SUBJECT: Staff Report
Title
Recycling Improvements
Body
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Todd Fessenden, Director of Public Works
FISCAL INFORMATION: N/A
Cost as Recommended:
Balance Available:
Budget Line Item Number:
New Appropriation Required:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: N/A
Recommendation
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER: Over the last year staff has noted increased difficulty in managing the Town Recycling Center. The challenges are due to a variety of circumstances including higher utilization of the Center, high volume of cardboard waste due to growth and moving supplies and illegal dumping. The Recycling Center currently is open 24 hours a day. This year we have increased pickups by the waste hauler from 2 to 3 days per week in an effort to keep up with waste.
The Recycle Center was originally intended for residential recycling however, at times, large loads are deposited in the containers from commercial businesses; which overwhelm the Center’s capacity. Typically, when capacity is reached individuals continue to deposit materials outside of the containers on the ground or on the walkways between containers. When such conditions arise the Recycling Center is shut down for safety reasons, as the walkways become unsafe or due to waste blocking the bins from being removed by the hauler (see attached photos for examples). Any materials blocking the bins results in the hauler leaving without a load on that scheduled day. We have also noticed an increase in illegal dumping (per Town Code 6-6-9: Litter Control) of materials ranging from waste oil, car batteries, toilets, sinks, mattresses and other items. Such illegal dumping also results in the waste hauler leaving without a load, and staff has to remove these items and transport them to the landfill. Additionally, on occasion, individuals deposit non-recyclable items into the bins themselves which results in the entire load being taken to the landfill.
The Recycling Center sits in a flood zone, and staff believes it needs to be relocated for the long term. We are working with the Sustainability Committee to analyze future alternatives but need to implement some improvements in the meantime to maintain some control over the location, in hopes of ensuring fewer closures for the public. We have obtained quotes to install a wrought iron style rolling gate at the entrance to the Recycling Center off of Briggs Street, which will also provide additional security to the South Water Reclamation Facility and adjacent Town properties.
We plan adjust the hours of operation to mirror the Cemetery hours (currently 6 AM to 9 PM in the summer and 8 AM to 5 PM in the winter). We also will have security cameras installed at the Recycle Center which will record the drop off location as well as the license plate of vehicles entering and leaving the location. Each of these installations fall under the amount of funds which would require Board approval, so we intend to move forward with these efforts using budgeted funds as soon as we can get contractors mobilized. This will likely be within the next month or two, and we will get notifications out to the community prior to implementing the changes.
ATTACHMENTS:
Photos of Recycle Center A & B