56.73%!...... Congratulations???
Jul 15, 2010 – If you visited the Gray Transfer Station in June you were greeted by the sign stating "56.73% - Congratulations". As most of us have experienced, if you ever received a grade of 56% in school it was not good news. But in this case it represents top-of-the class status.
This grade represents Gray's recycling rate for 2009. With 230 of the nearly 300 participating municipalities already reporting, the Maine State Planning Office confidently predicts that Gray's 2009 performance falls within the top 10%. The Maine State Planning Office believes the 2009 statewide average will be around 40%, up from the 2008 average of 38.7% and a step closer to Maine's 50% recycling goal.
Gray's accomplishment also represents positive financial news for Gray residents. Simply put; if it goes in the trash dumpster, Gray has to pay…. If it's recycled, Gray gets paid. For example, for every ton of cardboard that is recycled Gray currently can sell it for $90. If tossed in with the other trash this same cardboard costs the town $160 per ton to dispose of it. That's a $250 per ton swing. In 2009 Gray recycled 192 tons of cardboard. At current rates that represents a positive financial gain for Gray of $48,000….. just for cardboard!
Randy Cookson and his team at the Gray Transfer Station deserve a round of applause as they provide the solid foundation for our Town's success. They have designed the transfer station to be user-friendly and tactfully remind us how to maximize our recycling efforts. So when asked to please not throw that cardboard, glass, plastic, etc, in with the trash and recycle it instead, their primary goal is to save Gray and the taxpayer money.
So "Congratulations" are certainly in order for the citizens of Gray. Keep up the good work!
