Dive Brief:

• The expense of operating a municipal recycling center has prompted the town of New Milford, CT to consider privatizing the facility.
• Initially constructed to prevent illegal dumping, the facility is less expensive for residents than regular curbside collection, but is not self-sustaining. 
• Mayor Pat Murphy is establishing a committee to weigh privatization and the options available to the town. 

Dive Insight:

If New Milford privatizes its recycling center, it will be the first town in the area to do so. The mayor of Quincy, Ill tried to establish privatization for its recycling services, but residents opposed the change. The mayor of Quincy estimates the city could lose $1 million annually by sticking to its current waste and recycling plan. Detroit, MI recently privatized its waste services, which included adding recycling collection to the plan. The final waste and recycling agreement did not save the city money, but did provide residents with services not previously available.