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Town Hall
16 School St.
Allenstown, NH
603-485-4276
Check town web site for current business hours.
End of Curbside Recycling
Dateline: Jul. 29, 2024
At the February 3, 2024 Deliberative Session, Allenstown voters learned about the drastic cost increases coming after August 26th for collection and disposal of recyclables. This marks the end of the town's 10-year contract with Casella Waste Systems. A new, more expensive, three-year contract is to go into effect at the beginning of September.
They voted to cut costs by eliminating curbside recycling, which eliminates the cost of those weekly recycling trucks. Some voluntary recycling may continue at the Transfer Station on Granite St.
As a result, Casella will retrieve all recycling barrels beginning on August 26. In addition, recycling will no longer be mandatory.
A comparison of before and after costs demonstrates why this change offers the most cost effective solution for taxpayers and the least impact on weekly trash operations.
| Current Collection Costs | Trash: | $134,000 / yr. |
| Recyclables: | $0.00 / yr. | |
| Current Disposal Costs | Trash: | $ 76.00 / ton |
| Recyclables: | $0.00 / ton | |
| Future Collection Costs | Trash: | $189,000 / yr. |
| Recyclables: | $0.00 / ton (savings of $189,000 / yr.) | |
| Future Disposal Costs | Trash: | $110.00 / ton |
| Recyclables: | $179.00 / ton minus market value (varies from week to week) |
Currently about 400 tons of recyclables are collected per year. With a future collection cost of $189,000 per year, that equates to $472.50 per ton just to collect the recyclables.
What You Can Do
If you wish to continue your own recycling, then you will need to obtain your own barrel. When you visit the Transfer Station to dispose of trash, brush, yard waste, or other materials, you can empty your recycling barrel at the same time. Otherwise, you can put recyclables in your trash barrel.
Prepare for the changes and decide how you want to deal with your own recyclables.