Wiscasset will sign a two-year agreement with Pine Tree Waste for single stream recycling, following action taken at the selectmen's meeting Tuesday night.

Former Selectman Ben Rines argued the contract should be reviewed first by the town attorney.

Another caution was raised by a resident and former candidate for selectman.

"I'm all for recycling," Larry Lomison said. "But does everyone know that the parent company of this company has had a number of lawsuits filed against it? The board of selectmen should exercise some due diligence before they sign this. Go on the Internet and look up Casella - you'll have your eyes opened."

Another former selectman candidate, Prior Morrell, said he had read "a 10-page abstract" on Casella which refers to a number of lawsuits that have been filed against the company. According to a website called "Concernedciti zens," in 2002, 116 towns in Maine sued Casella claiming the company violated an agreement; 13 towns in Maine sued the company in 1991; Saco sued the company in 2002; the Vermont Attorney General filed antitrust charges in 2002; and in October of 2006, the city of Saco, "after finding dealing with Casella was costing over $600,000 in legal fees… decided on an alternative disposal facility at an additional cost of $200,000 a year."

Morrell suggested selectmen look into the relationships the company has had in other towns.

Representing Pine Tree Waste, Karen McNaughton said she would address two concerns: relationships with other towns and lawsuits. She invited selectmen to visit any of the towns that are doing single stream recycling with the company, because they are all successful relationships.

"As far as lawsuits go, the higher up on the pole you go, the more exposure you get. I don't discredit the lawsuits, but if you're following local and state guidelines, you have a duty to look forward. We are the largest recycling company east of the Mississippi, and we haven't grown that big because we sue someone. If you're not happy with this trial agreement, the trial ceases. We will declare it null and void."

One resident questioned whether the contract could be cancelled because it doesn't say it in the agreement. Selectmen did not respond to either Morrell or Lomison, voting 5 to 0 to have Town Manager Arthur Faucher sign the agreement.

Under the agreement Pine Tree will take all recyclables except cardboard, which homeowners will no longer have to separate. There will be no cost for the service, and transportation costs are included. The town will put all of the recyclables in a container at the transfer station, and when it is full, 12 or 13 tons, the company will bring a tractor-trailer to the site, which will be loaded by town employees.

Transfer station superintendent Woodie Freeman said reducing the amount of trash that "goes into the hopper" by as little as 10 percent, could save the town $20,000 the first year. The idea behind single stream recycling, and why it results in less trash, is that more people are willing to do more recycling when they no longer have to separate all the different items.

Budget committee chairman Steve Mehrl pointed out that the town currently gets no money for the recyclables it sends to the Lincoln County Recycling Center.

In other action, the selectmen tabled a request for a special amusement permit from Lynn Cressey for the former Tuxedo Junction building on Route 1 until she meets with the police dept.; appointed David Lieser, Anne Leslie, Larry Barnes, Larry Lomison, and Dan Sortwell to the new Conservation Commission; opened mowing bids; agreed on getting insurance for the town boat from the Maine Municipal Association; appointed Duane Goud, David Nichols, and Bob Fairfield to negotiate with the town's union; elected David Nichols chairman and Nicole Viele vice chairman.