Town to keep close eye on dump

HEBRON — People have been throwing recyclables in the trash bins at the transfer station, said town employee Stephen Harrington at the Board of Selectmen meeting Monday.

Harrington requested that the town switch over to clear trash bags to keep a better eye on what items are being thrown into the bins.

"It's not a bad idea, but it slows everybody down because they are looking at what's in the bags," said Selectman Dan Eichorn. "In Paris, they look at every bag, and if you have recycling they make you stop and take it out and put it in the recycling to minimize what they have for trash. I can't see us doing that; it slows everything down."

Harrington said that all four bins are in use at the transfer station in order to keep up with the flow of traffic. In the past, only two bins were in use at a time, he said, which was not enough for the amount of items coming in.

"It was so we could keep a closer eye on people, but it just gets backed up," he said. "I think in the future, maybe in the spring, we should start going with the clear bags. There will probably be issues with some people in the town, but they are throwing away a lot of things they shouldn't be."

He said that recyclables, including metal, are being thrown into the trash bins.

Eichorn said that, when Paris switched over to clear bags, recycling increased by 5 percent; but he did not know if switching to clear trash bags would clear up the issue.

Selectman Jim Reid suggested going back to only having a couple bins open at the transfer station, which would allow employees to carefully screen all the items. Harrington said that he would rather not see the cars get backed up, versus letting a few recyclables go into the wrong bin.

"It's unpredictable," said Harrington. "You just don't know when people are going to bring a bunch of stuff in. This last Tuesday and Thursday, the bins only had to be dumped once. This time of year it's going to be slower."

Board members also discussed the placement of items in the roll off trash bins. Selectman Dick Deans said that bins have actually been weighing less, because they are not being packed nearly tight enough.

"If somebody comes in with two-by-fours and they don't get laid flat and are up against the side, the next stuff that goes in is going to be bridged, and you won't get it down where it belongs," he said.

Reid said that transfer station employees should be breaking up the larger items, like furniture and plastic totes, before throwing them into the bins. It would create more space and would cost less, since one less bin would have to be dumped, he said.

"It's costing us a lot to transport a bulky load that's full of air," he said.

Reid also asked Harrington whether the two eyewash stations at the transfer station were being properly maintained. Harrington said that they are currently out of order, as the winter temperatures have caused them to freeze.

Reid suggested to Harrington that he bring home the eyewash stations to prevent them from freezing. He also mentioned possibly purchasing a new set.

"I'd hate to have someone come in there that's dumping something and have to wash their eyes out," said Reid. "I'd hate to have to say, 'Oh, sorry [it's] frozen.'"

Eichorn said that he would talk to transfer station employees about being more willing to educate residents about what to recycle and where it belongs.

Eichorn reported that, as far as Hebron's recycling weight per capita, Hebron fares well against the other towns in Oxford County.

In other news, the board:

• Signed an agreement to pay for the fees associated with renting a trash bin for the transfer station.

• Heard from Reid that the town is currently trying to figure out how to better budget its money, in order to fix up town roads and to replace some of its equipment.

• Heard from Selectman Dick Deans that the state requires each town to have a local health officer. Deans reported that if one isn't appointed by the town, then the state will appoint one, which usually ends up being the chairman of the board or the town manager.

• Announced that the Budget Committee Meeting is scheduled for February 1 at 7 p.m. at the Hebron Town Office.