CLINTON -- The Board of Selectmen has approved a cost-saving initiative in which Kennebec County Jail inmates sort recycling from trash at the Clinton/Benton Transfer Station and Recycling Center.

Town Manager James Rhodes said last Tuesday night's vote was 4-0 in favor of the program. Since its inception a month ago, the program has saved Benton and Clinton taxpayers about $450, he said.

Sheriff Randall Liberty, who initiated the plan, made a presentation during the meeting. Discussion lasted about 45 minutes, Rhodes said.

"We're just trying to separate recyclables from trash," Rhodes said. "We will do it all winter."

Rhodes said Benton town officials approached him with concerns from a few residents that the inmates might be going through people's personal items during the process.

"Some townspeople complained that they didn't like the inmates going through their trash," he said, "but when trash leaves a person's house, there is absolutely no expectation of privacy."

Inmates who work at the transfer station are not hardened criminals, and they get a day off their sentences for every two days they work, Rhodes said. They do different chores in other communities during the warmer months, he said.

The inmates work four hours a shift, up to four days a week, Rhodes said.

Rhodes said he had authorized the program but wanted to address the public's concerns.

"I put it on the agenda to get a final say from the selectmen," he said.

Transfer station manager Gerald Howard said he is confident the inmates are not inspecting people's personal records.

"They're strip-searched afterward," Howard said. "There's nothing they can take with them.

Howard, who has worked for 18 years at the transfer station, said recycling is voluntary in town. It has been difficult to convince people to recycle, he said. Renters tend to recycle less because they do not pay property taxes, he said.

For every pound of material that goes into the recycling stream, Howard said, that is one less pound the towns pay for trash going to Penobscot Energy Recovery Center in Orrington.

"I am very happy with this program," he said. "I like getting the recyclables out of the trash instead of sending it to PERC."

Larry Grard -- 861-9239

lgrard@centralmaine.co