To the editor:
Much has been written of late about the Presque Isle’s pay as you throw program and not much of it positive. Although I cannot speak to the motives of those who seem to be “trashing” the effort that has substantially reduced the tonnage going into our landfill, I can speak to why it should not be curtailed.
I served on the Council that implemented PAYT. I supported it then and I continue to support and advocate for it now. It was the goal of the Council at the time to find ways to extend the life of the landfill by reducing the amount of waste going into it, to increase recycling and to reduce the local tax burden. By any measure all of those goals were achieved. How often can that be said of a governmental initiative?
Presque Isle was substantially subsidizing with tax dollars the difference between the actual cost to run the landfill and the cost charged to haulers. This was to significantly increase with taking on the debt for the expansion. With the move to pay as you throw a tax increase was avoided that year and in subsequent years. And, the program placed responsibility for the amount of trash going to the landfill back in the hands of those who create the waste. I pay for the amount of electricity I use, for the amount of water I use, why shouldn’t I pay for the amount of trash I generate?
In addition to the tax savings, there are many like myself that save every month. To an elderly person, living alone and on a fixed income, the property tax and disposal savings are significant. With PAYT we individually control what we spend and have a say in how that happens. Our behavior dictates the cost to us. We can throw it all, we can recycle some or all of the potential, we can compost or not — all of it our choice.
Recycling rates have increased and provide an income source for the city. Although they are market dependent and not always predictable it is always better to have something on the income side of the ledger as opposed to the expense side.
And then there is the landfill itself. Make no mistake about it, it is costly to run and maintain. But, it is ours. We own and control it and it is indeed an asset when you consider the recent BDN article (April 21, 2013) “Maine running out of landfill space.” Presque Isle’s councilors and management team have for years planned for our solid wasted needs and we are in a good position for the future. I have heard rumors that some want to look at other disposal options such as the Tri-Community Landfill because it is “cheaper.” I urge caution because cheaper today does not mean cheaper tomorrow and once you move in another direction you have lost your ability to control your own destiny. Imagine closing our landfill and becoming dependent upon someone else who would just send us the bill each year.
There has also been much said about increased litter along the roads. Although opponents of the original proposal said this might happen it seems strange that it has only become an issue some three years later and is not supported by actual complaints to law enforcement or city officials. There are stories but in reality I am not sure how one can remember what was in the roadside three years ago and compare that to today. Litter or disposal of household garbage and appliances is illegal, is an enforcement issue, and went on long before PAYT was instituted. People who have a propensity to disregard the law for their own benefit will do so whether they are avoiding paying $46 per month for disposal, paying something per bag for disposal, or paying for a sticker at a transfer station when they can get groups of family or friends to go in together for one instead of separately. Enforcement is the answer, not abolishment of the system.
In a world where people are talking about the need to take more personal responsibility and depend less on government I find it ironic that some folks would take us backward instead of moving forward. Can we do better and maybe improve on the pay as you throw program? I believe we can, but I have not heard much talk about building on the strengths of the program. Should we make recycling easier for the consumer? Yes. Are there ways to make the disposal process simpler for the consumer? Possibly.
I urge the citizens of Presque Isle to support the PAYT program and let the Council know that the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Calvin F. Hall
Presque Isle
