Recent revisions to the state solid waste statute have shifted the permitting of small transfer stations from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) to the town boards of health. The new statute will affect Massachusetts communities in which transfer stations accept less than or equal to 50 tons of refuse per day; the Harvard transfer station falls into this category.
The change was proposed by the governor and passed by the legislature in 2010. According to Joe Ferson at the Mass DEP, transfer stations that accept this amount of refuse do not require the complex oversight of the Mass DEP. Also, the new statute will be a cost-saving measure for the Mass DEP. In addition, Ferson said the revision will give towns greater control and knowledge of their transfer stations, and therefore the town board of health can be more responsive and efficient than the Mass DEP.
The operator of the Harvard facility, the Department of Public Works (DPW), will still be required to perform the annual Transfer Station inspection; the Board of Health (BOH) will collect the report and direct the operator to take action if necessary to bring the facility back into compliance.
At present, Harvard contracts with the director of the MassToss Cooperative, of which it is a member, to do the annual inspection. MassToss Director Tessa David is certified by MassDEP and according to DPW Director Rich Nota, her assistance saves the town $2,000 annually.
Currently, the town pays $4,990 annually to belong to the MassToss Cooperative, formerly known as the North Central Regional Solid Waste Cooperative, which was established in 2005. MassToss gives participating towns group buying power and technical assistance in all areas of solid waste handling (negotiating and facilitating waste related contracts for recycling, collection, hauling, and hazardous waste removal).
The state’s Solid Waste Legislation Task Force has scheduled three meetings in the coming months to give guidance and technical assistance to board of health members in taking on the new transfer station permitting responsibilities.
The new statute transferring these responsibilities to towns will take effect July 1, 2012, at which time all operating small transfer stations will need to have a permit from their local board of health.
