Town of Windham, Maine

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WINDHAM PUBLIC WORKS
Windham Recycles!

Windham is still among the leaders of all EcoMaine communities in recycling!

Now thanks to new equipment at ecomaine, all types of recyclable materials go into the same box...no need to separate!

What Changes?
Instead of separating recyclables by type, simply combine all glass, metal, paper, cardboard, and plastics into one recycling container. It's simple.

And now, plastics #1-7 are included, too!

To Download a Single Sort Brochure Click Here

With a renewed commitment, we can meet the state�s goal of 50% recycling with your continued commitment.

Even with the new technology, try using paper grocery bags to keep recyclables organized (paper in one bag; paperboard in another; glass, cans, and plastic in another). This keeps them from getting out of control, maximizes the space in your bin, and keeps sorting at the curb faster and more efficient. This helps keep everyone's costs down.

We also ask that you have your trash and recyclables out for pickup no later than 7:00 a.m. on your collection day. Because pickup crews and the amounts of trash and recyclables vary somewhat from week to week, pickup times may also vary. The fewer return trips we have to make, the less the program will cost in the end.

If it's raining or snowing you can still put your recyclables out, but it's better if you wait to put your paper products out when it�s dry.

Remember, the more you recycle, the more you save. Not only do you save on the cost of bags, but also we all save on disposal costs. The cost of each bag ($1.25 for 13-gallon size and $2.50 for 30-gallon size) pays for the bag, plus collection, transportation, and disposal of trash. Curbside collection of recyclables is a cost shared by all the taxpayers of Windham, amounting to about 1% of your annual tax bill.

Thanks for your efforts in making Windham a leader in recycling. Keep up the good work! If your trash or recyclables did not get picked up please call Pine Tree at 773-1122

Windham Recycles! Curbside Recycling Program

Weekly curbside residential solid waste collection and disposal by contract with Pine Tree Waste.
User fees for trash are: $1.25 per 13-gallon bag (sold in packs of ten), $2.50 per 30-gallon bag (sold in packs of five). Single bags will be available only at the Town Offices, but multi-bag packages will be available at a number of retail outlets in Town.
User fees pay for 1.) the cost of the bag, 2.) the costs of collection and transportation of trash, and 3.) the actual cost of disposal.
Curbside collection and transportation of recyclables are supported through property taxes - no additional tax increase is required for this program!
Every household will receive one free recycling bin and recycling information.
Additional bins will be available for sale at the Town Offices; however, any sturdy bin or box can be used for recyclables.
People can use their own trash cans or rent curbside toters from Pine Tree Waste to reduce the chance of animal damage to trash bags.
Recyclables and trash will be picked up at the curb on the same day each week. Routes can be seen here.
Most families and households will save money through curbside recycling.
As a community, we will save hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through curbside recycling (as much as $500,000 per year).
For purposes of estimating household costs:
The tax rate impact for an entire year of service is about 8� (remember, taxes pay for the recycling portion of the program, trash cost are covered by user fees)
Estimate the number of kitchen or garbage bags the household uses per week at $1.25 or $2.50, depending on the size.
Households generating less trash will pay less in user fees than households that generate more trash.
Homes with lower values will pay less in taxes than homes with higher values.
Tax-based portion for curbside recycling will be deductible on state and federal income taxes.
Recycling rates will increase, further helping to control costs.
By contracting for all residential trash, Windham will have control over its waste stream and help keep EcoMaine's costs under control.