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Town to tighten Transfer Station pickups, explore covers and a gate to curb blown debris and nonconforming loads
Summary
Selectmen instructed staff to get written contract clarification from Waste Management on container pickup frequency, to explore container covers and to obtain quotes for a gate after staff found frequent half‑full pickups and nonconforming material in brush piles.
Town Administrator Jason Henry briefed the Board of Selectmen on April 20 about Transfer Station operations and waste contractor logistics. Henry said staff had identified frequent and sometimes partly filled container pickups that raised hauling costs under the current contract terms.
"The covers seemed kind of like expensive and heavy," Henry said in discussing options to limit windblown debris; staff will seek vendor catalog options for lighter mesh or pool‑style covers that could be installed over containers. Henry also said he will ask Waste Management to confirm in writing whether single‑stream or separated recycling routes are permissible under the existing contract, as staff plans to expand recycling options.
Board action and operational changes
The board instructed staff to obtain written confirmation from Waste Management about pickup and routing terms and to solicit quotes for container covers and for a gate to control access to the brush/yard debris area. Brush pile reduction (burning or chipping) was discussed; staff noted earlier piles contained nonconforming materials that complicate chipping and increase cleanup costs.
Next steps
Staff will request a written contract interpretation from Waste Management, gather quotes for covers and a gate, and return with cost and operational recommendations. The board also asked staff to re‑key access to the recycling building and to pursue a controlled access approach to reduce unauthorized or mixed materials being dumped in the brush pile area.
