Portsmouth tightens up rules at transfer station

Yard waste will be limited from March 15 to Dec. 31

By Jim McGaw
Posted 11/13/18

PORTSMOUTH — In an attempt to clarify what’s allowed and what’s not at the town’s transfer station on Hedly Street, the Town Council Tuesday night approved a revised set …

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Portsmouth tightens up rules at transfer station

Yard waste will be limited from March 15 to Dec. 31

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — In an attempt to clarify what’s allowed and what’s not at the town’s transfer station on Hedly Street, the Town Council Tuesday night approved a revised set of rules for 2019 that was put together by the Solid Waste/Recycling Committee. 

Council member Dave Gleason put the matter on the agenda, saying some residents have recently expressed confusion about regulations and fee structures at the station. The issue come to light a few months ago, when a resident complained about the station’s ban on tarps — a move that was taken due to safety concerns.

“The whole intention was getting everything in black and white,” Mr. Gleason said.

A draft of the rules is available on the town’s website, although it may not reflect some minor changes made by the council Tuesday night. All rules are subject to change.

Perhaps the biggest change concerns yard waste disposal. Previously allowed year round at the transfer station, residents will now be limited to bringing leaves, branches, grass clippings, weeds and related items to the station from March 15 to Dec. 31. 

The reason is twofold: During the winter months, snow builds up at the transfer station, limiting the space available for the various bins. In addition, said Public Works Director Brian Woodhead, yard waste can often freeze and get stuck inside the trucks that haul refuse to the state landfill.

Eric Madison of J.R. Vinagro Corp, which operates the facility, said that ends up costing the town more money because someone has to pay to get the frozen yard waste dug out of a truck.

Ray Antaya, the town’s recycling coordinator who helped the committee formulate the new rules, said the change will put Portsmouth more in line with other municipalities.

The committee originally wanted to limit yard waste disposal through Dec. 15, but Council President Keith Hamilton pointed to the great number of leaves on the ground and the many still to fall. “There will still be a lot of people picking up leaves in mid-December,” he said.

C&D, ABC items

The rules also spell out regulations regarding construction/demolition (C&D) and asphalt, brick and concrete (ABC) items.

Annual sticker-holders receive four C&D and ABC passes provided by the Tax Collector’s Office on an as-needed basis. A pass is good for one load of C&D and/or ABC, to be disposed of in respective bins. Each load must be in containers and not exceed 32 gallons in volume. Additional loads may be deposited for a $50 per-load fee by purchasing additional passes.  

Council member Paul Kesson said he was concerned about the town limiting residents’ ability to dispose of these items. “Because, I don’t want to find it around town when the pass dries up,” he said, referring to illegal dumpers.

Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr., however, said what came through “loud and clear” during discussions about the transfer station was managing the disposal rules for construction and demolition items, which are often abused.

“C&D is out of control. This is not residential C&D, and that’s what we’re trying to stop,” Mr. Rainer said.

Mr. Madison, addressing a similar question about bulky waste, said the tighter ruled are needed to prevent visitors from “trying to throw away anything” — and in any bin.

“If you’re not on the town people, they’re going to try to get away with whatever they can get away with. It’s a very small percentage, but it’s always the same people,” he said.

Tire disposal

The cost to dispose of tires was set at $5 per passenger tire (less than 20 inches), and $10 per truck tire (20-24 inches). Rims must be removed beforehand. 

Mr. Gleason, citing the proliferation of tires found on the sides of roads, made a motion to reduce the disposal fee for a passenger tire to $3, but he didn’t get a second.

As for mattresses or box springs, disposal is free if the items are in clean, dry and recyclable condition, as determined by the station operator. If the items are deemed to be too wet, damaged or contaminated, or if the mattress container is full, the disposal fee is $70.

On an amendment proposed by Mr. Gleason, smoking will also be prohibited anywhere at the transfer station — not just inside the building. Another rule was tweaked to make it clear that tarps and trailers are banned altogether at the station.

Council member Linda Ujifusa praised Ted Pietz, chairman of the Solid Waste/Recycling Committee, Mr. Antaya and others who had a hand in putting together the revised set of rules, as well as a 25-page FAQ document that can be found on the town’s website.

Recycling rate over 40%

In a related matter, the town’s recycling rate was 40.1 percent as of Oct. 31, according to a report submitted to the council by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation.

Portsmouth has tipped 717 refuse tons (13 percent) of its 5,520-ton cap, and had delivered 481 tons of recyclables to the state landfill, according to RIRRC.

Portsmouth’s recycling rate was under 16 percent in October 2017, but rates improved after an educational push and the switch to a pay-as-you-throw program at the transfer station in February 2018. So far, the town’s highest recycling rate recorded wed 45.8 percent, in June of this year.

Portsmouth Town Council, Portsmouth transfer station

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