The City of Biddeford can now cancel recycling services for residents whose dumpsters are repeatedly contaminated with trash.
An ordinance passed earlier this month gives households two warnings if the city finds non-recyclable items in their trash. If he has a third violation within 12 months, the city will no longer collect recycle every week.
At a city council meeting earlier this month, Public Works Director Jeff Demers said the department is working to educate residents about what items can be recycled and what goes in the trash. , says a recent audit showed a recycling contamination rate of nearly 20%.
If that rate goes up, Demers said it could cost the city tens of thousands of dollars in extra charges.
“This is one of the places that is very important to us. Now that the budget has come and the budget is running, $50,000 is a lot of money for us in the public works sector,” says Demers. said Mr.
Demers said the city has a particular problem with large, heavy objects like bowling balls and brake rotors being dumped into recycling bins.
“A rotor that weighs 30 pounds, or 20 pounds, or a bowling ball — I use them as examples. Sandbags, the perfect sandbags we found. It really hurt,” he said.
The new ordinance will come into force next month.
This article is published through a media partnership with Maine Public.
