Town staff outlines single‑stream recycling move and hauling contract work as transfer‑station changes loom

Town staff told the council that South Berwick plans to move to single‑stream recycling at its transfer station and is finalizing a hauling contract expected to come before the council in a future meeting.

Town Manager Tim explained the operational change: instead of residents dropping separated materials into multiple containers, recyclable materials would be consolidated into a single compactor or container at the transfer station and sorted at the receiving facility. Tim said the consolidation could reduce hauling trips and produce cost savings on transport even if vendor tipping rates rise: "It's gonna be a cost savings because it's gonna be all this haul," he said, adding the town is negotiating a multi‑year hauling agreement and expects to return proposals to council for approval, likely in February.

Staff said the transfer‑station layout will need minor changes to accommodate the reconfigured inbound traffic pattern — the recycling conveyors and compactors will be concentrated in one area and cardboard/paper in another — and that hours and staffing may be adjusted. Tim said the town runs one of the few transfer stations open four days per week and that adding an additional weekday or adjusting hours could improve customer flow while remaining budget neutral.

Councilors were told the new hauling contract has been negotiated and staff expect to present the final contract soon. Staff emphasized they had worked to limit increases and to secure a multi‑year arrangement that keeps costs manageable; a five‑year hauling contract and a longer transfer‑station ownership plan were discussed as the likely structure.

Ending

Staff will bring the finalized hauling contract and a formal transfer‑station operations proposal (hours, traffic pattern and equipment layout) to a future council meeting for action.