Not all residents are enthusiastic about new recycling rules

NORTH SMITHFIELD - Some residents are not sharing their town officials' enthusiasm surrounding new trash collection regulations.

Beginning Nov. 16, trash collection is offered only to those who also place recycled goods at curbside.

Moreover, there will be a charge if trash exceeds two barrels.

Ernest Alter of 600 Victory Highway told the Town Council during the good and welfare portion of the council's meeting Oct. 19 that the new rules are an assault against residents' freedom, describing the new regulations as "unreasonable."

Town Administrator Paulette D. Hamilton, joined by Raymond Pendergast, director of Public Works, and Donna Kaehler, recycling coordinator, announced on Oct. 8 that starting Nov. 16 if no recycling bin is put curbside, no trash will be collected.

Under the new rules, the administrator said, one recycling bin will allow one 36-gallon trash can or bag to be picked up. If both blue and green recycling bins are used, two 36-gallon trash cans or bags will be collected.

Furthermore, she said, households generating more trash than two barrels will be required to purchase official town trash bags at $2 each, if they wish the extra trash to be collected.

Alter, who's made several unsuccessful runs for town administrator, described the new rules as "really unreasonable" and "absolute nonsense."

Alter complained the new regulations infringe on residents' rights and that residents are "not used to being told what trash to put out."

"We should do with our trash what we want," he said.

The new rules, he continued, are "very insulting and degrading."

Alter also criticized Kaehler's role in formulating the new trash policy, saying Kaehler, a non-resident, should not be dictating how town residents dispose of their trash.

"She's bullying us," he said. "She works for us. We don't work for her."

The new rules have also stoked Alter's suspicions.

"For all we know, there's a hidden agenda," he told the council.

Hamilton replied the new rules are not promulgated to aggravate residents, but to heighten awareness to the town's need to increase recycling.

The town isn't alone in adopting the new rules, the administrator told the audience.

"We're keeping in step with 20 other communities," she said.

The new rules, she continued, are rooted in a financial incentive to increase the tonnage of recyclables collected while, simultaneously, reducing the tonnage of trash disposed.

Therefore, she said, the new regulations are designed to prompt residents to "think before you throw it away."

In announcing the new program on Oct. 8, Hamilton pointed out the town currently pays a tipping fee of $32 per ton to dispose trash at the state Central Landfill, Johnston.

That fee, however, increases to $56 per ton if the town surpasses its tipping cap of 3,600 tons this fiscal year. The town pays nothing to dispose recyclables, the administrator added.

The new trash collection rules, she said at the council meeting, are designed to help control the cost of rubbish removal for which the town has budgeted $664,800 for this fiscal year.

"I'd like to bring that (cost) down," she told the audience.

Increasing recycling, she continued, "is one little piece we can control."

Most residents will not be affected by the new rules, Hamilton insisted.

The new regulations are designed to encourage people who do not recycle to start placing their recycling bins curbside, she said.

Hamilton said on Oct. 20 that her office had fielded less than six complaints about the new rules as well as several calls praising the new initiative.

In a related matter, Roger Bernier of Branch Village told the council he took strong exception to having to pay $5 for a new recycling bin.

Bernier said he takes care of his bins, but told the council the same cannot be said of those collecting the recyclables.

"They just fling them," he said, which is a particular problem in winter because the cold renders the plastic bins brittle and they break.

Bernier said it isn't fair for residents to be charged $5 for new bins because of the carelessness of others.

"If I have to pay for them, I'll never recycle again," he warned.

Hamilton agreed the bins are handled roughly.

"They throw them around like it's an Olympic sport," she said Tuesday morning.

As a result, the administrator said she asked Pendergast to contact Coastal Recycling, the town's recycling contractor, to have the bins handled more carefully.