If you haven’t heard yet, Pembroke is considering forcing all residents to recycle.

The issue will be put to a vote at the Town Meeting on Saturday, March 14. It is Article 8 on the town warrant, and it takes up 16 pages with definitions for the new solid waste disposal system, establishes Public Works as being in charge, requires residents to buy special carts for the project, sets hours for the solid waste facility, sets permits and fees, sets rules for commercial haulers and sets enforcement rules, including fines of up to $1,000 for violations.

Selectman Fred Kline said much of the article updates the town’s code, which needed to be done anyway.

“If we go to automated curbside pickup, we need to change our town code. Some things like recycling would have to be mandatory,” he said. “We also found a bunch of codes that needed updating, housekeeping. The majority is additional information for use of automated pickup system and recycling.”

Should residents approve the new recycling system, the town would purchase special carts which residents would then buy from the town. The town would also have to purchase a special truck capable of picking up and emptying the carts.

Kline said that while there are always “green” concerns, the move to mandatory curbside recycling is really monetary. “The rotation is up on the current packer truck,” said Kline.

With it being time to replace the truck, the town has a choice between spending $200,000 on the old type of truck or $260,000 on the new type, plus buying the carts. With the new truck, Kline said, they could reduce labor by one full-time employee, as well as reduce the amount of waste going to Wheelabrator for disposal.

Kline estimates a payback for the investment of less than five years due to a reduction in tipping fees. He said they are assuming no revenue from recycling.

“Neighboring towns have seen as much as 30 percent removal in as short as two or three years under mandated recycling.” he said.

The program would require everyone to put trash into one bin and recyclables into a second bin. No separation of recyclables would be required.

“Everyone would buy two containers,” said Kline, “about $52 each.”

He expects the topic will generate a lot of discussion at Town Meeting.

“You’re used to putting trash by the curbside and off you go,” he said.