Mayor says new recycling contract will generate money for Milford
Milford may get more than $80,000 a year in additional revenue under a new recycling contract.
The City of Milford recently signed a new recycling contract and now, for the first time since the city's recycling program began more than 20 years ago, Milford will be paid for each ton of recycling materials collected.
"This initiative is the latest in a series of measures taken up over the past year to make Milford government 'greener' and more cost effective," Mayor Ben Blake said in a press release.
"I was very pleased to finalize this agreement on behalf of Milford," Blake said. "Based upon last year's tonnage, Milford will realize over $80,000 in new annual 'green' revenue. However, I'm confident we will easily exceed that figure given the expanded list of items now able to be recycled."
Acceptable recyclable goods now include large toys made of rigid plastic, beverage crates, laundry baskets, recycling bins, telephone directories, plastic storage containers and hard-cover books.
The complete list of recyclable items can be found at http://www.crra.org/pages/Press_releases/2013/2-12-2013_CRRA_expands_recyclable_menu_again.htm.
"With the addition of these new, eligible items and the support of Milford residents, we will easily surpass last year's 4,000 tons of recyclables," Blake said.
The new contract goes into effect July 1.
The city previously disposed of its recyclables with the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority (CRRA), a quasi government agency. The CRRA did not, however, pay the municipalities for the recyclables.
CRRA Spokesman Paul Nonnenmacher said Milford and other communities in the Southwest Connecticut Recycling Operations Committee region, which includes Trumbull, Stratford and Shelton will withdraw from the CRRA and begin selling their recyclables to Winters Brothers, which Nonenmacher said is building a recycling facility in the region.
Nonnenmacher said the move changes the CRRA's business model, but he said 40 towns still contract with the agency for recycling.
"We're disappointed, but we wish the communities luck," Nonnenmacher said.
Milford residents won't see any changes with the new contract, the mayor said. Milford residents will continue to put their recyclables out every other week. There is some question about where the city's recycling trucks will bring the material, whether to the location it brings recyclables now or directly to Winters Brothers. But the mayor said that will be worked out.
Blake said the company will pay the city $20 per ton of recyclable items.
With money paid for recyclables, Blake is calling upon all Milford residents to boost their recycling efforts.
"By recycling more, we not only support the environment but we also generate new revenue for the city and keep taxes low," Blake said. "This is truly a win-win."