BRISTOL — While the price of the service remains the same, Bristol’s memorandum of agreement with the town of Hebron incorporates changes in the operation of the Bristol Transfer Station that selectmen have implemented over the past year.
The proposed agreement that Bristol selectmen sent to Hebron for ratification continues charging $22,500 a year to accept as much as 200 tons of Hebron’s household trash, other solid waste, and recyclables at the Bristol facility. If the amount dropped off exceeds 200 tons, Hebron would pay an additional $150 per ton, but past history has the town sending far less than that amount.
Since last year’s agreement was signed, Bristol has suspended recycling, due to the collapse of the recyclables market, which made it far more expensive to handle that material than it does to include it with the regular solid waste. Bristol does ask users to separate glass bottles and jars, which can be crushed and recycled.
Other changes in 2018 included adjusting the fees for the disposal of demolition material, appliances, and tires, although Hebron residents are likely to encounter only the increase in tire disposal costs, since the memorandum of agreement does not include commercial entities. Most Hebron residents also take advantage of curbside pickup, and those haulers do not dispose of the solid waste in Bristol.
The memorandum of understanding between the towns also modified the payment schedule. In the past, Hebron paid the bill in nine installments; the new agreement calls for Bristol to bill the town three times a year.
Town Administrator Nik Coates noted that the agreement may be modified to reflect future changes, such as resuming recycling if the market returns. Changing it during the year requires that both parties agree; otherwise, the changes would be incorporated into next year’s agreement. Each agreement is renewed on an annual basis, with the new agreement taking effect on April 1. There is a provision for either party to terminate the agreement with a 30-day notice.
Bristol is in the midst of a major reconfiguration of its transfer station, using funds from the termination of the Concord Regional Solid Waste/Resource Recovery Cooperative, of which Bristol is a member. When the cooperative closed the Franklin ash landfill, it was obligated to return money to the member communities, and Bristol established a revolving fund with those proceeds so it could use the money toward upgrading its transfer station.
There will be a new traffic pattern, new bins for trash and recyclables, and a new hut for the transfer station attendant. The site will provide more space for the highway department which currently abuts the solid waste storage.
Bristol hopes to eventually install scales to accurately weigh the material being dropped off at the transfer station, which will enable the town to more fairly distribute the cost of running the facility.
