Presque Isle officials remind residents of recycling changes

5 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — As people work on their spring cleaning projects, Presque Isle public works director Dana Fowler wants to remind them that the city’s recycling center on Missile Street is closed, but options remain for recycling various materials.

Aroostook Trusses, which purchased the recycling center property, has had some trouble with people continuing to drop off recycling materials and brush, despite signs explaining the closure, Fowler said.

Recycling receptacles for plastic, metal cans, paper and cardboard are located at the Presque Isle courthouse, city hall and Presque Isle landfill, as well as at the town offices in Mapleton and Washburn.

Presque Isle area residents also can bring other waste materials and recyclables to the landfill. No permits are needed for metal, tires, waste oil, wood or compostable debris, Fowler said.

There is no fee to dispose of compostable debris, which includes leaves, lawn rakings, prunings, and wood less than 0.5 inches in diameter. Branches larger than 0.5 inches in diameter and unpainted lumber comes with a $45 per ton fee.

There is also a $5 per item fee to recycle appliances with Freon, such as refrigerators and dehumidifiers.

In Presque Isle, scrap metal can be taken to metal recyclers such as Cowett’s Auto Recyclers on Davis Street.

The city of Presque Isle closed the Missile Street facility as of April 1, following the Presque Isle Landfill’s merger with the Tri-Community Landfill into Aroostook Waste Solutions, which operates a centralized recycling processing center in Fort Fairfield.

For information on recycling options, visit www.aroostookwaste.com.