Mass. Town Kicks Off Yard Waste Recycling Program
In the past, Scituate, Mass. was spending about $30,000 annually to have yard waste ground up and hauled away. Beginning July 1, Go Green Landscape Supply, a local recycling firm is going to pay the town about $600,000 over 10 years to lease a site where it will accept yard waste such as grass clippings and leaves at no charge to the town or residents. The company will then convert it into mulch and other saleable products, according to Boston.com,
“It’s very innovative,” says Tim Lopes, the owner of Go Green. “It’s a huge problem for municipalities to get rid of this stuff, and for the town of Scituate to actually be making money on their green waste is very unique.”
Turning yard scraps into marketable products is another easy way for your town to "go green." Photo: unc.edu
Beyond residential drop-offs, local landscapers, tree companies and excavation firms can also bring green waste to Lopes’ site.
“His firm uses grinding and screening machines to convert the grass, leaves, brush, stumps and other waste into sellable compost, loam, mulch, wood chips, and firewood,” according to the story.
The deal is a win-win for all parties involved. “The townspeople get seven days a week and longer hours to dump stuff,” says Lopes. “The town gets paid for their green waste, and I get a place to process green waste and run my business, and lots of raw materials.”
Public Works Director Albert Bangert says the new agreement will result in an additional $40,000 to $45,000 for the town in the first year, as a result of reducing disposal and labor costs as well as the company’s lease payments that will increase over time.
Lopes says even with the difficult economy, his business is faring well.
“My past experience tells me that even in a bad economy, people still want their homes to look beautiful,” he says.
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Doreen
posted on April 8th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
What a great step to solving a problem for everyone and one where everyone benefits. I would like to see them give away some of the mulch to families who can’t afford it or free to community garden or school gardens. And perhaps teach people how to compost using their own yard waste!
Doreen
lydia martins
posted on April 8th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
thanks for your recycling newsletter love to read it well i recycle I even recycle my grass i just do not use a bag to pick up my grass this way it will grow thicker more people in my neiborhood should recycle their grass cuttings which they dont. maybe you people should post these recycle ads all over so more people just might read it and also recycle more to.
eric wood
posted on April 8th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
This story illustrates a point I have been shouting for a long time: Capitalist should be flocking to “Go Green!” There are tons of opportunities for people willing to think twice about “trash”. Our county government has an extensive recycling program for its citizens and it’s a bonanza for business. The county collects the recyclable material, pays a company to remove it and then the company sells the material after breaking it down. What business would not like to be able to not have to pay for their raw materials.
http://www.goinggreenaccidently.blogspot.com
Michael
posted on April 12th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Being a deck contractor in MA a lot of my customers are interested in “green” – but it still costs a lot for many. I’m sure when the price becomes a lot lower, more people will buy.