Permits are required for using the transfer station and the recycling center, which used to be free, but can no longer support its operating costs since the decline of value of materials.
It’s dump permit time!
New permits for the town’s trash transfer station and recycling center went on sale this week. Legally the 2015-16 permits will be needed to use the facilities, starting July 1, although First Selectman Rudy Marconi said at the June 24 Board of Selectmen’s meeting there would be a “grace period” when enforcement isn’t too strict, until September.
The cost of the annual permits is $20 for residents, $40 for non-residents.
Town hall also mailed permit renewal forms to current permit holders.
“If you have one already, we sent out a renewal form,” said the selectmen’s administrator, Wendy Lionetti. “You can mail in your money and we’ll mail you a new permit, so you don’t have to come to town hall.”
Application forms can also be found on the town’s website, ridgefieldct.org
In addition to the permits, with the $20 annual fees, there is a charge each time the transfer station is used. The cost is generally $5 per car, with trucks, or cars loaded with over 120 pounds of garbage, required to cross the scale and pay by weight at a rate of four cents per pound of garbage.
There is no charge for use of the recycling center, other than the annual fee for the permit.
The town adopted the $20 permits two years ago after the recycling center could no longer support its operations, due to the falling value of recycled materials such as paper and glass, and built up a deficit that the permit fee system is working down.
In May, with the fees lagging because many residents hadn’t gotten permits for 2014-15, the town announced that it would begin stricter enforcement.
It appears to be paying off, according to Town Controller Kevin Redmond.
“I am projecting that the solid waste fund (which includes activity related to solid waste and the recycling center) will generate a surplus for the fiscal year of about $4,000,” he said.
“That’s good because we started out the year with a cumulative deficit of $47,000 and so should end the year with a cumulative deficit of $43,000.
“Still a big deficit, but we’ve stopped the bleeding and are moving in the right direction,” he said.
“Before strengthening the enforcement effort, we were looking at a deficit for the year of $4,000 versus the $4,000 surplus that we are projecting now.”
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