New recycling program in Delaware

    Delaware’s governor proposes a plan that would require all municipalities and private waste haulers in the state to provide curbside recycling for all customers.

    The state of Delaware is trying to improve it’s recycling rate with a new “universal” program.

    The plan would require all municipalities and private waste haulers in the state to provide curbside recycling for all customers.

    Governor Jack Markell unveiled the new program Tuesday morning.  He says it’s designed to reverse the state’s historically low recycling rate.  “Everybody will have a recycle bin, obviously we can’t mandate that people recycle, but the opportunity will right there for them, it will be very easy to take advantage of.”

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    The start-up costs would be funded by changes to Delaware’s bottle-deposit law.  The five cent bottle deposit would be converted to a two-cent fee, which would no longer be refundable.  The deposit would help haulers and municipalities pay for new recycling containers, trucks and other infrastructure.

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