Above: In less than a month, you’ll need a new sticker on your windshield to use the Transfer Station. And you’ll need to follow new rules when you do — especially at the Swap Shop. (images by Beth Melo)
This month, the Select Board voted to approve the new rules for the Transfer Station. The rules apply to the 2026-27 that opens September 15th.
The rules for Transfer Station users include more options and clarified restrictions for “temporary permits”, additional penalties for rule violations, and new prohibitions on items that can be left at the Swap Shop.
That’s on top of the increased permit fees for the stickers.
As I posted in July, the price for the “1st permit” per household will increase by $25 for all users. For non-seniors the change goes from $295 to $320 and for seniors it increases from $50 to $75.
Permits for additional permits will be $25 per vehicle. That’s static for non-seniors but a $10 increase for seniors. (You can read about the cost increases behind the fee changes here.)
The new rules aren’t yet posted on the Town’s website, but you can find details and links for purchasing tickets for the coming year here.
At a July 7th meeting, Select Board members debated changes that had been proposed by DPW Superintendent Bill Cundiff. Some members objections and their own suggestions. The board decided to put off voting on the rules.
Between then and the August 11th meeting, Cundiff continued to communicate with members Andrew Pfaff and Tim Fling and his staff to try to find consensus on rules that make sense for the DPW and community.
Last week, Fling said that Cundiff’s final version largely incorporated his concerns. He echoed a comment by member Sam Stivers, that while there were some changes he’d make, he wouldn’t “quibble” over them.
A prohibition included by Cundiff that Fling had argued against in July was the elimination of allowing child car seats to be dropped at the Swap Shop. Cundiff again included the prohibition on his final list approved by the board. He explained that it was based on the Board of Health sharing the American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice not to re-use car seats without knowing where they came from.
Last month, Fling had agreed with that advice but advocated for allowing the drop-off anyway. He highlighted that Target offers buyers a trade-in credit for old car seats. He believed that many residents trade the old seats in for the discount. He didn’t try to make that case again last week.
The board adopted the new rules unanimously.
Below are changes worth highlighting.
Temporary Passes
The section on temporary passes includes new rules consistent with the purpose:
Temporary passes are available to valid permit holders who need to use an unpermitted vehicle. . . intended solely for use by the permit holder. . .
Temporary passes are for short term household use only, such as use of a rental vehicle, borrowed vehicle, or vehicle temporarily replacing a permitted vehicle. Temporary passes may not be used by contractors, landscapers, haulers, businesses, non-residents, or for commercial waste.
They are available for $15 per day or $25 for a week. You can find more details on page 3 of the rules.
Violations & Penalties
I was surprised to see that the first few words of newly specified prohibited activities:
Users must not loiter, block traffic, interfere with staff or volunteers. engage in abusive. threatening, or disruptive conduct, dump after hours, leave materials outside designated containers or buildings. or remove items from areas not
expressly designated for public reuse.
At the board’s July 7th meeting, member Sam Stivers noted that he could be prohibited as frequently “loitering” at the Transfer Station. For years, Stivers has frequently used the Transfer Station to engage with voters and get feedback on issues they are concerned about.
Board members and Cundiff had indicated they would look at refining that language.
As for the fines and violations section, the rules add:
In addition to fines authorized under Chapter 36, the Superintendent may suspend or revoke Transfer Station privileges for repeated or egregious violations. The Town may recover costs incurred to remove, handle. transport. recycle, or dispose of improperly placed, abandoned, rejected, or prohibited materials. No new Transfer Station permit will be issued while tines or assessed disposal costs remain delinquent.
Swap Shop Rules
For those unfamiliar, the Swap Shop is three sheds where permitted Transfer Station users can drop off items they hope someone else will re-use.
Among the items that will no longer be allowed at the Swap Shop are glass and breakable items, including glassware, mirrors, picture frames with glass, and lamps with glass components.
Allowance of furniture had been debated. The compromise was allowing some furniture with approval of DPW staff. Ones that may be prohibited include items “too large or heavy to be safely handled or stored”, ones determined “unsuitable for reuse”, and upholstered furniture in poor condition.
Toys and games with missing pieces, sharp edges, or safety hazards won’t be allowed. Protective sporting gear won’t be allowed. But some sporting equipment appropriate for re-use may be.
And, as I mentioned earlier in the post, child car seats will no longer be allowed.
You can read the full list of new rules here.
