Transfer Station

OPERATIONAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICES FOR
THE WAKEFIELD SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY

I. TITLE AND AUTHORITY

This ordinance shall be referred to as "Town of Wakefield Transfer Station and Recycling Center Ordinance" (“Ordinance”). It is adopted pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Town by RSA 149-M:17, II.

II. SCOPE AND LOCATION

These rules and regulations cover the collection, separation and disposal of all solid waste generated in the Towns of Wakefield and Brookfield and establish a fee system for the disposal of selected solid wastes at the solid waste management facility (hereinafter "Facility") located on 330 Rines Road, Wakefield, New Hampshire.

III. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Ordinance is to:

A. Ensure efficient and economical disposal of solid waste generated in the Town of Wakefield.

B. Ensure compliance with all environmental laws.

C. Minimize solid waste that must be transferred or disposed of at an approved facility by maximizing recycling.

IV. POLICIES

A. Hours of Operation: The Facility shall be open during such other times as the Board of Selectmen shall determine after public hearing. The current standing schedule is set forth below:

Days Hours
Monday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Burnables: Items appropriate for the burn pile shall be disposed of prior to 12:00 noon during normal hours of operation. During periods of high risk of fire danger, no burn pile materials will be accepted.

Holidays: The Facility shall be closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, and Christmas.

Disposal of any items at the Facility except during hours of operation is prohibited. Any person leaving items at the gate or when the Facility is closed shall be prosecuted in accord with section IX "VIOLATION AND PENALTIES".

B. Safety: Disposing of solid waste can be a dangerous job. Splinters from wood, broken glass, rusting scrap metal, sharp objects, etc. are potentially dangerous and shall be handled with care. No person shall loiter in the vicinity of the auger compactor while in operation. All persons using the Facility shall follow the directions of the attendant and adhere to the following safety procedures:

1. All persons shall wear appropriate footwear while on site. Bare feet are absolutely prohibited.

2. All children (under the age of 16) shall be accompanied by an adult.

3. No person is allowed to enter any prohibited, restricted or closed area, or climb onto any drop off container or wall.

4. Vehicles within the Facility shall be limited to a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour.

5. Removal of items from the Facility or "dump picking" is prohibited until such time as an area for a swap shop is designated.

6. Persons entering the Facility do so at their own risk.

C. Separation of Materials: All waste materials deposited at the Facility shall be separated into categories listed in Section V or as directed by attendants. Unseparated materials will not be accepted.

D. Transfer Station Permits: All vehicles entering the Facility are required to display a transfer station permit.

1. Permits can be purchased at the Town Offices.

2. Permits are for two (2) years and expire on January 31 in any even numbered year.

3. Permits shall be issued only to residents and taxpayers upon presentation of a current and valid automobile registration and the required fee in accord with Schedule "A.”

4. The permit shall be permanently affixed to the lower corner of the passenger side of the vehicle's windshield and shall be visible at all times.

5. Renters (year-round) shall show proof of residency from their landlord in order to obtain a permit.

6. Temporary permits for non-residents (such as seasonal renters, etc.) or out-of-town contractors hauling solid waste generated within the Town boundaries are available at the Town Offices. In either event, the owner of the property shall obtain the permit for the user of the temporary permit.

7. If a vehicle to which a permit was affixed is traded or sold, or if the owner wishes to affix a permit to a different vehicle, a new permit will be issued to the vehicles owner provided the owner continues to be a resident and/or taxpayer of the Town and the old permit is turned in. Otherwise, a replacement fee will be assessed in accord with Schedule "A.”

V. ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS AND SEPARATION PRACTICES

The items set forth under Schedule "A,” Part II shall be separated (this is mandatory) and placed in designated containers or locations after payment of any required fee.

VI. UNACCEPTABLE MATERIALS

A. General: The following materials will not be accepted at the Facility:

1. Tree trunks and limbs or brush greater than five (5) inches in diameter.

2. Industrial waste, household hazardous waste, asbestos, medical and veterinarian waste, liquids of any kind, radioactive waste, explosives, or toxic substances, except as listed on Schedule "A".

(NOTE: The Town provides for disposal of household hazardous waste one time per year (typically Spring) at no cost. Residents must store their waste and dispose of it during this annual event.)

(NOTE: Industries generating solid waste are responsible for legally disposing of these wastes on their own.)

