Hatch Hill landfill users may pay by the bag

AUGUSTA -- Residents of the nine communities that have their garbage hauled to Hatch Hill landfill in Augusta could eventually be required to pay by the bag.

The Kennebec Regional Recycling Committee, in a presentation similar to one already made in the eight communities that send waste to Hatch Hill, outlined several steps that would increase recycling in the region.

Judy Dorsey, a committee representative from Gardiner, said recycling rates in the region are much lower than the state average and need to increase.

She said the committee's most controversial recommendation is a pay-as-you-throw system, in which residents would have to buy special trash bags to get rid of garbage headed to Hatch Hill. The bags would be more expensive than regular trash bags, because their sales would be largely to fund operations at Hatch Hill.

The idea is to charge to dispose of waste, but not for recyclable items that are properly recycled, committee members said.

"It provides incentive to recycle, because the almighty buck talks," Dorsey said.