(8/21) Residents of Emmitsburg may soon be
able go a little greener if a new recycling program presented at the
most-recent city council meeting is implemented.
At the Aug. 18 meeting, Key Sanitation
President Bob Clark and Mount Airy councilwoman Wendi Peters presented an
overview of a recycling program Mount Airy has taken part in as an idea for
Emmitsburg.
Mount Airy residents have been taking part
in a streamlined recycling program. A 65-gallon blue, rolling recycle bin is
provided to the residents and can be filled with many different types of
recyclable materials, such as plastic, paper and cardboard, Clark said. In the
past residents were provided with a small, 15-gallon bin and were required to
separate the material, whereas with the new bins residents can put everything
together.
One main reason for the switch to the
streamlined program was to reduce tipping fees, which run $85 per ton in Mount
Airy, Peters said. Since May of this year, when the program was implemented,
the town has seen an instant decrease of trash being dumped into the landfill
and 77.45 tons of recycled materials have been collected, Peters said, saving
the town thousands of dollars.
“Fifty-eight tons or less was sent to the
landfill in June,” Peters said, “that’s significant.”
As for the cost associated with the
streamlined program, Frederick County paid for the bins for Mount Airy and
would do the same for Emmitsburg, Peters said. The only drawback thus far has
been a fuel surcharge for the twice a week pickup, Peters said, which in the
long run will become a non-issue.
“The bins will pay for themselves at the
end of the fiscal year,” Peters said. “It’s a rare, rare program that’s
environmentally friendly and has a positive impact on the community.”
Currently Emmitsburg participates in a
program similar to Mount Airy’s old program, but soon Frederick County will be
transitioning all of its recycling to streamline, so a switch to the program
now may be in the best interest of the town.
The board did not make a decision on the
issue and has a few concerns regarding the program. Mainly how apartment
buildings, which make up much of Emmitsburg dwelling units, would be involved
in the program since they would be ineligible to participate. The council said
they would consider the issue and make a decision in the future.
Read other news stories related to the Emmitsburg Town
Government