We all turn into pumpkins Jan. 1.”

Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr.

PORTSMOUTH — With time running out on choosing Portsmouth’s future method of trash disposal, the Town Council Tuesday night set a date for a public workshop to weigh all options: Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

“Our current contract runs out Dec. 31,” Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. told the council. “We all turn into pumpkins Jan. 1.” 

The transfer station is operated by J.R. Vinagro Corp., but the company’s current contract extension with the town expires at the end of the year.

The scheduling of the workshop comes on the heels of a town-wide survey which shows residents are generally split between continuing to use the transfer station on Hedly Street, and switching to curbside pickup. 

A general overview of the survey, which is being used to help the town guide its decisions on managing waste going forward, was presented to the council by Richard Talipsky, the town’s director of business development. 

The survey and complete results can be viewed here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6.

The questionnaire was released June 29 and received 917 total responses — 751 online and 166 on hard copy. Of those who responded, 91.5 percent were year-round residents.

According to the survey, just under half of respondents said they would “prefer” or “definitely prefer” curbside pickup, with the transfer station used only for diversion items (construction debris, metal, tires, yard waste, etc.). 

Just under 44 percent of respondents said they’d “prefer” or “definitely prefer” keeping the transfer station the way it is. 

Respondents were also asked their feelings on instituting a pay-as-you-throw method at the transfer station or with curbside pickup. Under this system, residents purchase 33-gallon PAYT bags or special stickers for about $2 each.

This option wasn’t as popular, with about 30 percent saying they’d “prefer” or “definitely prefer” using PAYT as the transfer station with PAYT, and about a third favoring PAYT with curbside pickup.

Sampling questioned

Council member Elizabeth Pedro questioned the survey’s sample size, saying that 917 respondents didn’t sound like much when you consider that about 4,000 residents purchase transfer station stickers. She also pointed out that about 15 percent of those respondents said they don’t even use the transfer station, which further diminishes those numbers.

“I’m not even sure how they can answer a survey about the transfer station,” she said.

Council President Keith Hamilton, however, said the survey also addressed other options and that statistically, 917 respondents out of 4,000 is “a huge number.”

Ms. Pedro also questioned some of the information presented in the survey. “You used future costs for the transfer station versus present-day costs for curbside. That right there is going to sway people,” she said.

Local resident Larry Fitzmorris criticized the survey for not polling residents randomly, and said it appeared biased toward retaining the current method of trash disposal.

Another resident, Judi Staven, said the council should take more time to study the matter. “Isn’t this kind of a big decision to be rushing?” she asked.

Mr. Rainer acknowledged that the survey wasn’t perfect and that it shouldn’t be the only factor influencing the council’s decision

“This should just help inform your decision,” he said, adding that the council doesn’t have the luxury of time. “The survey will help drive you to an educated decision that’s best for the town in a timeline that helps us procure those services before the end of the year.”

Crossroads

The survey was sent out because the town is facing a crossroads on waste management. The cost of operating the transfer station is rising, while tipping fees imposed by the R.I. Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) are increasing sharply — from the current $39.50 to $47 next year.

Not helping matters is Portsmouth’s recycling rate of 20.6 percent — the fifth lowest in the state — which doesn’t translate into any rebates on tipping fees.

The transfer station is operated under an enterprise fund primarily financed from the sale of vehicle dump stickers. Residents in about 4,000 households currently purchase stickers for $160 per vehicle — and $10 for each additional vehicle per household — to deposit their trash there.