More recycling is the target

Thursday, September 2, 2010

WILTON – A new recycling committee composed of members from the five towns that use the Wilton Recycling Center is proposing some ideas to encourage people to use the center. Wilton member Pam Bealo discussed some ideas with selectmen on Monday.

A survey of residents in the five towns, Wilton. Lyndeborough, Mason, Greenville and Temple, is currently underway to determine use and ask ways to improve participation.

Bealo said the committee would like to expand the “nearly new” table, perhaps enclose it in a shed, and asked if the cost could be put into the budget for next year.

“Perhaps nonprofits could run it on a rotating basis,” she said, “charge a small fee, or ask that an item be brought to exchange.”

Selectmen agreed a supervised area would prevent “the dump pickers who take items for resale at yard sales” and make items more available to others.

In the meantime, Bealo said, the committee has received a grant for signs at the center, including “Welcome to the Recycling Center” and “Thank You for Recycling.”

She said other towns have written thank you letters to newspapers with recycling updates.

She asked for updated numbers on users, costs, returns on sales, etc., and that will be provided.

In other action on Monday, selectmen voted to post the section of Isaac Frye Highway from Four Corners to the Milford town line at 30 mph. Paving the dirt road would require a vote of the town.

Various means of dust control were discussed but no decisions were made.

The fence along Maple Street between the town hall and Main Street, approved at town meeting in March, has not yet been started, but Road Agent Steve Elliott said it “would be done before snow.” The fence will be for from the Cooley Fund.

The current fence was damaged by the snow plow.

Water Commissioner Jim Tuttle said the water system is now in compliance with new state regulations concerning back flow devices on all public places. The devices prevent possibly contaminated water from getting back into the system. The devices have recently been placed at two cemeteries, the Recycling Center and the high school ball fields. The cemeteries and ball field have irrigation systems.