Potsdam residents recycle more, pay less for garbage pickup

POTSDAM — Village residents are recycling more — and paying less for garbage collection — than any other community in St. Lawrence County, according to a representative of Casella Waste Systems Inc.

Chester W. Bisnett Jr. said village households in Potsdam are recycling 19 percent of the community's residential trash by weight and paying an average of $14.08 per month for the service.

Casella is in the fourth year of a five-year contract, with an option to renew for another five years. The contract covers about 1,420 households with an annual cost of about $240,000.

Mr. Bisnett recently told village officials he believes the contract has been a success.

"Compared to anything else in this county, this village is paying less money," Mr. Bisnett said, adding that the recycling rates in Potsdam set a benchmark for the region. "I challenge anyone to say they are doing 19 percent by weight, not volume."

The amount of trash hauled away from Potsdam homes last year totaled 710 tons, according to Mr. Bisnett. He said the amount of refuse headed for recycling bins was 171 tons, for an average recycling rate of 19 percent.

Village residents in Potsdam are charged $10.40 per month for garbage and recyclable collection as part of the $240,000 contract with Mr. Bisnett. Residents also are required to pay about $1 per sticker for a tag to be placed on each bag of nonrecyclable garbage.

Mr. Bisnett said the $14.08 average charge for most households is less expensive than in surrounding communities. He said residential customers in Massena pay about $21.60 per household per month for municipal collection administered by the Department of Public Works, and residents of the village of Heuvelton are paying close to $16 a month for collection.