By Nate Jones

Staff Writer 

It may still be legal to throw recyclable material into the hopper at the Cape Elizabeth Transfer Station although not a wise financial descision should the town council follow the suggestions of Councilor Paul McKenney. He is endorsing a new curbside pickup and pay-as-you-throw program for the town as well as amendments to the refuse disposal portion of the health and sanitation ordinance that could prohibit commercial haulers from using the transfer station.

“We’re trying to figure out how can we reduce cost, increase recycling and reduce our carbon footprint to the maximum possible,” McKenney said. 

According to town documents Town Manager Michael McGovern presented to the council and recycling committee, as of August Cape Elizabeth has sent more than 2,091 tons of residential waste to ecomaine – at $180 per ton, a $376,380 cost to taxpayers – which is 61 percent more solid waste per person than the average of surrounding communities including Falmouth, Scarborough, South Portland and Yarmouth. 

“The real issue is we want to save money,” McGovern said. “When folks are complaining about municipal taxes, we have to remember we’re putting 61 percent more trash than average into the hopper. Every pound we can convert, we save about 79 percent of the disposal cost.”

Based on results in surrounding communities that have already instituted a pay-as-you-throw program, McGovern said with bags priced at $2 each and the average household using 50 a year, the town could see more than a 20 percent increase in recycling, saving up to $415,700 in ecomaine disposal fees annually.

Councilor James Rowe said he was concerned residents would view the new program as a “tax shift rather than a savings,” which would make it difficult to “sell” to the community.

“I’m not excited about what I’m seeing here,” Councilor David Backer said. “This is not a savings for the taxpayer; one bag a week is unrealistic.”

During a Sept. 7 meeting, Resident Bailey Kennedy suggested providing residents with a limited number of free pay-as-you-throw bags.

“Allot so many per household,” he said. “If they go over that than they’ll pay.”

Resident Tom Dunham said he believed “minor policing” of the transfer station to ensure commercial haulers are not using the station could immediately reduce the tonnage sent to ecomaine. Dunham asked the council to “wait a year” before taking action, citing McGovern’s presentation indicating the town has sent more than 1,000 tons of recyclable waste to ecomaine, a 35 percent increase from last year. Even though disposal of the recyclable waste cost $39,000, it is less than two-thirds what the cost of disposing the same amount non-recycled waste would have been, McGovern said.

“[A 35 percent increase in recycling] is a huge gain.” Dunham said. “Postpone things for another year, promote [recycling] more.”

Council Chairman Mary Ann Lynch said although she hadn’t decided if she is in favor of the pay-as-you-throw program, she said she feels strongly that something needs to be done.

“In this community there has been a lot of angst over a $260,000 difference in the school budget, now [McGovern] is showing a $415,000 savings,” Lynch said. “Here we are, three elections and all this gnashing of teeth later, but I look at this $415,000 and I say that it is important.” 

McKenney said he would favor taking “a first step in the right direction” by supporting pay-as-you-throw but still feels incorporating a curbside pickup program – with an estimated program startup cost of $360,000 – that could potentially save more than $260,000 in gasoline for residents, is the best way to “save a fortune and improve the environment.” McGovern said if a curbside pickup program was started the transfer station hours will be cut in half, which had some councilors concerned about reaction from the community. 

“Going to the transfer station is a very popular activity; it’s Maine, it’s cool, we like going to the transfer station,” Lynch said. “It’s very hard for people to change. We have to start change incrementally.”

The council agreed to form an “informal committee” comprised of Councilors Sara Lennon, Anne Swift-Kayatta and Rowe that will bring more information to another workshop yet to be scheduled.