3. Dead animals or carcasses of any kind.

4. Stumps.

5. Solid fill, including brick and concrete demolition debris.

6. Junk cars, engines, chassis, transmissions, axles, etc.

7. Propane tanks larger than 20lb capacity.

8. Acetylene and oxygen tanks.

9. Unseparated trash (commingled household trash and recyclables)

10. Any material which in the opinion of the Solid Waste Attendant constitutes a serious hazard to other users, to the property of the Town or to the operation of the property of the Town, or to the operation of the Facility.

VII. PAYMENT OF FEES

A. Permits: Fees for permits are payable to the Town Clerk upon receipt of permit. See Schedule "A" for applicable fees.

B. Disposal and Payment Procedures:

For those items that require the payment of an additional fee as set forth on Schedule "A", the following procedures shall be followed:

1. The attendant shall inspect items to be disposed.

2. The required fee is to be paid prior to disposal of items. Personal checks or cash are acceptable.

3. The attendant shall give a signed, numbered receipt upon presentation of payment.

4. The item(s) shall be disposed at the designated area.

VIII. SEPARABILITY

The invalidity of any provision of this regulation shall neither affect the validity of any other provision hereof, nor the validity of the regulation as a whole.


IX. VIOLATION AND PENALTIES

The Board of Selectmen is authorized to levy civil penalties up to $3,000 for each act which violates this Ordinance. For violations for which any penalty assessed is $500 or less, the Board of Selectmen or its official designated as the enforcement authority may issue a summons and notice of fine as provided in RSA 502-A:19-b, except that a copy of the fines for violations of the Ordinance shall be substituted for the New Hampshire Court’s Uniform Fine Schedule. Defendants who are issued such summons and notice of fine may plead guilty or nolo contendere by mail by entering a plea as provided in RSA 502-A:19-b. If the plea is accepted by the court, the defendant shall not be required to appear unless directed by the court.

All fines and penalties collected shall be payable to the Town of Wakefield and deposited in the general fund.

X. AMENDMENT

It is recognized that circumstances change, which may affect the operation of the Facility. Such circumstances may include, but not necessarily limited to, alteration of applicable permits by State or federal licensing authorities, changes in the fee structure for removal and disposal of materials received by the Facility, improved technologies, insurance requirements, etc. In the event a modification to this Ordinance is required to address the changed circumstances, the Board of Selectmen is empowered to amend this Ordinance. Such amendment shall take effect only after holding a public hearing thereon, with notice thereof to be in accord with the requirements of RSA 675:7 (i.e. newspaper advertisement, posting in two public places).

XI. APPEAL

Any person aggrieved by application of this Ordinance shall apply to the Board of Selectmen in writing within ten (10) days of the occurrence giving rise to the complaint. Otherwise the complaint shall be deemed waived. The Selectmen may take whatever action, or no action, the Board in its sole discretion deems appropriate.

XII. EFFECTIVE DATE

This Ordinance shall be effective on its date of passage.

Approved: March 18, 1995
Amended: June 14, 1995
Amended: May 2000
Amended: July 2000
Amended: June 13, 2001
Amended: May 22, 2002
Amended: July 1, 2006

Approval of Wakefield Board of Selectmen

_________________________
Paul S. Morrill, Chairperson

_________________________
Mark P. Duffy

_________________________
John J. Blackwood
Approved May 10, 2006 (to be effective July 1, 2006)
SCHEDULE "A"

I. ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS/RECYCLING & SEPARATION/SCHEDULE OF FEES

Transfer Station permits will be issued to residents and taxpayers only, upon presentation of vehicle registration and payment of $2.00 No fee will be required for replacement permits provided the old permit is returned prior to issuance of a replacement permit. Otherwise, the fee for a replacement permit is $10.00.

The fee for a commercial and curbside pick-up hauler permit is $100.00. Haulers will be required to submit a customer list and pickup schedule prior to obtaining a permit.

Recycling is mandatory for all persons using the facility. The following items shall be accepted only if separated and placed in the appropriate containers and/or areas in accord with the procedures set forth below:

A. CATEGORY I - NO FEE

1. Batteries: Vehicular batteries.

2. Aluminum Cans: Rinsed clean.

Note: Crushing cans would be helpful by reducing storage volume.

3. Scrap Metal: All scrap metal should be free of plastic, rubber, wood, or other contaminates.

4. Glass (Bottles and jars should be rinsed and clean):

a. Clear bottles.

b. Brown bottles.

c. Green bottles.

d. Blue bottles.

