The Health Department will initiate a new transfer station access permit program on July 1, 2012.
The Board of Health approved a sticker program for the Twiss Street transfer station Wednesday, April 11, in response to concerns raised by City Council members.
City Councilors raised a number of issues when Suckau appeared before the city’s legislative body on Jan. 5, 2012 to discuss improvements of and funding for the Twiss Street transfer station.
The council members concerns include non-resident and commercial use of the facility, expanding hours of access to city residents, upgrading services and generating additional revenue to support the solid waste and recycling programs.
Suckau said that a sticker program was recommended by consultants hired to assess increasing the capacity of the transfer station. The state Department of Environmental Protection currently caps the tonnage at 50 tons per day. Residential curbside trash collection accounts for nearly the entire current cap limit.
The city has been evaluating a request to increase that cap to 150 tons a day, which would allow it to expand the facility to allow commercial disposal.
However, the sticker program being implemented will allow only city residents to enter the transfer station Suckau said Wednesday.
“All non-municipal vehicles will be required to have a permit to conduct business at the transfer station,” he said. “Such business includes: disposition of trash, recycling and yard waste.”
Suckau said the stickers would be available to residents at the Health Department in City Hall for a $10 fee. The stickers will expire on June 30 of each year.
Residents can obtain applications for the permit at the department, at the Twiss Street transfer station and on the city’s website.
“The purpose of this program is to address concerns about non-residents and businesses using the transfer station; to allow the transfer station to be open for longer hours on Saturdays; to allow the city to increase the quality of services at the transfer station; and to encourage residents to recycle more rather than just throw items in the trash.
“The city has a mandatory recycling ordinance in place,” Suckau said. “Recycling brings revenue to the city and reduces the cost of removing trash from the city.”
Residents will also have the option of obtaining a one-day permit for a $5 fee.
Suckau said the one-day pass is intended for residents who do not access the transfer station on a regular basis and for residents with an annual permit, but need to use a different motor vehicle for one visit.
