The Monitor has had several recent stories about the soaring costs towns are facing for solid waste disposal and recycling. In contrast to its neighboring states, New Hampshire has avoided a bottle/can return fee. I wonder if these fees (5 to 10 cents per item depending upon the state) reduce the total volume/weight of recycled material that towns in other states have to deal with? Would this help solve the problem our local towns are struggling to overcome? Is it time for our state Legislature to consider instituting a bottle/can return fee to lower the local tax burden that homeowners are facing? Some might argue this would increase costs for local stores and businesses, but our homeowners are about to bear rising costs if nothing is done. We should also start examining ways to encourage manufacturers and stores to reduce unnecessary packaging. Working to reduce the unnecessarily high tax burden to local homeowners should be a universal concern.
STEPHEN ELGERT
Bow