WILTON — Zero-sort recycling will begin either on Sept. 15 or the 22, depending on when a new compactor is installed at the Transfer Station.

The compactor is ordered and in New Hampshire awaiting installation of a chute, Town Manager Rhonda Irish told selectmen Tuesday. Electrical work and bins for the new style of recycling are already in place at the Transfer Station.

Now the town needs to start teaching the public what and how to handle recyclables. Fliers are expected to arrive for the town to distribute this week, she said.

Zero-sort, also known as single-sort, has all reyclables are placed together in one bin. Recyclables still need to be clean but not separated as previously required, Irish said.

Recyclable items include paper, newspaper, plastics (numbers 1-7) and tin cans. Regular garbage is not included.

A few residents informally polled last week at the Transfer Station were under the impression that zero-sort means everything, including last Sunday’s leftover dinner, is mixed together, board Chairman Terry Brann said.

Recyclables will be hauled to Lewiston for transport to Massachusetts.

Selectman Tom Saviello said he expects the rate of recycling will go up and save the town money.

The board signed three-year contracts with Casella-Pine Tree Waste and with the city of Lewiston that allows Wilton to haul recyclables to Lewiston’s facility. Bids are out for a hauler to take the recyclables to Lewiston, Irish said.

The Recycling Committee has reviewed the town’s 1998 recycling ordinance. Under the ordinance, a fee structure is set up for failure to separate recyclables from the trash. The fees are $2 per trip for individuals or $10 for larger vehicles. Although it’s in the ordinance, no fees have been charged, Irish said.

The board discussed enforcing the fees for not separating recyclables from trash after a grace period for residents to learn about the new system.

Saviello expressed concerns about the ability to purchase transparent trash bags, where money from the fees would go and how it could be done consistently.

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