If Town leaders are looking to reduce waste-disposal costs in an environmentally responsible way, pay-per-throw is not the answer, in the opinion of residents who spoke at a public hearing Sept. 13, 2010.

Twelve speakers all opposed the idea of a pay-per-throw system, where residents would be allowed to dispose of household trash only in plastic bags they purchase from the Town. The price of the bag would offset what the Town pays to have garbage hauled and processed at the ecomaine trash-to-energy facility in Portland.

Officials are looking at pay-per-throw as a way to shift disposal costs from property taxation to user fees, and to encourage recycling. However, residents who spoke at the Sept. 13 council meeting favored keeping Cape Elizabeth's current recycling efforts, and warned of unintended consequences that pay-per-throw could bring.

Nearly all speakers said they view pay-per-throw as a tax. "I don't think it's a hidden tax - I think it's a tax," said Pat Bothel, 90 Ocean House Road. Bothel, like many others who spoke, said she was an avid recycler and said that the council should explore every other avenue to encourage recycling before adopting pay-per-throw.

Hunts Point Road resident Bruce Greenwood said that encouraging residents to buy plastic disposal bags, "to preserve their trash for generations to come", opposes the "green" economy touted by the state of Maine. "Instead of copycatting on this issue, why don't we become a leader in this issue and just become a green town?" Lockwood said.

The council has looked to other communities as examples of how pay-per-throw can encourage recycling. But speakers at the hearing warned of unintended consequences, such as illegal use of private dumpsters, and more trash thrown in the woods and into the recyling bins themselves.

The most common complaint, however, among speakers Sept. 13 was the cost of buying disposal bags. Unless the revenue the Town generates from selling the bags is tied to a decrease in taxes for waste disposal, "it starts to look, feel and smell like a hidden tax," said Hannaford Cove Road resident Richard Berman. Herb Dennison, a resident of Spurwink Avenue, said that unlike property taxes, fees cannot be claimed against income for tax purposes.. "I agree with that gentleman that it's just another way of raising revenue," Dennison said.

Ann Colbourn, Shore Road, said, "I wish I had something better to say than 'raise my taxes,' because I really don't want you to raise my taxes." But, neither did she want the Town to charge extra for services that most townspeople use regularly, she said.

Town Manager Michael McGovern said that Cape Elizabeth's recycling efforts have reduced the cost of waste disposal in recent years. Since fiscal 2007, Cape Elizabeth has had the largest percentage increase in recycling and the largest percentage decrease in solid waste among 11 ecomaine communities. Residents speaking at the Sept. 13 hearing urged councilors to continue recycling education so that trend can continue.

Anne Swift-Kayata, Town Council chair, said the council will again discuss pay-per-throw in light of public feedback at their workshop Nov. 1. She assured residents that the council was not poised to make a decision right away. "This has been a listening session," she said.

Exploring pay-per-throw is among the list of Town Council goals for 2010.

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• Council sets Sept. 13 hearing on 'pay-per-throw' waste disposal (08/17/10)