Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transfer Station topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Select Board on recycling changes and transfer‑station costs
Summary
Residents and staff debated rising transfer‑station costs after Littleton stopped accepting Dalton recycling; Lisbon will accept limited materials for an estimated $10,000/year and contract language with Casella lists $55/ton for 'acceptable waste' but some quotes suggested higher rates — the board proposed more data and a committee to review options.
Dalton residents pressed the Select Board on Monday for clearer numbers and options after neighboring towns changed recycling arrangements that affect Dalton’s transfer station costs and services.
What was said: Staff reported that Littleton notified Dalton in November that it would no longer accept Dalton recycling as of Jan. 1. Staff said Lisbon had agreed to accept some recyclables (cardboard and No. 1 and No. 2 plastics) but that service would cost the town roughly $10,000 a year, according to an initial conversation. Residents and staff also flagged apparent discrepancies in quotes: staff said Casella’s contract language shows a rate of $55 per ton for “acceptable waste,” but other figures discussed in the meeting included a $176-per-ton number for certain categories.
Residents asked whether increasing the user-fee (blue-bag) price would cover the higher hauling and processing costs. Staff said Dalton currently charges $17 for a large roll and $11 for a small roll; neighboring towns’ fees vary and some are substantially higher. Board members said earlier work on the transfer station should be consolidated into a committee to collect data — volumes, vendor quotes and potential user-fee changes — and bring recommendations back to the board.
Why it matters: Rising transfer-station costs could either reduce net town revenue or shift costs to taxpayers. The board said they had already taken steps to limit access to only residents and were evaluating whether bag prices should be raised to offset costs.
Quotes and evidence: "Lisbon will accept some of our recycling... but it's gonna cost us about $10,000 a year," Kyle, a town staffer involved in transfer-station logistics, said. Jeanette noted that Casella’s written proposal categorizes recyclable materials under "acceptable waste," which suggests a $55/ton rate rather than the higher quoted figure. Multiple residents urged the board to provide written vendor comparisons and to consider a user-fee increase in lieu of raising taxes.
Next steps: The board said it would assemble more data, and residents urged forming a working committee to review options in time for decisions at a later meeting.
