Mid-Coast Solid Waste & Recycling Residential Survey Results April, 2017 Prepared for the Mid-Coast Solid Waste Board & Staff by:

Mid-Coast Waste Watch Josh Gerritsen, Anna Sideris, David Edwards, Marci Annis-Casas, Maggie Timmerman, Alison McKellar

Original survey questions can be found at:

www.midcoastsolidwaste.org/survey

Advertised: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Email lists of community members held by town offices in all 4 towns

Pen Bay Pilot

Camden Herald

Village Soup

Facebook groups such as midcoast message board

Facebook pages for all 4 towns

Targeted Facebook advertising ($25 budget) targeting people in the 4 towns

Lincolnville Bulletin Board (online community)

PTA Newsletters

Stickers on yellow bag packs directing people to take the survey

Letter handed out at gatehouse

Multiple mentions at Select Board meetings

Paper copies available at gatehouse and town offices of all 4 towns

Letters to the editor encouraging people to take the survey

Target population: Residents of Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport (approximately 12,000 total) Sample size: 1072 responses (well over the threshold of 400 used in random probability sample studies to attain statistical significance).

Response rate: In each of the 4 towns, more people took the survey than typically attend the annual town meeting. In Camden for instance, 448 took the survey while it is estimated that 300 people attended the 2016 Annual Town meeting (considered a record in recent memory).

Limitations: The sample is not a true random selection of the total population (very few of these surveys are) and will of course be heavily weighted toward people who were willing to take it. We attempted to correct for the potential bias of too many responses from recycling and waste management enthusiasts by offering raffle prizes, emphasizing that the survey would deal with the use of taxpayer funds and questions regarding fees. We compared data on the actual population breakdown of our Mid-Coast Solid Waste community by town as well as the best available data on the number of private hauler customers as compared to total households. We believe that the entire community was given ample opportunity to participate and that the sample is as representative as possible.

Actual population breakdown (approximate):

Total responses: 1088 Eliminated responses: 26

Hope: 1536 (13%)

Camden: 4850 (41%)

Rockport: 3330 (28%)

Lincolnville: 2164 (18%)

Some data appeared to be duplicated either intentionally or unintentionally. Multiple entries containing identical responses were deemed invalid and removed.

200 people signed up to receive email updates from Mid-Coast Solid Waste and at least 100 have expressed interest in various committees, projects, or for receiving certain types of organic waste for use as pig food or composting operations.

60% of those who use a private hauler continue to use the transfer station for various reasons. Of this group: 44% take their recyclables to the transfer station themselves. 46% take demolition &construction debris themselves. 40% take scrap metal. 32% take mercury and freon containing items, electronics, etc. 23% take their yard waste there. 22% use the swap shop.

THE DUMP: it’s something we all have in common! The transfer station is used regularly by a higher percentage of residents than anything else in the community. Nearly 90% of residents of the 4 town community use the transfer station for one reason or another. Not even the LIBRARY can claim those kinds of numbers!

recycling successfully with private hauler (or believe they are).

5.8% responded “other” and all of them mentioned taking recyclables to the transfer station themselves.

Widespread disagreement, skepticism, and misunderstanding about recycling services available to private hauler customers. Over half of respondents either don’t trust the recycling service, don’t believe it’s offered, or choose not to participate. • • •

their trash pickup service doesn’t pick up recycling (23%) they don’t know if the recyclables they separate are really getting recycled (18%) they are not sure if their service offers recycling (10%)

“Pretty sure that my trash hauler does NOT recycle. Would really like to find a way to encourage haulers to participate - even if it means helping them get started in some way.”

“Very very doubtful anything is being recycled.” “I have been told that all that I am recycling is actually just thrown out at the dump, except milk cartons and cardboard. I continue to try and recycle all that is listed as accepted by the town anyway.” “Our trash guy isn't great about recycling. I sort it all out and he only takes what he thinks the dump considers recycling, like milk jugs and cardboard for example. I've told him that all the plastic I recycle has symbols but he said the dump doesn't want them and that it's really just trash.”

Even though people don’t feel confidant in their ability to recycle with their private hauler, most are quite satisfied with the overall service of trash pickup. Haulers are keeping people happy.

Comments from people with private haulers…. We also deliver trash and recycling items ourselves as needed. I am frustrated that I separate recyclables and am pretty sure that my trash hauler is not required to recycle. I don't have time to "go to the the dump" all the time, but it is important to me that I am being responsible and recyling. I have been recycling for at least 45 years...longer than it has been popular to do so. We want a recycling pick up service. Bring curbside and single sort recycling to our area now! I would like it to be easier to do. We recycle our selves I have been told that all that I am recycling is actually just thrown out at the dump, except milk cartons and cardboard. I continue to try and recycle all that is listed as accepted by the town anyway. Was sad to see they only recycle # 1 and 2 plastic Very very doubtful anything is being recycled. We have a large number of 5gallon buckets and sort all of our recyclables carefully. We use Clynk at hannaford for recycling returnables, and we burn cardboard/paper recycling on our property. I once called to find out if they are actually keeping recycling/ trash separate, but never received an answer. Asked the guy who picks it up and he skirted the question. Wish landlord had recycle bins for us, rather than one we all dump into. Our trash guy isn't great about recycling. I sort it all out and he only takes what he thinks the dump considers recycling, like milk jugs and cardboard for example. I've told him that all the plastic I recycle has symbols but he said the dump doesn't want them and that it's really just trash. I would love single stream recycling We separate recyclable items and bring them to dump for recyclycling I asked how he recycles and he says he sorts at the dump I like it because I don't have to buy the yellow bags I have way more recycle than regular trash It's hard to determine how easy it is for my pick up service to separate the different recyclables once he reaches the station

