Cities & Towns Face Skyrocketing Recycling Fees

January 24, 2020 5:26 pm

By: Tim Studebaker

ATTLEBORO, MASS. (WLNE) – The cost of recycling is skyrocketing, and that has cities and towns looking closely at upcoming contract renewals with haulers.

Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux says, “We have a contract that’s going to be expiring in June, and it’s for $15 a ton. Waste Management is arguably losing money on their contract with the city, and will not renegotiate for $15 a ton.”

Heroux says the going rate in surrounding towns is $75 to $150 per ton. The sharp increase is because some US recyclables are sold to other countries, and those countries are tightening restrictions on what they’ll accept.

Heroux says, “They are in a position right now where disposing of recycling is becoming more difficult because of what’s happening in China.”

Massachusetts laws do not explicitly require a city or town to offer a recycling program. If costs continue to climb, a city or town could alter their programs or opt out. Heroux says Attleboro is not considering that option at this point. He wants to keep the city as green as possible.

Heroux says, “If it’s more expensive to recycle, people are going to be incentivized to actually just throw stuff away rather than using the recycling, which is just overall not good for the environment.”

In the meantime, he says residents can help control costs by following the rules, and recycling only what’s allowed.

According to the Rhode Island DEM, all cities and towns in Rhode Island are required to offer a recycling program to their residents, even as costs go up.