RIRRC distributes recycling profit shares to cities and towns

JOHNSTON – Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp. on Tuesday distributed checks totaling $551,700 to the state’s 39 cities and towns for profits from the sale of their recyclables.

The funds were from the fiscal year that ended June 30.

“Recycling in R.I. has come a long way,” Michael OConnell, RIRRC’s executive director, said in a statement. “Rhode Islanders are making recycling an everyday habit, and continue to send us a steady stream of materials. But we’re seeing a decrease in the quality and condition of the recyclables. That’s why it’s important for the cities and towns to keep up their programs and recycling education efforts.”

Municipal recycling profit shares are based on the tons of recyclables trucked to the RIRRC’s municipal recycling facility by each municipality during the fiscal year, as well as a share of profits from the sale of commercial and out-of-state recycling.

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OConnell said recycling everything that is allowed helps the municipal bottom line because it reduces how much cities and towns need to pay for landfill disposal.
Rhode Island cities and towns recycled 98,400 tons of bottles, cans, newspapers, cardboard and plastic containers last fiscal year, he said.

Said OConnell, “Making sure that recyclable containers are empty is important, because that keeps the paper products clean and dry. Keeping harmful items out of the recycling is important too, for the sake of every man and woman who works at the MRF.”

RIRRC has seen an increase in the past year in municipal recycling loads containing a high amount of plastic bags, food waste, yard waste and items that pose danger to workers such as used diapers, hypodermic needles and propane gas tanks.

The distribution of the RIRRC funds is as follows:

  • Barrington, $12,935.94, 2,407 tons delivered in fiscal 2015
  • Bristol, $11,108.51, 2,067 tons delivered in fiscal 2015
  • Burrillville, $10,100.38, 1,880 tons
  • Central Falls, $8,879.68, 1,652 tons
  • Charlestown, $2,293.90, 427 tons
  • Coventry, $19,786.15, 3,682 tons
  • Cranston, $39,424.42, 7,337 tons
  • Cumberland, $20,412.38, 3,799 tons
  • East Greenwich, $8,869.69, 1,651 tons
  • East Providence, $25,372.83, 4,722 tons
  • Exeter, $3,457.59, 643 tons
  • Foster, $2,693.64, 501 tons
  • Glocester, $6,819.80, 1,269 tons
  • Jamestown, $5,295.76, 986
  • Johnston, $33,835.74, 1,998 tons (Johnston also receives additional funds from the out-of-state pool, designated for stormwater mitigation)
  • Lincoln, $10,876.37, 2,024 tons
  • Little Compton, $2,904.92, 541 tons
  • Middletown, $8,492.31, 1,580 tons
  • Narragansett,$12,799.55, 2,382 tons
  • New Shoreham, $3,225.35, 600 tons
  • Newport $12,301.00 2,289 tons
  • North Kingstown $17,364.25 3,231 tons
  • North Providence $15,108.83 2,812 tons
  • North Smithfield $7,046.45 1,311 tons
  • Pawtucket $43,981.32 8,185 tons
  • Portsmouth $10,803.46 2,011 tons
  • Providence $33,156.96 6,170 tons
  • Richmond $4,375.17 814 tons
  • Scituate $6,417.86 1,194 tons
  • Smithfield $12,850.17 2,391 tons
  • South Kingstown $13,321.98 2,479 tons
  • Tiverton $10,655.74 1,983 tons
  • Warren $6,977.19 1,298 tons
  • Warwick $52,994.91 9,862 tons
  • West Greenwich $2,037.42 379 tons
  • West Warwick $11,998.69 2,233 tons
  • Westerly-Hopkinton $23,802.32, 4,430 tons
  • Woonsocket, $15,611.36, 2,905 tons

In addition, the state delivered 284 tons and earned $1,384.94.

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