NORTH YARMOUTH — Not everyone is pleased that the town has put a silver bullet in its silver-bullet recycling containers.

The containers at the fire barn were removed Jan. 15 in favor of the town’s curbside recycling program. The Board of Selectmen voted Dec. 1 to make the change, which is expected to save about $10,000 a year in transportation costs.

Residents are instead encouraged to leave their recyclables in front of their homes on regular collection days. The silver bullet containers have been duplicating the curbside pickup service.

Administrative Assistant Marnie Diffin said the Town Office received about 25 calls last week from residents about the elimination of the silver bullets, many of whom were unhappy about the loss of the service. She recommended those people write letters to the Board of Selectmen.

Diffin said some residents have reported having long driveways, or not enough room at their curb to place their recyclables, and that they would rather place the items in their vehicles and drop them off at the silver bullets. Some residents also complained about the lack of a transfer station, which Diffin noted North Yarmouth has never had.

Diffin said the town’s Public Works Department has been filling in the area where the containers stood. She said there is some concern that people will continue to leave their recyclables at the spot, or leave the items at other locations in town, such as the end of dead-end roads.

Information about the curbside recycling program can be found on the town’s Web site, northyarmouth.org, or by calling 829-3705.

North Yarmouth is one of 21 owner-member communities in southern Maine that send trash and recyclables to ecomaine.

Alex Lear can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net.


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