ORONO, Maine — There is a University of Maine economics student who wants to know what people throw into their trash cans and how things change when their communities changed to pay-as-you-throw programs.
“Various towns across the state; from Portland to Brewer, Kennebunk to Presque Isle and many others have a [pay-as-you-throw] program,” UMaine graduate student Travis Blackmer wrote in his online survey. “In this program households must purchase special trash bags for a fee, otherwise their waste is not collected by the town.”
Blackmer is asking Mainers to fill out an online survey about municipal solid waste. The anonymous survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and everyone who fills it out will have their name placed into a drawing for a $75 giftcard from L.L. Bean, if they provide a mailing or email address.
“The purpose of this research is to provide insight into how citizens in Maine view Pay-As-You-Throw programs, including their behavioral changes in response to this program being implemented at the town level,” Blackmer wrote. “Pay-As-You-Throw is a solid waste program that some towns in Maine are utilizing to reduce their municipal solid waste generation.”
Brewer started zero-sort recycling and pay-as-you-throw programs at the same time in 2010, Old Town went to pay-as-you-throw in 2012. Orono started zero-sort in 2013 and Bangor started zero-sort in July, joining about 50 other area towns that participate in the recycling program offered by Casella Waste Systems.
Pay-as-you-throw programs in Aroostook County have resulted in some roadside garbage dumping, according to residents in Presque Isle in 2013, two years after the program started.
“This survey focuses on citizens’ attitudes and behaviors regarding waste,” John Albertini of the Maine Resource Recovery Association said in a survey brochure.
Effectiveness, public perception, information availability, behavioral changes and general beliefs about the waste stream are the general focus of the survey, he said. Maine Resource Recovery Association is helping to get the word out about the survey.
To reach the survey directly go to: tinyurl.com/PayAsYouThrowWebSurvey.