The Bristol Town Council will consider a mandatory recycling policy for all residents at their meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Typically referred to as the "no bin, no barrel" rule, the proposed ordinance would require residents to put out their recycling bin along with their trash every week. The town can impose fines and refuse to remove a resident's  trash if that resident doesn't comply.

Ordinance violators will be issued a warning for the first offense, and fined up to $25 for a second offense, up to $100 for a third offense and up to $500 for each and every offense thereafter to be paid to the town.

The town will also require the separation of recyclable materials as a condition of licensing or authorizing public events "at which significant solid waste may be generated."

Bristol Town Clerk Lou Cirillo said the ordinance, if followed, could save town money at the landfill in Johnston.

"The cost to bring the recycling materials to the central landfill is basically very little because it's only the transportation part," Mr. Cirillo said.

"The cost to send trash to the central landfill is very expensive. You have to transport it and then pay them to leave it there."

If residents are vigilant about recycling they'll throw less recycling materials in the trash. The town will take less trash to the landfill and, theoretically, save money in the process.

If approved, the new policy will begin in 2016.

The Bristol Town Council meets on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Bristol Town Hall Council Chambers. Click here for the full agenda.