BIDDEFORD — The recycling rate for the city of Biddeford continues to rise sharply and now stands among the highest of all communities in Maine.

Writing in a monthly newsletter to residents, Biddeford City Manager Jim Bennett attributes the increase to the dedicated efforts of residents to properly sort recyclables from trash.

“At 35 percent, we have achieved one of the highest rates of recycling of any community in Maine,” Bennett wrote. “Plus, for every ton recycled, we save $56, adding up to more than $200,000 in savings for the city each year.”

According to Bennett, Biddeford schools have joined the recycling effort too.

“They are a big contributor to the success of the program and divert significant amounts of paper and other recyclables from the landfill,” he wrote.

And even as the recycling rate rises, Bennett says that members of the Solid Waste Management Commission have been pushing to increase the recycling rate even higher.

“We believe the next step is to tackle the problem of food waste, which constitutes a significant percentage of the waste stream,” Bennett wrote. “As an initial step, we have been selling Earth Machine backyard composters at a steeply discounted price. However, we continue to look at a variety of more comprehensive options for food waste composting, with the criteria that it is convenient to use and has no cost to the city.”

He expressed his gratitude for all the members of the Solid Waste Management Commission for their hard work and countless hours volunteering to make Biddeford more sustainable and to reduce costs. 

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com