By Stowell P. Watters

Staff Writer

Kennebunkporters will now be able to put all of their recyclables into a single bin for curbside removal, according to Town Manager Larry Mead.

“This will make it easier for people to participate in recycling. It makes people feel good – doing their part for the environment – and this new system makes the process a lot easier for everyone,” Mead said.

In the past Kennebunkport residents were required to separate items made of paper fiber from other recyclable goods in two bins. These bins were picked up and, using a specialized truck, brought to ecomaine, a processing plant in Portland or the FCR Goodman plant in South Portland.

General Manager of Oceanside Rubbish Inc. in Wells Karl Ekstedt said many residents may not even notice the transition, because they have already been putting their recyclables into one bin. Oceanside is the company that owns the trucks and employes the workers who pick up the recyclables in Kennebunkport.

“My guys were picking up bins and having to sort the materials on the side of the road, now it is official and we can save on time and gas,” Ekstedt said.

The traditional dual-stream method of recycling required specialized trucks, that would keep materials separate until they could be processed at a plant, Ekstedt said. Now that single-stream is in place, he said, Kennebunkport residents will see vehicles similar to solid waste removal trucks picking up their recycling.

“And that was a big spot of confusion for people, many residents thought, because we have had this pilot program in place for some time, that all of their recyclables were being thrown into the trash. That was never the case,” Ekstedt said.

Kennebunkport resident Christopher Perry said he was indeed confused at times.

“I saw the trucks taking our recyclables and I worried they might just be going to a landfill or something,” Perry said.

The success of that pilot program, which had been in place in Kennebunkport since the beginning of last summer, further increased the need – in Eksedt’s mind – to approach Mead and the town’s recycling committee with a formal proposal.

“I said, look, this works and it is easier for everyone. They agreed, so here we go,” Ekstedt said.

As for Oceanside, which brings all of the town’s recyclables to either of the two plants, Ekstedt said nothing is changing internally.

“This is just a case where the recycling industry technology is so much more advanced than it was 10 years ago, it is just time to implement this system officially,” Ekstedt said. “It makes people feel good doing their part, helps make the whole process easier for them.”

Secretary to the Kennebunkport highway and sewer department, Nicole Evangelista, said although she has heard of people being confused about recycling from friends and family, she has never received any calls relating to such a confusion.

“The most calls we get pertain to the when and where’s of recycling. It seems like everyone is on the right page here,” she said.

Evangelista also said she wanted to emphasize that nothing is changing as far as when and where recyclables are picked up and delivered, and that all residents need do is “simply put all of your recyclables in the same bin.” There are no additional fees to residents and no change in the bins they currently use, she said. As for advantages of the system, Mead said it is all a part of good economic decision making and environmental stewardship.

“This will keep more material out of landfills, and will reduce the tonnage we send to MERC (Maine Energy Recovery Company), thereby helping the town cut some costs associated with recycling and waste removal,” Mead said.

To contact Stowell P. Watters, call 282-4337 ext. 219 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.