The town of Westminster has overturned a controversial trash disposal payment system that voters adopted at town meeting in March.

Voters in two southern Vermont towns have called for a re-vote on a new system of paying for household waste disposal.

In an era of tight budgets, some communities are looking for innovative ways of dealing with household trash. Recently two southern Vermont towns adopted a new system that some say would save money and encourage recycling. Others say the idea itself should be thrown to the curb.

We tackle the question of what role manufacturers, consumers and government should play in reducing the amount of trash we create when we throw out packaging or old products. Also, a proposed Rail Spur in Middlebury would accommodate the OMYA Corporation's freight needs. And, celebrating the election of Madeleine Kunin 25 years ago.

Seven years ago Vermont had lofty goals for reducing its waste streams...but there's been no significant change since 2001. The plan was to reduce the waste stream by 50 percent by the year 2005. The state missed the mark, and currently Vermont diverts only about 30 percent of its waste. VPR's Mitch Wertlieb speaks with Cathy Jamieson of the Agency of Natural Resources about what's being done to help meet those goals.