We understand that disposal fees aren’t anyone’s favorite expense. However, safely collecting, storing, transporting, recycling, and disposing of materials comes with real and increasing costs. Landfill closures, along with rising transportation and energy costs, continue to impact what we pay to manage materials.
At least once a year, we compare our fees with other facilities in the region. For most items, our fees are lower than average. We charge only what is needed to cover the cost of removing materials from our site and paying two part-time staff members. Because much of our work is completed by dedicated volunteers, our operating costs are significantly lower than facilities staffed by full-time municipal employees.
Each town makes its own decision about how to fund its annual membership fee; some may use tax dollars, while others may use other available funding sources. Our member towns are also eligible for grants from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), much of which is earned because of the recycling and waste reduction services we provide. Last year, those grants totaled $22,200, and some towns use this funding to help offset their membership costs.
For FY27, the seven member towns will contribute a combined $45,000 in membership dues. This equates to about 10% of our operating expenses. Each town’s share is based on population and ranges from $2,707 to $15,270. Spread across our estimated 60,610 residents, this equals approximately 74 cents per resident per year.
Our funding, like much of our work, depends on collaboration and creativity. The largest share of our revenue comes from Pay-As-You-Throw drop-off fees, followed by membership dues from our seven towns. Additional revenue comes from our thrift store, eBay and consignment sales, SREC credits, payments for certain recyclable materials, donations, investment income, and grants from MassDEP and DCR.
Our mission goes beyond disposal. We work with nonprofits, schools, furniture banks, and other organizations beyond our seven member towns to find new homes for usable items. These partnerships reduce disposal costs, conserve resources, and help keep valuable materials in circulation rather than in the waste stream.
We are proud to provide this service to our communities and will continue working to keep it affordable and environmentally responsible. As we continue improving our data collection, we will also do a better job of sharing information about how much material is disposed of, recycled, and reused. We believe transparency helps demonstrate the value of the services we provide.
