1. 2013 RHODE ISLAND COMPOSTING CONFERENCE Gretel Clark Recycle Committee Chair, Hamilton, MA

2. Town of Hamilton 30 miles north of Boston on Cape Ann Tipping Trash $70/ton

3. Town of Hamilton Semi rural, conservative, New England town (15 square miles) 2600 households A little more than 8,000 residents

4. Today, Hamiltonians produce <.5 tons solid waste; recycling 50%; 10.56% is composted kitchen organic waste. Some facts… Average MA household produces one tone of solid waste annually Hamiltonians produced 1.22 tons waste annually before 2006

5. 2006: Status Quo

6. 2007: Blue Boxes Introduced

7. 2008: Waste Reduction Program

8. 2009: Eliminate Organics from SW

9. 2010: Green Gallon Barrels Introduced

10. 2011: Special Split Body Truck Built

11. 2012: New Trash Program Instituted

12. Keys to Success Find a hauler Find a composter Design a pilot program Court political leaders Institute a PAYT program Charge high rate for overage bags Gather a crew of dedicated enthusiastic unconquerable organizers Establish a Trash Hot Line Put together a strong education program Find funding Implement bi-weekly solid waste collection program

13. Lessons Learned Larvae in hot summer months Freezing in cold winter months Animal control Overcoming the “ick” factor

14. Benefits To the Town Trash costs can be cut in half New bag revenue (poor recyclers are now paying for the trash costs, not all their neighbors who provide the tax base.) Anaerobic digester