Towns getting solid waste rebate

RIVER VALLEY -- With the help of recycling revenues on an upward trend, the six towns that make up the Northern Oxford Regional Solid Waste Board will be getting a rebate.

Mexico Town Manager John Madigan, who also serves as the administrator for NORSWB, said that in March, the towns of Rumford, Mexico, Dixfield, Peru, Roxbury and Byron will each receive a one-month rebate of their cost to the solid waste district, a total of $72,243.08. The total assessments to the towns is $866,917, a figure that has remained the same since 2007.

By town, Rumford will get $33,332.96, with $15,236.07 to Mexico, $13,090.45 to Dixfield, $7,968.41 to Peru, $1,993.91 to Roxbury and $621.29 to Byron. Madigan said the amount is an equal rate based on population.

Madigan noted that recyclables totaled $118,000 in 2010, up from just $73,000 a year ago. Earlier money generated were $77,000 for years 2004-06, $162,000 in 2007 and $130,000 in 2008.

In addition, he said NORSWB recently negotiated a new five-year contract with Waste Management of Norridgewock that will drop tipping fees below levels paid here in 2007, an initial savings of $42,750 per year.

Madigan said the new contract is subject to a maximum of 4 percent and a minimum of 2 percent CPIU (Consumer Price Index Unit). The past contract had this stipulation, with the tipping fee stating at $48 per ton and ending at $52.25 per ton.

The new contract, which carries an option for an additional five years, is also retroactive six months prior to July 1. Madigan said they will be reimbursed by $4.75 per ton or $23,112.

Since 2004, the average tonnage sent to the landfill is around 9,000. In 2010, tonnage increased from 8,747 to 9,684, but Madigan noted that 360 tons of that was from the paper mill, who reimbursed them.

Madigan said the overall cost for a trip to Waste Management is $187, which also covers the cost to pay Rumford, who supplies the truck, trailer and driver.