The increase in recycling and decrease in trash disposal comes after Vermont's universal recycling law, which was passed in 2012, mandated all Vermonters to start recycling by July 2015. Vermonters were banned from throwing away paper, aluminum, cardboard, steel cans, glass bottles and jars, and hard plastic bottles and containers.

Trash haulers were also mandated to begin curbside collection of recyclables.

"Since state recycling kicked in, we've seen a huge jump in recyclables from both residential and commercial customers," said Jeff Myers, president of Myers Container Service. "Most people already did this, but now there is a little extra motivation."