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David Stone urges Silver City to prepare for statewide recycling system, highlights extended producer responsibility
Summary
David Stone, president of Silver City Recycles, told the council New Mexico recycles only about 12% of its waste and urged local preparation for statewide programs such as extended producer responsibility (EPR), recommending nonprofit capacity-building and grant-seeking so Silver City can plug into future state networks.
David Stone, president of Silver City Recycles and a member of the town’s Reuse and Recycling Committee, told the Silver City Town Council that New Mexico’s recycling rate is far below the national average and that the town should prepare now for likely statewide changes in recycling policy.
"The recycling rate in the state of New Mexico is 12%," Stone said, noting the national average is closer to 32 percent and that New Mexico ranks in the bottom fifth of states. Stone summarized takeaways from the New Mexico Recycling Coalition meeting and urged local action to position Silver City for broader, state-run recovery systems.
Stone described extended producer responsibility, or EPR, as a model other states are using to require manufacturers and brand owners to pay for collection and processing. "EPR stands for extended producer responsibility," he said. "The big companies that are creating all this plastic and these waste glass bottles are being encouraged to step up to the plate, encouraged by state laws and ordinances." He cited Colorado, California and Oregon as models for statewide programs.
Stone urged the council to treat statewide action as likely rather than optional and recommended local preparations: reactivating Silver City Recycles for collection days, applying for grants to expand the Trash-to-Treasure facility, and coordinating nonprofit, private and contractor resources so the town can integrate into a state-managed network once implemented. "We would make a phone call or get online and have them pick it up," he said of how a statewide pickup network might function.
The presentation included references to the Circular Action Alliance, a nonprofit coalition of corporate partners working on recycling infrastructure, and to examples of processing locations across the state for specific materials. Stone said local grant applications and facility improvements would allow Silver City to be "ready for the implementation of this statewide system."
The council thanked Stone for the report; no formal action was taken. The reuse and recycling committee and Silver City Recycles plan to pursue grant opportunities and local collection capacity to align with emerging statewide policies.
Ending: Stone’s recommendations are advisory; the council did not adopt new rules at the meeting but received the committee report and encouraged continued preparation and coordination.
