By Mike LaBella
Staff Writer
May 08, 2008 12:15 am HAVERHILL — Would you be willing to pay $15 per year to avoid having to store your empty cans, bottles, jars and plastic jugs at home, and then take them to a recycling center? One resident wants to put the question to Haverhill's citizens in the form of a ballot question this fall. The binding question would allow residents to make the decision, not just give their opinions to city leaders. Timothy Clough, 54, an environmental engineer and member of the city's Recycling Committee, said there is growing support within the community for a curbside recycling program and that he believes residents would be willing to pay for it. He said his initial study shows $15 a year per household would cover the cost, but he is still crunching numbers. He said the plan, which is his idea but not put forward by the entire committee, would be a cost-saver and timesaver for those who already recycle. "It makes it a lot easier," he said. "You would not have to save up these items in your basement and you would not have to drop them off at a recycling center." If he gets all of the necessary approvals, Clough said the November presidential election ballot would include this question: "Shall the Haverhill City Council implement an expanded curbside recycling service, to add glass, steel, aluminum and plastic containers to the current curbside paper recycling service, and establish a fee of not more than $15 per year for each household in the city to pay for the actual costs of this service." Haverhill has curbside pickup of recyclable paper and cardboard. It is the only large community in the Merrimack Valley not to have pickup of bottles and cans and plastic. Methuen, Andover, North Andover and Lawrence all recycle paper and the other items. Clough said the city seems reluctant to introduce a curbside recycling program out of fear it would cost taxpayers money. "It seems to me the city will never do it on its own unless the people say they want it and are willing to pay for it," Clough said. City Councilor Michael McGonagle said Clough's idea has merit, but he wants to wait for a plan from the Recycling Committee. "The city is getting close to presenting something to the mayor," McGonagle said of the Recycling Committee. "We do need to expand our recycling efforts, but history tells me the citizens would reject the idea if they had to pay for it." McGonagle has recent experience with asking citizens to pay extra through a "pay-as-you-throw" trash plan. It would have charged residents a fee of perhaps $1 for each bag of trash — a plan designed to encourage recycling. "When I presented my idea, some councilors called it a regressive tax," McGonagle said. "For those on fixed income and those living at the poverty level, $15 can make a difference. The bottom line is curbside recycling would be good for the environment, only now we need a way to make it cost-effective." Councilor Robert Scatamacchia said he likes the idea of expanding the city's recycling program, but he doubts the public would accept a $15 fee. "What better way to find out than to put it on the ballot?" Scatamacchia said. Clough planned to present his idea to the City Council when it met April 29, but he was asked to postpone his presentation for several weeks in order to give Mayor James Fiorentini time to study the issue of curbside recycling. "I was at the post office recently and I got 15 signatures in a half-hour in support of my idea," Clough said. "Every single registered voter I asked said they'd support it, although some people said there's no way it would pass as no one wants a tax increase." Clough said he is willing to give the mayor time to come up with a curbside recycling plan, but he wants to retain the option of putting his question on the ballot. "I'm ready to go in the event their efforts fail or stall," he said. ><p>
Proposed curbside recycling plan r Charge $15 per year to each Haverhill household (estimated). r Provide a recycling bin for each home. r Ensure a scheduled pickup of recyclable items. r Save people who recycle from having to store items and then transport them to a recycling center.
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