Norwell Weighs Fee for Recycling Center Access
Norwell residents could eventually pay an annual fee to use the town recycling center as officials work to determine what it costs to operate the facility and whether a fee could support expanded hours.
No fee has been approved, and town officials say they need several more months of operating data before deciding whether to implement one or how much residents might pay. The Select Board discussed possible fees, staffing needs, disposal expenses and the level of service residents should receive if the town begins charging for access.
Glenn Ferguson, Director of Highway/Tree and Grounds/Solid Waste and Recycling, said the town has issued about 1,000 recycling center stickers so far. He estimated participation could eventually reach between 1,200 and 1,500 households, although Vice Chair Lorenda Layne suggested that number could increase to between 2,000 and 3,000 as residents return after summer and begin bringing fall leaves and holiday materials to the center.
The number of participating households is important because officials are considering how to divide the center's operating costs among users. Ferguson said ideas have ranged from $50 to $100, with a recent proposal of $75 per household rather than charging for each vehicle. Officials stressed that those figures remain preliminary. Layne said she wants the town to calculate the center's actual operating costs before settling on a price.
“I think that piloting it as we're doing now, so that way you can collect accurate data and get real numbers. So that way if a fee is passed through to the people who take advantage of this opportunity, that we come up with a fee that is fair, that covers the cost, but doesn't necessarily rake in unnecessary funds to the town for indiscretionary spending or whatever, that we are doing something where people are able to see that they are getting the service according to the cost of said service.”
Staffing is one of the major expenses. Ferguson estimated payroll for three workers operating the center three days per week could approach $100,000 annually, although he later said the actual figure could be closer to $80,000. Other costs include disposing of materials brought to the facility. Officials said nearly everything accepted at the center carries a cost, including yard debris. Those expenses can fluctuate significantly.
Shane Gokey, Assistant Director of Highway/Tree and Grounds, who has been tracking recycling center operations, said grinding yard debris has cost about $40,000 at a time and has been required as many as three times in some years. He said several more months of data would provide a clearer picture of annual operating expenses.
“I think maybe towards the end of the year I might have a better idea of what we're going to look at and to forecast it a little better for you guys and just kind of figure out where to go from there,” Gokey said. “But I think it might still just be a little too fresh right now to have a definite answer as far as an annual cost of running this.”
The recycling center is currently open Wednesdays and Saturdays. Ferguson said he would like to consider adding another day if the town institutes a fee, but additional staffing would have to be secured first. The town is operating with what he described as a skeleton crew and has sometimes reassigned highway employees to cover the facility. The town is also preparing to make payments easier.
Gokey said a UniBank portal has been developed that would allow residents to prepay existing charges for items accepted at the center. The system could also accommodate an access fee if the town eventually adopts one.
Ferguson said officials should revisit the issue after gathering more data through the end of the year. Board members discussed returning to the topic in December or January, giving the town time to establish a fee well before a potential July 1 implementation. Town Administrator Chad Lovett said officials should have projected recycling center operating costs for the next fiscal year by Oct. 15.