Vermont zero waste manager spells out recycling costs

Under the law, haulers and facilities are forbidden from charging an extra fee for collecting recyclables. Hemenway argues that this inflicts unnecessary financial harm against the businesses and has created the misconception that recycling has no cost. 

“Haulers have expenses that don’t change, regardless of whether an item goes into the landfill or gets recycled,” Hemenway writes. “Staffing costs money, as does hauling, truck maintenance and tipping fees to drop recyclables at the transfer station or materials recovery facility, where they get sorted and shipped to market.” 

She adds that friction could be created in communities where small hauling businesses are forced to raise trash prices to cover cost.

“They are not just hauling trash and recycling for their customers, they’re hauling for friends and neighbors,” Hemenway writes. “They have to provide a high level of customer service to stay afloat. They know their customers well enough to know that raising trash prices in order to cover the cost of recycling may just make them lose customers.” 

Starting July 1, haulers will be required to collect leaf and yard waste, according to Hemenway, which may cause more financial difficulties.

Hemenway advises forethought in purchasing and receiving products to aid waste reduction efforts without  inconveniencing haulers.

“The bottom line is that waste, be it in the form of trash or recycling, costs money,” Hemenway writes. “It costs households to have it taken away, and it costs hauler to manage it. The easiest way to save on expenses and meet the spirit of the law is to reduce what you can in the first place.”