Western Massachusetts Communities Earn $1.6 Million for Recycling Efforts,
Save $3 Million in Waste Disposal Costs in 2008

Recycling efforts in western Massachusetts in 2008 yielded more than $1.6 million in revenue and saved $3 million in solid waste disposal costs in 78 communities across the region.

The Springfield Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) processed 42,095 tons of recyclable materials last year, resulting in the savings.

The MRF, which is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and operated by Waste Management Recycling America (WMRA), issues revenue payments to communities every six months. WMRA pays the communities a flat rate of $15.67 per ton for their recyclables and additional revenue share when market prices are high. 

These communities demonstrate leadership in recycling efforts that align with the Patrick Administration's support of programs to reduce waste, reuse materials and protect the environment.

"Given our current economic challenges, materials recycling continue to pay dividends for our environment and our communities," MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt said. "Local recycling programs remain the best way to protect the environment. In Springfield MRF communities, recycling programs help to divert thousands of tons of materials from landfills, save millions of dollars in disposal fees, and produce revenue to support local services."
 
For most of the calendar year 2008, recyclable materials prices were high due to global demand for these commodities. In November 2008, the markets for recyclable commodities saw a steep decline that coincided with the overall decline in the global economy.

Despite these market changes, the Springfield MRF continues - due to established regional markets and long-standing contracts - to operate in markets that use the recycled materials to make game board, book board, automotive parts, plastic bottles, fiberfill, aluminum cans, and blue municipal recycling bins. For western Massachusetts municipalities, existing municipal contracts offer a flat payment per ton and provide consistent payments for recyclables.

MassDEP opened the MRF in 1990 to help reduce waste, divert material away from landfills and incinerators and encourage the re-use of recyclable materials. Since 1990, western Massachusetts communities have processed more than 850 million pounds of recyclables through the MRF.

In 2008, the following communities recorded these recycling tonnages and payments:
Municipality  / Tonnage  /  Revenue
Agawam   1,881.98   $73,136.20
Alford    73.43   $2.960.49
Amherst   1,340.68  $53,242.89
Ashfield   233.51   $9,220.06
Beckett   115.39   $4,708.67
Belchertown   544.47   $21,475.09
Bernardston   175.51   $7,006.70
Blandford   93.32   $3,723.12
Buckland   154.59   $6,069.80
Charlemont   100.83   $3,952.43
Chester   68.84   $2,745.96
Chesterfield   79.56   $3,137.34
Chicopee   3,140.87  $122,025.62
Colrain   125.87   $5,027.32
Conway   237.97   $9,363.92
Cummington   89.25   $3,524.30
Dalton    394.27   $15,605.96
Deerfield   433.19   $17,128.32
Easthampton   270.29   $10,289.97
East Longmeadow  1,858.86  $72,943.43
Egremont   220.97   $8,839.23
Erving    178.21   $6,778.38
Gill    148.97   $6,085.06
Goshen   77.48   $3,034.81
Granby   426.11   $16,735.41
Granville   108.63   $4,252.86
Great Barrington  140.14   $5,313.84
Greenfield   1,837.99  $72,726.51
Hadley   271.23   $10,647.13
Hampden   221.66   $8,551.41
Hatfield   202.23   $7,946.53
Heath    69.4   $2,700.21
Holyoke   1.681.16  $65,534.42
Huntington   152.7   $5,926.42
Lee    46.49   $1,168.81
Lenox    22.05   $503.07
Leverett   177.74   $6.987.33
Longmeadow   2,262.73  $88,165.73
Ludlow   1,294.38  $50,316.73
Middlefield   40.32   $1,578.44
Montague   723.17   $28,573.70
Monterey   146.53   $5,901.04
Montgomery   94.05   $3,636.37
New Marlborough  113.63   $4,437.03
New Salem   87.14   $3,403.29
Northfield   294.18   $11,641.26
Northampton   1,984.87  $77,893.91
Otis    197.19,   $8,035.30
Palmer   114.2   $4,421.57
Pittsfield   2,455.20  $96,535.82
Plainfield   56.28   $2,233.78
Rowe    43.48   $1,775.53
Russell   96.28   $3,776.74
Sandisfield   59.7   $2,424.70
Sheffield   263.74   $10,448.14
Shelburne   160.62   $6,336.38
Shutesbury   197.62   $7,577.36
South Hadley   1,486.02  $57,882.55
Southampton   523.63   $20,494.70
Southwick   504.75   $19,736.64
Springfield   4,527.17  $171,788.56
Stockbridge   551.74   $22,053.96
Sunderland   267.41   $10,357.66
Tolland   48.73   $1,979.97
Warwick   62.76   $2,468.89
Washington   51.15   $1,992.56
Wendell   82.65   $3,301.32
West Springfield  1,467.73  $56,899.18
West Stockbridge  186.25   $7,334.60
Westfield   2,576.44  $99,913.28
Westhampton   143.85   $5,651.03
Whately   125.94   $4,972.54
Wilbraham   1,025.49  $40,154.65
Williamsburg   262.48   $10,334.91
Worthington   120.06   $4,829.885
Total   40,217.05  $1,632,330.91

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