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Richmond staff cites rejected recycling loads and limits of current infrastructure as driver of higher costs
Summary
Richmond staff told the joint councils that moisture, mixed loads and limited oversight are driving rejected recycling loads and fines; staff said weekly loads rose from about five in 2022 to 13–15 on busy weekends and that hauling/scale and dumpster investments are needed.
Richmond staff described how a combination of weather, mixed loads from commercial haulers and limited on‑site oversight have led to rejected recycling loads and administrative fines, each cited at about $250. "We just received a rejected load this morning," a staff member said, noting that rejected loads are costly to pull, rework and, when identified only at the state facility, can result in fines and disposal charges.
Staff told both councils that the transfer station's usage has increased — from roughly five loads a week in 2022 to 13–15 a week on holiday weekends — and that the town lacks covered infrastructure and extra dumpsters needed to hold or separate wet loads. Staff recommended capital improvements (canopy/roofing, more dumpsters, scale equipment) and additional staffing to reduce rejected loads and hauling costs.
