QUESTION: Are You Recycling in Havre de Grace?

During last week's City Council meeting, green-conscious Councilwoman Barbara Wagner revealed some figures on recycling in Havre de Grace.

Wagner said Havre de Grace is well behind the national average when it comes to recycling percentage against overall waste production. The city's recycling rate varied greatly over the past year, she said.

"We are as low as 12 percent last August and as high as 22 percent, which was last December," Wagner said. "At best, we're way below the national recycling rate. At our worst, we're embarrassingly low."

The national rate is 34.1 percent.

"Our fee at the dump is continuing to rise. As time goes on, it's going to cost us more and more," Wagner said. "We're paying for history, really. There's so much trash generated, it's become so costly."

Wagner said more than 37 percent of waste produced nationwide is paper-based and oftentimes recyclable. 

Havre de Grace offers city-wide recycling on Thursday and yard waste pick-up service on Fridays.

Read more about city trash and recycling service here.

Wagner is an advocate for composting waste, as well.

"We can't do anything about yesterday but we can start today," Wagner said.

Sounds like a challenge, no?

We want to hear from you.

TELL US: Do you recycle? Could you recycle more? What would help you to recycle more? Leave a comment.