Selectmen back signage and staff support as transfer-station recycling review continues

A Ware resident urged the Board of Selectmen on June 22 to post signs at the town transfer station and otherwise protect staff from verbal abuse, and the board instructed staff and HR to prepare an informational memo and signage to reinforce respectful behavior.

"Our transfer station staff is here to help you. We do not, however, tolerate abuse, threats, or disrespectful behavior," the resident proposed as sample wording during public comment; she later identified herself as Helene Kirk of Mount Dearborn Road. Chair Jack Dearborn thanked her for bringing the suggestion forward and asked staff to follow up.

Jason, the town's department head who presented the transfer-station and recycling report, told selectmen the facility processed about 3,168 tons of material in 2024, including trash and recyclables, and that the town's recycling rate sits roughly in the mid-teens (around 15'16 percent) when counting scrap metal and other items the facility currently records.

He said market prices for commodities vary widely: paper has averaged roughly $0.09 per ton based on early loads this year while other loads required paying to dispose of material. Tipping fees paid by the town have risen from about $85 a ton toward $100 and could reach about $120 under the next contract, Jason said. He estimated that removing paper, cardboard and glass from the waste stream saved the town tens of thousands of dollars this year and generated several thousand dollars in revenue so far.

Selectmen and Jason discussed operational changes to increase diversion and reduce costs, including:

- Re-establishing outreach and public education to improve household recycling participation;

- Visiting higher-performing nearby towns to evaluate curbside or pay-as-you-throw models;

- Adding a scale to record inbound loads and to enable charging outside users (for example, institutions that currently bring regular loads) by weight; and

- Exploring expanded collections such as plastics and food-waste composting if cost-effective.

Board members noted that a scale and load data would provide the evidence needed to propose fees or adjustments in the next budget cycle. "Once we have data coming off the scale," Chair Jack Dearborn said, "we can portray that to them and decide how to approach charging outside users or adjusting the budget."

On the staffing and civility proposal, selectmen agreed that signage, clear rules, and a short HR-backed memo to transfer-station employees would help protect staff and clarify enforcement. The board directed the town administrator and HR coordinator to draft the memo and bring sample sign language to a future meeting; one board member volunteered to have the memo available for individual signatures before the board's next regular session.

The transfer-station discussion also covered school-generated loads; Jason said the town would collect data on school trips and that he expected a small number of weekly loads. The board discussed options including asking schools to budget for dumpsters or charging them by the ton once the scale data are sufficient.

The board did not take formal regulatory action at the meeting beyond directing staff to prepare communications and signage. Staff will return with draft language and data from the new scale when available.