New Regional Recycling Program
The ADD is coordinating a new regional recycling program in cooperation with the City of Ellsworth. Beginning in January, 2011, residents of participating towns, Frenchboro, Mount Desert, Tremont, and Trenton, take their recyclables to drop-off locations in their respective towns. The recyclables are then collected and transported to the Ellsworth transfer station. The City of Ellsworth charges an annual fee of $26,000 for use of their transfer station and 25% of the profits for handling and selling the recyclables. Net profits from the sale of the recyclables are credited back to the towns.
ADD's role is to coordinate between the towns and the City of Ellsworth and to handle financial arrangements with Ellsworth. The ADD pays Ellsworth's annual recycling fee and receives profits from the sale of the recyclables. The ADD in turn bills the towns for their share of the fee and passes on the profits.
In spite of a slow start, a total of 93 tons of recyclables were hauled to the Ellsworth transfer station during the first 6 months (January – June, 2011). This represents a savings in tipping fees (total fees about $100/ton) of about $9300. In addition, the net resale value of these materials was about $10,000. The savings and the revenue total about $19,000. Considering the recycling fee of $13,000 plus the cost of dumpsters and hauling, it appears the program overall is well on its way to covering costs and turning a profit by the end of 2011.
