09/17/2025 TSC Minutes

Draft Minutes of the September 17, 2025

Meeting of the Transfer Station Committee

 

The meeting commenced at 6:34PM at the Library. Present were Nancy Strand,  Andrea Bryant, Chris Jensen, and Barry Zitser. They were shortly joined by Julie Seely.  Allegra Wright and Wendy Aldrich Jordan of the Conservation Commission also joined the meeting as members of the public.

 

Wendy provided public input by noting her concern about the Town bearing the costs of disposal for the nonrecyclable packaging of many products. She believes that this is going to be more expensive over time, particularly when the Town has to again assume responsibility for waste management. She believes that a high priority should be given to the goal of reducing waste. Andrea provided a brief background on how the Transfer Station Committee (Committee) is focusing on this waste reduction goal, such as by recommending the reinstitution of a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system for the Town’s future solid waste management program. Nancy stated that the Massachusetts town of Plympton recently transitioned to a PAYT bag system, and it virtually cut solid waste disposal tonnage in half. Barry also noted the efforts of the Bethlehem Sustainability Working Group, which coordinates some waste reduction efforts with both the Committee and the Conservation Commission. Nancy continued the update by discussing the many Rs (e.g., reduce, recycle, reuse) that have been emphasized by the Committee in its public education efforts, such as through its publication Just Be Greener.

 

Nancy provided an update on getting some revised engineering plans and cost estimates from Aries Engineering. When Mary Moritz, the Town Administrator, initially contacted Aries about the possibility of providing some limited updates recommended by the Committee, Aries provided a response that Nancy and Barry believed went well beyond the Committee’s request. The response included the hiring of a major firm to provide new, comprehensive designs and construction management that would amount to tens of thousands of dollars and a delay of many months. It might also require competitive bidding. Barry had previously emailed Mary, Chris, and Nancy that he believed a phone call should be arranged with George Holt to clarify the very limited information requested, which additional information should require only a few weeks at a very low cost. However, in her conversation with Mary today, Nancy noted that Mary hasn’t yet had the chance to follow-up on Barry’s email. Nancy is in full agreement with Barry’s approach, and Chris suggested that Nancy propose to Mary that the Committee take on the responsibility of contacting Aries to follow up on this matter. Nancy will do so.

 

Nancy and Barry updated the members of the public on the current grant applications pending. These included the Congressional-designated earmark being pursued by Senator Shaheen, but put on-hold by the current administration, and the application under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program (SWIFR) under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Barry noted that the SWIFR application is competing for about two dozen potential grants across the nation, which in prior years have gone to large organizations or governmental agencies. However, EPA would like to include a small rural community in future grants. Barry sees this grant as a longshot, particularly since the application process has already been delayed by more than six months because of the federal budget uncertainties. Wendy noted that her husband has a number of contacts in Washington, D.C., and that he might be a valuable resource for obtaining information to assist the Town, if requested.

 

The Committee discussed timing to recommend going out to bid to build the new transfer station. Obviously, this would have to await the discussion with Aries Engineering on updated information. However, Barry hopes that a Request for Proposals (RFP) could go out prior to the end of this year. If the RFP does not result in a cost-efficient bid, then the Committee will still have time to recommend an interim, contingency plan. Barry volunteered to do some drafting of a proposed RFP so that it could be timely prepared.

 

Nancy had previously submitted a draft for our next Just Be Greener edition. The edition will address some frequently asked questions about the Town’s post-landfill, solid waste management plan. This edition will be Part 1 of several editions, and Nancy noted the timeliness of addressing this issue. By coincidence, Mary Moritz had discussed with her today about the need for public education on the transition. Mary even suggested that perhaps there could be a townwide flyer at some point. Chris volunteered to prepare some short bullets to include on such a future flyer. The Committee then discussed some changes to be made to the new draft of Just Be Greener. Wendy also suggested that the “benefits” section might be enhanced by highlighting it in bullets. After the changes were discussed and made, there was a unanimous vote to approve the new edition to be released by Nancy.

 

There was a unanimous vote to approve the minutes of the Committee’s August meeting that was prepared by Chris. Chris said he would forward the minutes to Nicole.

 

On the subject of other business, Nancy had a number of items in addition to noting the PAYT program of Plympton, MA. Nancy stated that the Town Administration is currently discussing with a local contractor, D4, about the possibility of providing a subscription, curbside pickup program for solid waste and recyclables after the landfill closes. D4 would consider such a service, at subscriber expense, as long as there is a minimum number of subscribers to be determined. Nancy also noted that Rusty Scott, Lancaster’s transfer station manager, has noted that the Groveton transfer station is getting a new compactor, and that perhaps Bethlehem could purchase this used compactor at a favorable rate. Chris expressed concern about purchasing used equipment, particularly this far in advance of building a transfer station. His preference is for our new facility to have new equipment. Barry also noted that the future transfer station might only have single phase electric power. Nancy will check on whether the used Grove compactor requires three phase power. Nancy will also check with Rusty about the cost of Lancaster’s solar power array at its transfer station, and whether solar power could provide the equivalent of three phase electric power.

Finally, Barry noted that New Hampshire Recycles will be providing a free summit on recycling and waste diversion, which will take place on October 22^nd from 8AM to 3PM. Registered persons would meet at the Rocks Estate in the morning, and the seminar would include a passenger van trip to the Berlin, NH Androscoggin Valley Regional Refuse  Disposal District (AVRRDD) Transfer Station. Bethlehem will be using the AVRRDD landfill at Mt. Carberry, which is near the Transfer Station, for the disposal of its solid waste after the NCES landfill closes. Barry noted that towns which are permitted to use the Mt. Carberry landfill must also have in place a recycling program.

The next meeting date was set for October 22^nd at 6PM, and the meeting adjourned at 7:43PM.