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Millis officials outline transfer station hours, fees and services ahead of summer season
Summary
Public works director reviewed transfer station operations, seasonal hours and fees; board heard that the site accepts mattresses and furniture for fixed fees, hazardous‑waste disposal is available via Norfolk transfer station, and the town is planning a compactor upgrade grant application.
Public Works Director Jim McKay gave the Select Board a detailed update May 19 on the town transfer station, including summer hours, common fees and services the facility provides.
McKay said the transfer station is an important municipal service that is not fully self‑funding and described permit fees and per‑item charges the town uses to offset costs. He told the board that mattresses and similar bulk items carry a $25 fee each and that the transfer station sells official trash bags that help offset operating costs.
McKay said the station will expand Wednesday hours starting June 1 so the facility remains open until 6:45 p.m. on Wednesdays to accommodate residents who work during the day. He described the station’s regular daily windows as opening at 8:30 a.m., closing briefly at 11 a.m. for lunch and reopening at noon. Saturday operations close at 4 p.m., McKay said.
He reviewed hazardous‑waste options: Millis residents may use an intermunicipal arrangement to bring toxic household wastes to the Norfolk Transfer Station between May and September; fees McKay cited for that service were $35 for a half‑car load and $75 for a full carload. McKay also said the transfer station accepts leaves and brush and that compost and some recycled mulch are offered free to residents.
McKay said the site uses two compactors (trash and cardboard) and that he has applied for a grant to purchase an additional compactor to improve accessibility for older residents; he noted that more than half of current permit holders are age 62 or older. He said the town will review permit pricing in January to ensure fees better cover rising disposal costs.
Board members and residents had follow‑up questions about what items are accepted (McKay said the transfer station does not accept items containing Freon and pointed listeners to the DPW webpage for a full list) and about latex paint disposal (McKay said latex paint can be allowed to dry and then placed in regular trash if the can does not leak).
