LINCOLN — The town has received $56,071 from the state’s recycling agency, a reward for increasing its recycling rate from 19 percent of all trash to 22 percent, state and local officials said.

The grant is the town’s share of a new profit distribution program run by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, the independent state agency that operates the Central Landfill and its recycling plant in Johnston. When the agency’s profits on the sale of recycled material increase, that increase is shared with the municipalities that sent recyclable trash to the plant.

Recycling rates among the state’s cities and towns ranged from Providence’s 11 percent to North Kingstown’s 34 percent, said Sarah Kite, recovery corporation director of recycling services.

“This is a credit to the good work of Dave Sale, the town’s recycling coordinator, and the employees of the Public Works Department for making Lincoln’s recycling program a continued success,” Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond said.

“We would also like to acknowledge the Town Council for supporting efforts to promote the town’s recycling program with a new amendment to the solid-waste ordinance that will help to encourage increased recycling,” he said.

“This unanticipated revenue will add to the excellent overall fiscal health of the town and help to offset declining local revenues in the current fiscal year,” he added.

Kite said the market for almost all recyclables was strong this year, with the exception of glass. She said the theory is that recycled glass is usually transported by truck to buyers, and with gas prices going up, that has become more expensive. Cardboard and aluminum were still selling well, she said.

While 20 percent-plus rates were welcome, Kite said the corporation believes mid-30 percent to 40 percent rates are achievable. Besides producing more money from the sale of recyclable material, Kite said selling trash means there’s less to be dumped into the Central Landfill, and that will extend the life of the state’s major landfill.

Almond said the town would be working to improve its 22-percent rate.

“Every community must work with Resource Recovery Corporation to increase the life of the state landfill and avoid a significant increase in the future of solid waste dumping fees,” he said. “The town intends to set increasingly higher goals for its recycling program, which will enable the community to receive a grea

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