FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

CONTACT:

Nick Breault

Executive Secretary

Town of East Longmeadow

Phone (413) 525-5400 ext. 420

Fax (413) 525-1025

nbreault@eastlongmeadow.org

WASTE REDUCTION YEAR END REPORT

The Board of Selectmen is pleased to announce that the Waste Reduction program has had a positive impact of approximately $240,119.00 in its first full year. This impact is due to the decrease in trash tonnage, the increase in recycling tonnage, and the offset of extra trash disposal costs with sales of Town bags. For the period of July 1-December 31, 2005 compared with the same period in 2004, the Town has decreased its trash tonnage 22.4% and increased its recycling tonnage 10.2%.

James D. Driscoll, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen said, “The success of this program has far exceeded our expectations. We are very proud of the results and even more proud of how the citizens of east Longmeadow have embraced this program. Change is difficult, but out tax payers took a leap of faith with us, and now realize that with a little effort, this program would work. Thanks to everyone paying a little closer attention to their recycling efforts, we were able to avoid an override vote or being forced to eliminate police and fire personnel. We still have weekly pick up at no charge, and unlimited recycling at no charge. East Longmeadow’s program is now a model for other towns in Western Massachusetts to follow.”

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The year end report was provided to the Board of Selectmen by Arlene Miller, Western Massachusetts Recycling Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The Town of East Longmeadow received a Technical Assistance Grant from MA DEP in the form of consultancy from Ms. Miller to assist in the implementation and monitoring of the waste reduction program.

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