Essex Select Board Considers Resolution for Waste District Road Maintenance Costs
August 01, 2025 | Chittenden County, Vermont
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Equity in waste management took center stage during the recent Chittenden Solid Waste District meeting, as board members raised concerns about the fairness of current practices across the district. A key discussion point was the potential for the Essex select board to pass a resolution that would require the waste district to contribute funds for road maintenance used by residents disposing of trash.
One board member highlighted the disparity in costs, noting that Burlington's decision to manage its own recycling could lead to higher fees for those residents. "It seems inequitable across the district," they stated, emphasizing the need for a more balanced approach to waste management costs.
The conversation also touched on the absence of a current Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the waste district and Essex, which has complicated financial responsibilities. The board member pointed out that without a formal agreement, it remains unclear whether certain taxes should have been paid during gaps in documentation from 2008 to 2016.
This discussion underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable waste management practices in Chittenden County. As the board considers these issues, the implications for residents and municipalities could lead to significant changes in how waste disposal costs are structured in the future.
One board member highlighted the disparity in costs, noting that Burlington's decision to manage its own recycling could lead to higher fees for those residents. "It seems inequitable across the district," they stated, emphasizing the need for a more balanced approach to waste management costs.
The conversation also touched on the absence of a current Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the waste district and Essex, which has complicated financial responsibilities. The board member pointed out that without a formal agreement, it remains unclear whether certain taxes should have been paid during gaps in documentation from 2008 to 2016.
This discussion underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable waste management practices in Chittenden County. As the board considers these issues, the implications for residents and municipalities could lead to significant changes in how waste disposal costs are structured in the future.
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