, the more we recycle, the more money we save through avoided disposal costs and increased recycling revenues – which is smart.”

Currently there are 7,000 communities in the country that use the program and 46 in New Hampshire.

“Right now the market is varied, and it’s coming back but very slowly,” said Kenison. “The whole market fell out, and a lot of people are accumulating things in stockpiles and waiting for a better market to return. When the demand picks up it will be met with an overabundance of supplies.”

Town Meeting takes place Saturday, March 14, at 9 a.m.