KENT—The selectmen voted to initiate new procedures at the town’s transfer station during their Wednesday, May 22, meeting. On July 1, the town will transition permanently to a unit-based pricing and organic food scrap collection system.
Permits to access the transfer station have been significantly reduced in price for all users. Users will now pay for the amount of trash generated in their own homes and will be required to use town-issued trash bags. The cost of the bag covers the cost of disposal per user.
Users will be able to choose how many bags they wish to purchase with their permit and may purchase additional rolls of bags throughout the year. Bags will be available in various sizes at the transfer station.
The town is currently waiting for its shipment of bags.
There is a $50 fee for a transfer station permit, but those using curbside services or who do not purchase transfer station permits can still buy an organics-only permit. The town is participating in a state program designed to get food scraps and other organic materials out of the waste stream, thereby reducing the weight of municipal solid waste (MSW). The town pays the Housatonic Resource Recovery Authority to process its MSW and is charged for each ton of material hauled away.
Residents can purchase bags when they get their permits. Fees are: $32.50 for 26 13-gallon kitchen bags (approximately 1/2 bag a week or 75 cents per week); $65 for 52 13-gallon kitchen bags (approximately one bag a week or $1.25 per week); $104 for 104 13-gallon kitchen bags (approximately two bags per week or $2 per week), and $130 for 52 32-gallon kitchen (equivalent to 2.5 13-gallon bags or $2.50 per week).
There is a $26 discount for purchasing 104 bags with the permit.
The cost of a food scrap collection kit is $20. Food scrap collection kits include a six-gallon carry container, a 1.5-gallon kitchen bin, and two rolls of biobags.
Additional bags will be available for purchase at the transfer station. Costs will be $16.25 for a roll of 13, 13-gallon bags ($1.25 per bag); $32.50 for a roll of 13 32-gallon bags ($2.50 per bag); $80 for a roll of 20 55-gallon bags ($4 per bag); $2.50 for a roll of 25 compostable bags for food scraps.
The orange bags used during the pilot program can still be used.
