Cohasset Eyes Enterprise Fund for Recycling Transfer Facility
The town is considering shifting the Recycling Transfer Facility (RTF) to an enterprise fund, a move that would make it financially self-sustaining and reduce reliance on taxpayer subsidies.
At the Feb. 4 Select Board meeting, Town Manager Christopher Senior outlined the potential transition, noting that the RTF currently costs over $700,000 annually to operate, while generating only about $200,000 in revenue from disposal fees.
“Having kicked this around… basically what I’m going to propose is that the board consider… turning the RTF into an enterprise and taking it off your budget,” Senior said.
How an Enterprise Fund Would Work
Under the proposed model, the RTF would be funded through sticker fees, disposal charges, and recycling revenues, rather than being supported by the town’s general fund.
Most nearby towns operate under similar systems. Senior cited comparisons, noting, “Plymouth has a [$190] fee, Kingston a [$240] fee… Duxbury a [$105].”
Hanover voters opted to transition their town's transfer station to an enterprise fund model at their December town meeting.
While the exact fee structure has not been determined, officials are considering options for both resident and non-resident permits, with higher fees for out-of-town users.
“We might sell 2,000 resident permits but 250 non-resident permits initially,” Senior said. “And then raise the fees for disposal and get tighter on some of that.”
Potential Changes at the Facility
Officials also discussed potential improvements at the RTF, including modernizing operations and restoring popular services like the Boutique Swap Shop and the Boy Scouts can collection program.
“We want to make it look… a little bit less like a dump,” Senior said.
In addition, some fees for certain materials, such as tires and electronics, may increase to reflect the town’s actual disposal costs.
“In order to make it a nicer, cool, buying sense to operate better and more smoothly, it really does need to operate much more like a business and much more dollars and cents,” Senior said.
Next Steps
If approved, the enterprise fund model could be implemented starting July 1. Officials emphasized that while the change would remove the RTF from taxpayer funding, they will monitor revenue and expenses closely to ensure the facility remains viable.
“This has to be run like a business,” Senior said. “This buys us more time, and also from the general conversation I’ve had with folks, it’s like, well, the RTF is great, but everyone doesn’t use it. Should we really be subsidizing it?”
Town officials plan to continue discussions in the coming weeks, with a decision expected before the start of the next fiscal year.