Dive Brief:

• Augusta, ME implemented a co-mingled recycling pilot project. One month in, officials cite progress, as the system is said to be exceeding expectations; however, one thing that hasn’t changed is non-recyclers attitudes about recycling.
• Officials report that those not already participating in the city’s curbside pick-up which allows separated recyclables, are still not inclined to use the drop-off single-sort system. 
• The city reports eight tons of waste has been collected since the program began.

Dive Insight:

The city plans to try out the pilot project for a total of six months. If deemed a success, the program will expand, potentially transforming into a curbside collection program, instead of operating a drop-off center exclusively. 

Officials are pushing for the project’s success as a solution to mounting waste issues. The local landfill, the Hatch Hill Solid Waste Disposal Facility, is approaching capacity, and is expected to reach end-of-life within the next 15 years. 

While the project has garnered attention; Lissa Bittermann, business development manager for ecomaine, doesn’t think the broader community is aware the program exists and maybe isn’t as interested in recycling in general. 

The city searches for long-term solutions to increase recycling. An option could include building infrastructure to support  expanded recycling, or contracting with a private company to implement a full-service recycling collection. Another idea being tossed around is to join forces with a nearby town and share the costs of establishing a dual-sort processing system in the central part of the state.