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Transfer-station manager reports plastics pilot, higher diversion rate and plans for new equipment
Summary
Transfer-station staff reported on a plastics pilot for #3–7 plastics, operational changes to baling and storage, training and certification work, an equipment request for a second skid steer, and an estimated rise in recycling revenue tied to several pending shipments.
Josh (staff member) gave a detailed operational report to the Board of Selectmen on the town transfer station's recycling operations, a plastics pilot project and equipment needs, saying the facility's diversion rate stood at 32.75 percent and that he expected higher revenue once current material bales ship.
The report covered staffing and training, including wastewater-operator certification work; a phosphorus-removal pilot sample program; a solar array installation expected to be operational “in a couple weeks”; and a pilot to collect types 3–7 plastics for baling. "We're averaging about a bin every week and a half," Josh said of the #3–7 plastics pilot, and he added the town is aiming to make a first bale before publicizing the program more widely.
Why it matters: changes at the transfer station affect municipal recycling revenue, the town's diversion rate and the services available to residents and small contractors.
Josh described the logistics challenges: limited indoor storage and the need to coordinate baling days, find temporary storage containers, and reduce contamination in mixed plastics. He said the town is shipping some material to a Canadian buyer and that shipment timing will shape when the facility can rebuild storage areas such as the glass bunker.
On equipment, Josh proposed purchasing a second skid steer with a rock bucket to reduce downtime, provide backup and cut rental costs. He said a new machine plus attachments would likely cost in the ballpark of the vendor quotes he discussed, and that a $5,000 grant program in New Hampshire (as he described it) could help defray the cost. He argued having a second machine would extend equipment life and reduce rental or emergency-repair expenses.
Josh also reviewed smaller capital and facility items: repainting and striping work, new facility signage, a front-gate sign replacement, repairs to fence gates, and rebuilding the glass bunker once a pending shipment clears. He reported current materials on site equal roughly 40–50 tons of recyclables waiting to ship and estimated 2025 recycling revenues could reach about $65,000, up from $58,000 last year: "I'm estimating 65,000. Last year, we did 58,000," he said.
He described changes to internal operations to reduce contamination and improve customer flow, and said staff plan to stagger rollouts (new windows and signage) so residents are not confused by sudden changes. He noted that full public rollout of the plastics pilot will wait until after the first bale and a storage solution are in place.
Ending: Selectmen asked procedural questions about pilot timing, drop-off logistics and whether used windows and storage could be sourced from residents; Josh said the staff will coordinate with contractors and volunteers and return with details when the first bale and equipment quotes are firm.
