Town Big on Recycling
By Martha Slater

The town of Rochester may have a relatively small population, but it’s big on recycling.

On the first Saturday of each month for the past year and a half, Brian Simoni of South Royalton, who works for Roger Vesper Trucking, has arrived at the town office parking lot to collect recyclables from town residents. When he began back in the summer of 2006, he only needed one dump truck to haul everything away. Eighteen months later, he’s also using a large trailer, and both of the vehicles are piled high each month.

"That’s pretty much double the load I used to take," notes, Simoni, a cheerful man who really believes in what he does. "Last month, in that one morning, I collected over 7,000 pounds of recyclables from folks here in Rochester. It’s amazing how much stuff we all produce! If a little town like this can recycle 7,000 lbs. of stuff in one month—and that’s just from the people who bring me their recyclables—that’s not everyone who lives here—then think how much recycling a big city like Burlington can produce."

"I think Vermont should have a bottle law like Maine does," Simoni adds as he hauls yet another full plastic barrel towards his truck. "If we did, then every can and plastic bottle for water, soda, beer, juice and things like that could be returned for at least five cents."

Parked next to the recycling truck each month is another truck waiting to receive bags of shredded paper or bags and bundles of clean newspapers. Rochester residents Alan Bond and Susie Smolen take turns being on hand to receive the paper, which is then taken to the Kennett’s Liberty Hill Farm, where it is used for cow bedding. The supply of sawdust traditionally used for cow bedding has become scarce and many dairy farmers are using shredded paper, as well. The paper needs to be non-glossy, clean and free of staples.

"It’s a good way to recycle and we’re helping out the only remaining dairy farm in our valley," Bond points out.

Bundled up against the cold wind gusting through the parking lot this past Saturday morning, Simoni and Bond joke around with each other as they help a steady stream of folks, and Simoni smiles as he says he doesn’t mind having to figure out how to fit everything when he leaves each month. In fact, he says he’s happy to have that problem.

"If every town put this much effort into recycling, just think what a difference it would make!"

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