City recycling numbers continue to improve but there's a long way to go

LACONIA — After more than 1,000 tons of solid waste were recycled last year, the recycled tonnage continued to climb in the first quarter of this year.

In the first three months of the year 264.68 tons of recyclables were collected compared to 225.91 tons during the same period a year ago, an increase of 38.77 tons or 17-percent. Curbside collection rose only 2-percent, from 146.41 tons to 149.36 tons , but recyclables taken to the three remote locations jumped from 79.5 tons to 115.32 tons, an increase of almost 36 tons, or 45-percent.

The city pays a fixed price of $10,000 to collect recyclable materials regardless of tonnage. Therefore, every ton taken out of the waste stream and recycled reduces the cost of collecting, transporting and disposing of solid waste, which is funded by property taxes, by $147.24 per ton. In the first quarter, recycling trimmed nearly $33,000 from the cost of collecting, transporting and disposing of solid waste as well as offset the cost of collecting recyclable materials with almost $3,000 to spare.

During the five years from 2006 to 2010 the collection of recyclable materials has more than doubled, rising from 443.43 tons to 1,006.69 tons, an increase of 127-percent. However, the nearly 1,007 tons collected last year represents only 7-percent of all residential and commercial solid waste, which amount to about 14,000 tons a year. As a rule of thumb, 60-percent of all solid waste can be recycled.

Ann Saltmarsh, who manages the recycling program at the Department of Public Works, said that while she is pleased by the steady increase in the number of households and businesses that choose to recycle, much more participation would result in correspondingly greater savings for property taxpayers.