Since September 2006, New Freedom Borough residents have been participating in a year-long pilot program aimed at determining whether larger recycling bins result in an increase in residential recycling.  The results are in and  borough residents have increased the amount of recyclable materials collected in the borough’s curbside program by 71 percent.

From September 2005 through August 2006, borough residents used old 14-gallon recycling bins and recycled a total of 108.86 tons of material.  Using new 22-gallon bins, borough residents recycled 186.03 tons of material from September 2006 through August 2007.  Residents also received educational materials in the form of recycling guidelines and an introductory letter to help them recycle the appropriate items. 

The pilot program was sponsored by the York County Solid Waste Authority and conducted in conjunction with Penn Waste which provides waste and recyclable materials collection service to New Freedom Borough.

New Freedom was selected for the program because of a number of factors.  In addition to being willing to participate, New Freedom contracts with a single hauler (making efficient data collection possible), they have been using the older style 14-gallon recycling bins for more than 10 years and were in need of new ones and New Freedom’s population also fit the number of bins available.

York County's recycling rate (based on 2006 reporting data) is 56.9 percent.  Although only 14 of York County ’s 72 municipalities are state-mandated under act 101 to provide curbside recycling to their residents, a total of 55 municipalities currently conduct curbside recycling programs.

Twenty municipalities offer drop-off recycling programs, 11 of which do so in conjunction with their curbside programs.  More than 85 percent of York County ’s population is participating in curbside and/or drop-off recycling.  Assistance is available from the Authority for municipalities interested in starting a recycling program in their community.  Interested municipalities may call the Authority at 717-845-1066.