Home » News » Politics » Town Meetings
February 12. 2013 11:32PM
HOOKSETT - A warrant article to institute a recycling mandate in Hooksett is already drawing debate in the town, with a town councilor hoping to remove the question from the ballot and supporters saying it would send a message about the importance of the habit.
The proposal would mandate recycling at the curbside and the town's recycling center, giving the department's superintendent teeth to ensure that recyclables are not disposed with regular trash.
"It would give me more control at the facility .... because it's not mandatory, I can't enforce anything. They just come in and they just dump," said Diane Boyce, superintendent of Hooksett's recycling and transfer station. "It's that 1 percent of the town that will not recycle at all."
How the policy would be implemented and enforced have not been finalized. Boyce has suggested a system where the first two offenses would elicit letters notifying the residents of a violation. On the third offense, the residents would potentially lose curbside service for a limited period of time. Fines have also been discussed.
The town council voted 5 to 2 on Jan. 9 to move the warrant onto the town ballot.
Councilor Todd Lizotte, however, who feels the policy was "not properly vetted," has stated his intent to remove the question from the ballot.
"I think the recycling department in town is top notch," he said.
"I just think that mandatory recycling is premature until we have a better understanding of what we can possibly achieve, versus an open-ended goal."
Lizotte's concerns include the difficulties in enforcement, ambiguities in what is considered a recyclable, the lack of a specific goal for the mandate, fears that a mandate could produce a resentment toward recycling, and a reluctance to "police people's lifestyle choices." He said that instead of a mandate, the town should emphasize education.
Boyce has argued, however, that the mandate will not place any recycling-waste ratio requirements on residents or entail any regular auditing. She said that the mandate would only be enforced against violators who are dumping items which are "obviously recyclable," and would not target residents who are trying but may have made a mistake.
Lizotte said a goal for overall recycling percentage should be offered, along with an understanding of how that goal can be met.
Boyce said she did not have a specific tonnage goal in mind and that Hooksett's recycling program was doing "very well" in its first year.
The next town council meeting will be today at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall.
bclogston@newstote.com
Recycling mandate 'with teeth' up for debate in Hooksett
The proposal would mandate recycling at the curbside and the town's recycling center, giving the department's superintendent teeth to ensure that recyclables are not disposed with regular trash.
"It would give me more control at the facility .... because it's not mandatory, I can't enforce anything. They just come in and they just dump," said Diane Boyce, superintendent of Hooksett's recycling and transfer station. "It's that 1 percent of the town that will not recycle at all."
How the policy would be implemented and enforced have not been finalized. Boyce has suggested a system where the first two offenses would elicit letters notifying the residents of a violation. On the third offense, the residents would potentially lose curbside service for a limited period of time. Fines have also been discussed.
The town council voted 5 to 2 on Jan. 9 to move the warrant onto the town ballot.
Councilor Todd Lizotte, however, who feels the policy was "not properly vetted," has stated his intent to remove the question from the ballot.
"I think the recycling department in town is top notch," he said.
"I just think that mandatory recycling is premature until we have a better understanding of what we can possibly achieve, versus an open-ended goal."
Lizotte's concerns include the difficulties in enforcement, ambiguities in what is considered a recyclable, the lack of a specific goal for the mandate, fears that a mandate could produce a resentment toward recycling, and a reluctance to "police people's lifestyle choices." He said that instead of a mandate, the town should emphasize education.
Boyce has argued, however, that the mandate will not place any recycling-waste ratio requirements on residents or entail any regular auditing. She said that the mandate would only be enforced against violators who are dumping items which are "obviously recyclable," and would not target residents who are trying but may have made a mistake.
Lizotte said a goal for overall recycling percentage should be offered, along with an understanding of how that goal can be met.
Boyce said she did not have a specific tonnage goal in mind and that Hooksett's recycling program was doing "very well" in its first year.
The next town council meeting will be today at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall.
bclogston@newstote.com
- UNH hires firm to redesign one of its logos - 23
- Lakes Region, Great Bay CC hold commencement ceremonies - 0
- UNH Law School grads told to 'serve justice' - 0
- Stonyfield founder tells FPU grads to ask, 'Why not?' - 1
- Tiny Thomas More College class urged to be courageous - 0
- Lebanon College graduates 19 - 0
- Plymouth State speaker tells grads to 'Become agents of change' - 1
- Former FBI head tells St. Anselm graduates it is important to give back - 1
- UNH commencement speaker tells graduates: Don't worry about mistakes, learn from them - 14
Institute of Art graduates its largest class in Manchester
READER COMMENTS: 0- Two sustained minor injuries in Rochester crash Sunday - 0
- Boat crash in Tuftonboro investigated - 0
- Manchester alderman urges review of police phone use - 12
- Updated: Man fatally shot on Manchester street; neighbors shocked - 1
- Nashua mayor to recommend Bennett for corporation counsel - 0
- Claremont group disputes incinerator plant's permit - 0
- Goffstown artisan gives new face to Wolfeboro tower - 0
- Katie McQuaid's Scene in Manchester: Kiwanis and the kids - 0
- Town may have to fix grave error - 2
Firefighters say casino revenue needed for 'public safety'
READER COMMENTS: 2| Follow us: | ||
 |
 |
 |
Sorry, no question available