2007 ANNUAL REPORT
CARLISLE HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING COMMITTEE
Solid Waste /
Recycling
Carlisle generated a total of 2,946 tons of solid waste in
2007. There were 1,882 tons of trash
taken to the NESWC incinerator for disposal and 1,064 tons were recycled. This was a recycling rate of 36.1% (2006 =
37.3%; 2005 = 37.4%; 2004 = 36.3%; 2003 = 42.5%). Approximately 1800 households purchased dump
stickers. That is a total of 3300 pounds
of material per household.
The following is the list of recycled materials for 2007.
|
Recycled Item |
Tons |
Revenue($/Ton) |
Total
Revenue ($) |
|
Newspaper |
162 |
+ 60.00 |
+ 9,720 |
|
Mixed
Paper |
214 |
+ 60.00 |
+ 12,840 |
|
Cardboard |
128 |
+ 60.00 |
+ 7,680 |
|
Wood
(Construction Debris) |
281 |
- 95.00 |
- 26,695 |
|
Metal |
110 |
+ 80.00 |
+ 8,800 |
|
Clear
Glass |
34 |
0 |
0 |
|
Colored
Glass |
66 |
- 35.00 |
- 2,310 |
|
Milk
Jugs |
4.6 |
+ 40.00 |
+ 184 |
|
Mixed
Plastic |
34 |
0 |
0 |
|
Aluminum
and Tin Cans |
9.5 |
+ 50.00 |
+ 475 |
|
Tires |
9.6 |
- 115.00 |
- 1,104 |
|
Freon
Units___________ |
12 |
0 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
1,064 |
--- |
+9,590 |
The 2007 data raises several points of note:
• The total weight of solid waste was down somewhat in 2007 from previous years. Waste going to the incinerator and recycled materials, excluding construction debris, were reduced 7% and 8% from 2006, respectively. While favorable, it is too soon to tell if this reflects other influences or is really a trend. A significant reduction in construction debris (down 20% from 2006) is consistent with general trends in the economy.
• For the first time in recent years recycling has generated positive cash flow, bringing in almost $9600 in 2007. To put this in perspective, in 2006 recycling cost the town $9153, in 2004 the cost was $13,275 and in 2002 the cost was $44,300.
• The biggest contributor to this new-found revenue is a change in the market value of recycled items. While 2 of the 3 items that incur a recycling charge increased in cost in 2007 (tire disposal increased by $30/ton and construction debris increased by $7/ton), there were significant increases in the value of other items that make up 59% of recycling by weight. To wit, compensation for cardboard increased by $50/ton, metal increased by $40/ton, paper increased by $15/ton, and aluminum and tin cans increased by $10/ton.
Other Activities
• This year’s “Hooked on Recycling” parade entry of the “Fish Bike” hooked by our young fisherman took the first prize trophy. Thanks again to the artist Bill Turville (formerly of Carlisle) for pedaling his creation.
• The annual Pass-It-Forward day collection was again a successful event.
• The Recycling Committee and the Friends of the Library donated a total of four Kill-O-Watt meters to the library. The units are used to measure the electricity usage of items in your home. There has been a steady demand to borrow the meters. Our thanks to library director Angela Mollet and the library staff for setting up the system to loan out the meters.
• The “Green Disk” collection of electronic media (tapes, disks, CD) for recycling continued at the swap shed.
• Free prepaid mailers for inkjet printer cartridges continued to be available at the library and post office, as well as a drop off box for laser toner cartridges at the post office. The money generated goes to the Carlisle school.
• The Carlisle school classrooms continued to enthusiastically participate in the paper recycling on campus. Our thanks to Marie Doyle, David Flannery, and the school staff for their efforts to provide and promote this program.
Members:
Daniel Scholten Robert Wallhagen
Lois d’Annunzio Jane Anderson
Robert Peary, Chairman Gary Davis (DPW)