Skowhegan board sends updated solid-waste ordinance to town meeting amid debate over clear trash bags and commercial haulers

The Skowhegan Select Board voted May 26 to place a revised solid-waste ordinance on the town-meeting warrant after a long public hearing and discussion of several substantive updates. The draft replaces language last updated in 2002 and moves several operational decisions out of the ordinance and into administrative rules and a fee schedule.

Town staff member Cindy, who led the presentation, said the revision was intended to modernize the code and reduce the need for repeated ordinance amendments. "The last time it was updated was 2002," she said, and described changes that include a new definition of "average food waste," shifting the commercial hauler licensing authority to the town manager, and removing a detailed, enumerated list of recyclable materials in favor of a publicly posted list that can be updated as markets change.

The board and residents focused most of their questions on two areas: enforcement of separation requirements for commercial haulers and a provision in the draft that requires transparent trash bags at the transfer station so staff can perform visual inspections. Amber, a select board member, pressed staff on whether the ordinance’s applicability language would allow the town to hold haulers accountable for co-mingling waste that originates in Skowhegan but is hauled and tipped elsewhere. Brian, who advised on applicability, said the ordinance language is intended to cover "any producers of solid waste in the town of Skowhegan," which the town could use to require compliance by businesses and haulers.

The transparent-bag provision drew strong public reaction. One resident said the rule "seems like a dangerous amount of control" if enforced strictly; others said clear bags can help inspectors spot hazardous material and protect transfer-station staff. Cindy said the transparent-bag wording "has been in there for 24 years" but acknowledged it had not been routinely enforced and that staff would need direction on how rigorously to apply it.

Other notable updates in the draft include clearer authority for the solid-waste supervisor to close the facility during severe weather or emergencies, revised language on prohibited hazardous materials (with clarified treatment of dead animals), and a formal approach to reuse activities at the transfer station that limits such activity to designated areas and places liability for injury or loss on the person taking reused items.

The board voted to place the draft ordinance on the warrant; the motion passed as announced by the chair. That action sends the proposed ordinance to the town legislative body for final approval at the upcoming town meeting, where voters may adopt, reject, or request further changes.