How do we know that SMART will reduce trash volume and increase recycling?
According to the EPA, the average waste reduction reported by PAYT communities is between 25% and 45%. NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) reports these same findings in the 46 towns it has surveyed who currently have pay by bag programs. The closest towns to Bow who have SMART/PAYT programs, Raymond and Canterbury, both report reductions of 30-40%. Concord begins its program in July 2009 and expects even higher results as its current recycling rate is less than 12%.
