Swansea public works outlines recycling pilot, equipment purchase and wastewater training plans

Public works staff provided the Board of Selectmen with a multi-part operations update that described a pilot for plastics recycling, equipment needs at the transfer station, ongoing shipments of glass to Canada and steps to complete wastewater operator certification and a phosphorus-removal pilot.

The update matters because the proposals affect the town’s recycling revenue, on-site operations and staffing: the recycling pilot could produce new bales for sale, a second skid steer would reduce rental costs and downtime, and the wastewater work affects regulatory compliance and operator certification timelines.

Josh (public works staff) told the board the transfer station has begun a 3–7 plastics pilot and is averaging “about a bin every week and a half” at roughly “60.70 pounds a bin,” and that the program will be evaluated after the first bale is produced. He said pricing and storage logistics remain under review and that the facility currently has limited space for additional balers. “We started the 3 through 7 classic pilot program,” Josh said, describing…