With costs of recycling escalating, the town has been weighing its options for how to move forward affordably — and is currently looking at upgrading the town’s transfer station.

Recycling Ad Hoc Committee member and Legislative Councilman Ryan Knapp reported to the council at its March 16 meeting that the committee made a motion to continue recycling as it is now through at least the end of the year, while using American Rescue Plan money to improve the transfer station.

Knapp said the committee had “looked at the issues and challenges” around recycling, about costs of recycling glass, how much doesn’t get recycled in single stream recycling, and compared the efficacy of sorted recycling at the transfer station. Additionally, the committee looked at the economics of the current recycling through third parties versus at the transfer station.

“We looked at what we pay versus what other communities pay, as well as what the private sector pays, and which is more efficient,” said Knapp. “While we may do something in the future, we can’t put the cart before the horse.”

Knapp said that getting the transfer station in order and the infrastructure necessary for increased recycling is the first step for the town.

According to First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, recycling became an issue last year after one of the town’s contractors asked for price increases and the town put the contracts out to bid. The returned bids would have nearly doubled the cost of recycling pick-up in the town budget.

While the town was able to negotiate a lower price increase of $137,449 over the old cost of $687,449, that meant the budget line item was only increasing by roughly 30% as opposed to nearly 100%. The contract was through July 1; now the town will be looking to extend that through December 31.

The town has since been looking at alternatives to the current pick-up situation. If pick-ups are no longer offered, the town would need to provide increased ability to drop off recycling at the transfer station by increasing operating hours.

Rosenthal said that 43% of Newtown households participate in recycling pick-ups. Newtown pays a monthly fee for every household.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.