Dive Brief:
- A law passed in Vermont will require statewide recycling by 2015, with food materials being banned from landfills by 2020.
- Vermont will introduce mandated pricing on trash by July 2015; the cost is determined by weight instead of number of bags in an effort to encourage composting, since food waste is heavy.
- Every transfer station and drop-off site must accept recyclables at no charge by July 1, 2014; the ban will effect trash haulers in 2015, as all recyclables will be banned from landfills.
Dive Insight:
The changes in requirements are anticipated to raise the recycling and composting rate from its current 30% to 60%. Last week, the state unveiled a trio of new symbols, in an effort to signify a change is underway to residents.