As Auburn looks to cut curbside recycling, will other towns be next?

Earlier this month the City Council voted unanimously to cut Auburn’s recycling program, arguing it was costly and underused. Rural recycling programs have struggled for years, but the news that Maine’s fifth-largest city, less than 45 minutes from Portland, can’t keep a curbside recycling program afloat caused hand-wringing among residents and advocates. So does the end of curbside recycling in Auburn mean other towns are likely to follow suit? Possibly. The list of Maine towns that have slashed recycling programs in recent years is long.