BY ROD HANSEN

Local trash policies proved controversial at the most recent selectmen’s meeting, as board members considered ways to raise the town’s recycling rate.

Solid Waste Committee Chairman Joe Constance met with selectmen for about an hour on Monday, May 14. Recycling accounted for most of the evening’s conversation.

The Solid Waste Committee is currently considering ways to boost recycling rates, Constance said.

Residents currently receive a flier every year outlining transfer station policies. Constance said the flier should include more information on recycling.

“I think there should be an introductory paragraph saying recycling is mandatory,” said Constance, who added that there is a cost to the town regardless of how much revenue the town takes in through its recycling efforts.

Selectman Gordon Carlstrom said recycling also serves as a means of cost avoidance.

The flier on transfer station policies contains a list of 10 items that can be recycled. Forbidden items are also listed, as well as materials requiring a disposal fee.

The town maintains a goal of 40 percent recycling, Constance said. According to figures provided by transfer station manager Gerry Cornett, the town had reached that goal as of May 11.

Of the 562 tons of waste counted in that survey, recyclables accounted for 225 tons, or 40 percent. The remaining 337 tons, or 60 percent, included municipal solid waste that cannot be recycled.

The transfer station currently accepts household trash from New Boston residents, as well as waste from two commercial haulers, Cornett said.

The transfer station offers an incentive program to commercial haulers by paying them reward stipends for beating the goal of 40 percent recycling, and fining them for missing that mark, Cornett said.

“It’s a proven system. They get a little stipend for doing something right, and you get a big benefit in your tax bill,” Cornett said.

However, the incentive system did receive some negative comments at the meeting.

“I think the incentive program is a horrible idea,” said resident Willard Dodge. “Haulers have no control over what they pick up as long as there’s recyclables at (the customer’s) door.”

One of the commercial haulers also spoke against the incentive program’s effectiveness.

“The incentive program gives us absolutely no real incentive to meet the recycling rate,” said Sally Delevan of Capitol Trash and Recycling.

Members of the Solid Waste Committee have considered recommending that the incentive program be discontinued.

The idea of surveying residential trash and the future of the incentive program are two likely topics for a second public information session on the transfer station, said Constance.

Selectmen hosted a previous information session on the transfer station on April 30, and a follow-up meeting is tentatively set for the first selectmen’s meeting of July.