BIDDEFORD — Starting July 1, Biddeford will have its very first curbside pick-up recycling program.

Many communities around the state already have such programs, and it has been a long time coming in Biddeford, city officials said. Public Works Director Guy Casavant said he has proposed such programs for the city since 1996, under the direction of several city councils. The cost, however, was always the stumbling block in implementing such plans.

But last summer, when the city council voted to purchase the Maine Energy Recovery Company waste-to-energy incinerator located in the downtown from Casella Waste Systems for $6.65 million, recycling was included as part of the negotiation.

In November, the city purchased the facility, which closed at the end of the year.

Now, city staff and committees have begun work on designing what the recycling program will look like and how to educate the public about the change.

On Tuesday, the Solid Waste Management Commission discussed aspects of the program as well as how to get the word out to residents.

Under this program, residents will receive two containers: A green, 35-gallon container for trash; and a blue, 65- or 95-gallon container for recyclable material.

The trash container is smaller than the recycling container, said Casavant, to discourage high volumes of trash ”“ which costs the city money to dispose of ”“ and encourage recycling, for which the city pays a set fee, no matter how much material is recycled.

A pay-per-bag program is being proposed, in which residents will have to purchase special trash bags, to be utilized by those who have waste in excess of their trash container.

Recyclable material, which includes such items as paper, plastics No. 1-7, aluminum cans, containers and other items, will be picked up the same day and alongside of trash on a weekly basis. Recyclables will also still be accepted at the Biddeford Transfer Station.

While public works personnel will continue to pick up trash, which they now transport to a transfer station in Westbrook, Pine Tree Waste, a subsidiary of Casella, will be responsible for picking up recyclable material.

Starting July 1, when the new program begins, recycling will be mandatory, said Casavant. For the first few months, he said, those who don’t follow the new rules will be given some leeway, however, eventually “the hammer will come down.”

Both the city and Pine Tree will be able to review what’s in each resident’s containers ”“ each container will have an identifying microchip that notes which property it is allocated to ”“ and those who don’t recycle correctly will be tagged and contacted, said Casavant.

Under the proposal, those who don’t follow the program will be given a warning first. After that they could be charged up to $100 per violation. If they do not correct the problem, their services could be canceled.

Environmental Code Officer Brian Phinney, who has been responsible for drafting a new solid waste ordinance to codify the new recycling program, noted that commercial properties would not be included in the program. They will have to make their own arrangements for trash disposal and recycling.

Also, as proposed, only residences with five units or less will be included in the program. Even those multi-family properties with more units that have been grandfathered will no longer have their trash picked up by the city.

However, said Phinney, before the new ordinance is finalized, there will be an opportunity for those with multi-family units of six or more to request being included in the program, providing they follow the program rules.

Additionally, said Casavant, in special circumstances, allowances will be made for those who would have difficulty following the program, such as those physically unable to bring their containers to the curb.

Prior to the beginning of the program, information about the new rules will be showing up around the city in the form of flyers, posters, newspaper ads, programming on public access, the city website and through other methods.

The first flyer about the new recycling program will be sent to property owners when they receive their tax bills in February.

The Solid Waste Management Commission is expected to vote on the measure at its next meeting in February. From there, the proposal will be reviewed by the policy committee before it’s sent to the city council, which must approve it before it can take effect.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.