7969-R3_ML&P_TownOfBuxton_2020-2021_Web

Solid Waste Manager’s 2021 Report

Buxton residents produced 2882 tons of household trash in 2021. Our average yearly increase in curbside trash tonnage is 1.06%. We had a historic yearly increase of 21.1% in 2020, for a total of 3,173.8 tons, and a 9.2% decrease from that record high in 2021 to 2882.2 tons. This unusual increase is due to a combination of factors relating to the pandemic. Residents are home schooling more, working from home more, and doing a lot of “Covid cleaning projects” like cleaning out the garage, basement, or attic. Buxton residents also disposed of 1157 tons of bulky waste, 78.3 tons of inert waste, and 1,136 tires. The Buxton Transfer Station recycled 6.1 tons of #2 plastic, 56.4 tons of boxboard, 24.1 tons of newspaper, 92.1 tons of cardboard, and 222 tons of metal. Keep up the good work recycling! Our composting facility received approximately 1650 yards of leaves and grass, 10 yards of food waste, and 900 yards of animal manure and bedding. Composting eliminates the need to pay for hauling and disposal fees for leaves, grass, and manure, and provides compost as a useful end product for our community. We accept leaves, grass, sawdust from untreated wood, pine needles, garden clippings, manure, and non-animal kitchen scraps (fruits & vegetables) for our compost pile. We can’t accept meat, bones, vegetable oils, or dog/cat/human feces for composting. Compost is available to Buxton residents for free, but we recommend screening the compost on site to avoid getting garbage in your compost. Our compost is not screened, so expect to find trash and other debris that residents have swept out of their truck beds. We also have wood chips available for $5 per tractor bucket full. Wood chips and compost are free if you shovel them yourself. There is no charge to drop off compostable materials at the transfer station. Leaves, grass, and other organics will not be picked up if left out for curbside collection. The Transfer Station accepts returnable bottles year round for donation to the “Keep The Heat On” fund. This fund helps buy fuel for elderly Buxton residents in need of assistance. If you wish to donate returnable bottles to the “Keep the Heat On” fund, please ask for the bags and tags at Town Hall. The Share Shop is open for books and other non-fabric items. Clothes are not accepted at this time. Please visit the Town web site at www.buxton.me.us, and click on the Solid Waste Department heading for information on recycling and other solid waste topics. Questions and comments can be e-mailed to buxtonts@buxton.me.us The Transfer Station is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays from 8am to 4pm. We are closed any Tuesday after a Sunday or Monday holiday. Our phone number is 929-3913. We are located at 185 Portland Road, behind Town Hall and the salt shed. Respectfully submitted by:

Greg Heffernan Solid Waste Manager

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