Note: Small quantities of other glass, such as windows, light bulbs, ceramics, etc. shall be discarded with green glass.

5. Waste Oil: Used oil from a motor vehicle which is not contaminated with other liquids or substances, such as antifreeze or water. Five (5) gallon limit per visit.

6. Antifreeze: Used antifreeze or antifreeze/water mixture, provided it contains no other contaminants. Five (5) gallon limit per visit.

7. Clean Wood, Brush, Clippings and Leaves: Lawn clippings, garden waste, leaves, twigs; lumber and tree limbs less than five (5) inches in diameter.

8. Newspaper: Can be loose or in a brown paper grocery bag, and must be clean. Other paper goods and magazines are acceptable as posted at the facility.

9. Cardboard: All corrugated cardboard which is clean, dry, and not waxed.

Note: Unacceptable for recycling purposes include Asian board, poster board, chipboard. These should be discarded as the attendant so directs.

10. Grocery Bags: Brown paper bags only. Deposit with cardboard.

11. Fluorescent light tubes.

B. CATEGORY II - FEES REQUIRED

1. White Goods: A $15 disposal fee will apply to any white good that contains freon. Refrigerators must have their doors removed prior to acceptance at the Transfer Station.

2. Bulky Waste:
Stuffed chairs $5.00
Stuffed recliners $8.00
Couches $8.00
Couches w/built-in recliners $10.00
Sofa beds $14.00
Mattresses Twin $5.00
Full $6.00
Queen/King $10.00
Small rugs (8x10) $7.00
Large rugs (10x12) $10.00

Note: Not all bulky items requiring a fee are listed.

3. Tires: Up to 16" diameter $2.00
Up to 16” with rim $5.00
Over 16" diameter $6.00 Over 16” with rim $12.00
Truck Tires 20” $15.00
Tractor Tires $30.00
Note: Tire rims disposed free if removed from the tire. 6 tire limit per visit.

4. Asphalt Shingles: Maximum amount per visit for any permit holder is one pickup truck size load or equivalent.

Up to 30-gallon trashcan or equivalent $12.00
Up to ½ size of pickup truck bed or equivalent $50.00
½ to full pickup truck bed or equivalent $100.00
1 ton truck $140.00

5. Construction debris/demolition: Building materials, including but not limited to painted, stained or pressure treated wood. Unacceptable items are specified in Article VI.A.5. Maximum amount per visit for any permit holder is a pickup truck size load(level to tailgate) or equivalent.

30-gallon trashcan or equivalent $10.00
Up to ½ size of pickup truck bed or equivalent $50.00
½ to full pickup truck bed or equivalent $80.00
1 Ton truck $100.00

6. Sheetrock/Plaster, Glass other than bottles:
30-gallon trashcan or equivalent $15.00
Up to ½ size of pickup truck bed or equivalent $65.00
½ to full pickup truck bed or equivalent $100.00
1 Ton truck $140.00

7. Computers and televisions:
Computer Monitors 13”, 14”, 15” $7.50
“ 17” $8.50
“ 19”, 20” $10.25
Televisions Small (up to 13”) $7.50
Large (13” and above) $18.00
Large Console TV’s & Big Screens $38.00

8. Porcelain:
Toilets $5.00
Sinks $3.00

9. Miscellaneous
Water Skis $2.00 each
Snow Skis $1.00 each
Stereo Speakers (larger than 10”x12”) $2.00 each


Note: Permit holders with loads in excess of one pickup truck bay are required to haul materials in items 4 and 5 above, directly to a commercial landfill such as Turnkey in Rochester.


C. CATEGORY III - BURN PILE MATERIALS

The Town shall accept the following materials for open air burning in accordance with state and local regulations: leaves, yard waste, brush and slash five inches or less in diameter, untreated wood and untreated dimensional lumber with an end cross-sectional area of 24 square inches or less.

During such times as the State Fire Marshal or the Wakefield Fire Chief may declare open burning to be unsafe, the Town will not accept any materials described above, until such time as the fire hazard has been lifted.

D. CATEGORY IV - WASTE TO BE TRANSFERRED

Residual solid waste: solid waste and household trash/garbage which is not listed above for recycling/separation or prohibited. The Board of Selectmen shall alter the hours of operation and/or the schedule of fees only after holding a public hearing thereon, with notice thereof to be in accord with the requirements of RSA 675:7 (i.e. newspaper advertisement, posting in two public places).