Pay-as-You-Throw/Curbside Recycling

So on Monday Pownal took a big step in moving to a pay-as-you-throw trash collection process and including curbside recycling. This means that folks will no longer be able to leave anything they want out and it will be picked up - instead trash bags (either 16 or 33 gallon) will have to be purchased at local stores and used.

The idea is that this will cut down on the tonnage of trash waste that Pownal produces and thus lower the cost of the trash collection fees while increasing the amount of recycling that takes place. Previously recycling had to be taken to the "silver bullets" down by Mallett Hall (the town hall)... now residents will simply leave it out on the same day as trash collection.

It was a very close vote, passing 65 for - 62 against, and time will tell if it is as successful as it has been in neighboring towns. If it is, then the cost that Pownal pays to have it's trash picked up will go down, but if residents are doing remodeling, throwing out large items (furniture, appliances, etc.) then they will have to either pay to have them taken away, or purchase a tag to allow them to dump it at Freeport where there is also a fee for the weight of what is thrown out.

We're happy that it passed because this is a service that we would use and would help us - seeing as we throw out very little - and we hope that it will encourage other residents to examine the amount of trash they generate and reduce that where at all possible.