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Needham committee hears recycling markets slump, discusses black‑plastic petition and restaurant guidance
Summary
RTS staff told the committee recycling revenues have declined and that a town‑meeting advisory suggestion asking restaurants to avoid black plastic was nonbinding; staff said optical sorters struggle to detect black containers, which pushes them into the trash stream.
RTS staff told the committee on June 12 that recycling revenues have declined in recent months and that growing processing and disposal costs are eroding prior small gains in commodity income.
A staff member said Casella, the town’s processor, has been a steady market partner but that recent drops in material values and higher glass processing costs mean the town is likely to see months with processing costs rather than revenue. The staff member estimated the fiscal year ended with about $8,000 in processing costs and a little more than $4,000 in revenue.
The meeting also…
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