Bigger is better.  Preliminary results from a pilot program in New Freedom have found that giving residents larger recycling bins significantly increases the amount of material that is recycled.  Borough residents have increased the amount recycled by 72 percent in the eight months since 22-gallon bins were distributed to replace 14-gallon bins. Residents also received educational materials as a reminder as to what can and cannot be recycled. 

"A lot of people will fill up their recycling bin, and if there isn’t another container handy, then it (recyclables) just goes in the trash,” said Ellen O’Connor, a spokeswoman for the York County Solid Waste and Refuse Authority. “(Larger bins) are a mechanism of convenience.”

The authority and Penn Waste, which provides waste and recycling collection services to New Freedom, will continue to monitor the amount recycled in the borough through August.  With 14-gallon bins, residents recycled 74.45 tons from September 2005 to April 2006. In the same period a year later with 22-gallon bins, residents recycled 127.99 tons.

Borough council president Brady Terrell said he was “pleasantly surprised” with the outcome.  “It makes sense though. More people are recycling because the bins hold more,” he said. “We’re very happy it worked out.”

The borough purchased 1,800 bins for $12,468. A grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection covered 90 percent of the cost as part of the pilot program. New Freedom paid about $1,200, or 10 percent.  O’Connor said the next step is to take the study to other municipalities in the county.  “Here’s an easy way, when (municipalities) renew their bins, to boost the recycling rate,” she said.

Model program: In a similar but separate initiative, the national Aluminum Can Council selected York County Solid Waste Authority and its Lancaster counterpart to participate in a campaign aimed at increasing people’s use of local curbside recycling programs.  The two counties are among 32 communities selected nationwide for the Curbside Value Partnership program. York and Lancaster counties’ efforts will be used as a model for the rest of the commonwealth.  The program is being sponsored by industries that benefit from increased production. Recycled aluminum, for instance, is cheaper to work with for the aluminum industry.

Along with magnets distributed to every household in the two counties, the curbside program will sponsor public service announcements on the radio and in newspapers.

-- Reach Charles Schil linger at 505-5431 or cschillinger@yorkdispatch.com.