New provisions under Vermont universal recycling law take effect

By Paul Ploumis 08 Jul 2015 Last updated at 03:22:52 GMT

MIDDLESEX (Scrap Monster): The ban on disposal of metal, glass, plastics #1 and #2, paper/cardboard has come into force starting this month onwards. This is in accordance with the Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law (Act 148) passed in 2012. The law was established with an aim to increase diversion rates and preserve life of the state’s only landfill.

According to provisions of the law, waste haulers throughout the state must now provide curbside collection facilities for recycling the above items. Garbage service providers are also required to implement pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system, which is expected to give big boost to recycling volumes. The law also proposes ban on disposal of leaf, yard debris and clean wood by July 1st, 2016 and food scraps by July 1st, 2020. Once fully implemented in 2020, the state’s diversion rate of municipal solid waste is expected to reach 50% from the current levels of 36%.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has organized a campaign to highlight the new recycling options available to residents across the state. The slogan of the campaign reads as “recycling resimplified”. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will also launch various awareness promotions through media focusing on recycling of six categories of materials- paper, cardboard, aluminum, steel, glass, and hard plastics (no. 1 and no. 2). Public announcements and other outreach campaigns are also being planned.

However, there are concerns that the new provisions may not work well in rural areas, as the service of the haulers may not cover entire households. Also, more infrastructure facilities for collection of waste and additional material recovery facilities may also be needed towards successful implementation of the new provisions.