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The Providence Journal
March 25, 2005
Your Turn section
Burrillville:
Challenges Neighbors to Recycle More
Not long ago, Rhode Island monthly reported that Burrillville is a great place to live, second only to Glocester in terms of low crime and cancer rates and plenty of open space. This comes as no surprise to those of us who call this place home. But I was surprised to read recently that although Burrillville is one of only a handful of towns meeting the 20-percent state recycling mandate, we are just barely over the top at 21 percent and many of my neighbors apparently don't recycle at all. If we are to fall below 20 percent, out fee, currently at $32 a ton, would rise substantially.
According to the Department of Public Works, we paid $195,000 last year for trash pickup, and the 21 percent of our trash that went instead into the blue and green bins saved us $52,000. Those are my tax dollars and yours, friends! The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that 40 percent of the approximately 1,000 pounds of trash generated by every person in America each year could be recycled. For the taxpayers in Burrillville, that would amount to an additional savings of around $50,000, or a total of over $100,000 a year, simply by choosing to drop that aluminum can into your blue bin instead of the trash can. (Not to mention the fact that throwing your aluminum can in the regular trash means it will still be in the Johnston Landfill 300 years from now, instead of
being recycled again and again into usable products.)
So I present a challenge to all of my Burrillville neighbors. We live in a great town, so let's set an example for the rest of the state by increasing our recycling this year. We'll not only save tax dollars, but help to ensure that our kids and grandkids can enjoy the beauty of these natural surroundings for many, many years to come.
Think twice before you toss out that newspaper, soda can or Dunkin' Donuts iced-coffee cup. Take a few extra steps and go for the green and blue bin instead. Need another bin? You can get one at the Department of Public Works for just $5.00. Are you new in town? Pick up your free bins and help us make your town number one.
-Susan Sgambato
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