DENNIS – Dennis could be the next town on the Cape that implements the Pay-As-You-Throw trash system.
Selectmen voted recently to place an article on the fall town meeting warrant that asks voters to approve the SMART (Save Money And Reduce Trash) program in the town.
The Solid Waste and Recycling Committee is currently working on getting an estimate on how much trash is dumped by residents, by separating recyclables from a random sample of 100 trash bags.
Allan Ryan, chairman of the Dennis Solid Waste and Recylcing Committee believes that the initiative would reduce the cost of waste disposal for the town by up to 50 percent.
“If it turns out that we have 15 percent recycling there that we can get, pay as you throw won’t be that interesting to me,” said Ryan.
“But if it turns out to be 40 percent, like we suspect it will, then full speed ahead.”
Under the system, residents would purchase trash bags, with each bag paying for the disposal of its contents.
The trash sticker would fund the fix costs of the transfer station.
There would be no extra fee for recycling but the system would include hazardous waste disposal and composting.
Ryan said that other Cape towns like Sandwich have seen waste reduced over three years by 48 percent.
Still, many are reluctant to change.
“I get a lot of people saying how could you charge me a $1.30 a bag, that’s crazy, I could buy them at BJ’s for 22 cents,” said Ryan.
“Well, it isn’t the bag, it’s the right to throw the material away.”
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