Pretty sure that my trash hauler does NOT recycle. Would really like to find a way to encourage haulers to participate - even if it means helping them get started in some way. It seems that Heal does not separate recycling as much as we think he should Because of the expense in the pickup and though I am over 70, I am thinking of taking my trash to the Transfer Station. I wish the town offered this service. I separate the recycling but he just puts it all in the back of his truck. I believe my landord takes recyclables Heal's is great - very reliable. We separate our recycling, and they take care of it A roommate who works at MMW takes our trash to their work dumpster. Bring recycle items to landfill weekly Wayne Heal -- it's good We should be able to recycle batteries! It is amazing that this isn't done , or considered more of an issue. Would like a separate recycling pickup. Current service is too expensive and inconvenient. All trash in yellow bags and all cardboard goes into the same part of the truck the condo has 2 trash dumpsters and 3 recycling containers. I wish we could recycle plastics. They take up so much room in the trash! Only #2 is recycled- I bring all other plastic to the transfer station. I really really really wish my recyclables were picked up as well! No sort recycling like other major communities would be amazing! Hauler has reported that some items I separate for recycling are not currently recyclable. Condo. We all recycle as .Uch as possible We have a "model" program at Ducktrap Harbor Condos with 33 units participating

Reasons to oppose single stream •

Belief that people should be aware of where items go.

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Concern about transfer station employees being laid off.

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Concerns over cost.

Comments from people opposed to single stream recycling. •

I think putting the sorting onus on residents is more cost effective than single stream.

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I like the method offered now.

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I really don't want recycling bins at the end of driveways and trucks cruising through neighborhoods to pick those up. Coming from a place where single stream is the norm I was initially put off by the need to sort, but have grown to appreciate the benefit in a pretty short period of time.

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I like being aware and sorting. I wish people would get with the program and do their part for the environment. I just learned about all the plastic bag etc recycling. fantastic Single stream is so much more expensive: people should learn how to recycle by category, else we're spending money to hire someone to do it for us.

Single Stream does nothing to improve awareness of the need to recycle all the time, no matter where you are. That would be my reason against single stream. Plus, it would likely be more costly on the user/taxpayer then having the user do the work up front, which also drives home the importance, and benefits, but financially and to the environment, or sorting out your own recyclables.

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Single stream recycling will increase costs to the towns/ taxpayers. I'm opposed to it.

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Single Stream is a cop out

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I like the current method; it puts responsibility for sorting on individuals.

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With single stream recycling, many people will throw nonrecyclable materials in there! It will cost us more to sort that mess and we will have to pay for it to be processed as trash.

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Jobs are good, don't like single stream for us.

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If you have some being paid to do the work already done by many it will cost more. Education would help for more returns to the community from selling recycled items. Also there needs to be a program for disabled or compromised health elders, so they can participate in recycling too. They may want to but are physically unable.

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It seems like it is not too much to ask people to do their own part to recycle

Put in a container for plastic bags and films. I like 1 stop recycling, etc. Household places all plastic bags into a tied medicine ball size Hannaford bag which is easier to sort out at facility

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Would single stream recycling increase the cost? If so, how would the cost be paid for? Would household trash be co-mingled with recyclables?

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I am in favor of more sorting and higher value recycling

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I do not want to see the transfer station staff laid off. I feel like single stream can't work. People would contaminate it with food waste. I like sorting my own trash.

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Belief that it will increase recycling among the less enthusiastic. Concern for elderly residents who cannot lift and sort easily. Some people don’t have enough room in their house to keep everything sorted in different bins. Current system with so many categories is too confusing. Transfer station setup with many bins and traffic is dangerous.

Comments from people who support single stream recycling •

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I would like the general public learn what recycling does for the environment, jobs and cost savings across the spectrum. More education on recycling is needed. "Just a thought ...wondering if we could enlist area stores (Hannaford, Shaws) to reduce the amount of plastic packaging... Convenience, more participation Businesses like hospitals & schools being able to recycle with ease. Sure would save my time if we could single stream everything. This will have the biggest effect on increasing recycling Single stream recycling should enable better traffic flow and a shorter visit to the transfer station. It would eliminate the people wandering from container to container. I believe more people would recycle more items if they did not have to sort it Provide an onsite composting option for the organics fraction. Not everyone will compost at there homes, particularly in the Villages. Please please change to single stream--I believe far more people will recycle if it's that easy. In RI in the 80's they were already using single stream--I don't know why it's taken so long to be considered here in Maine. For those who currently don't recycle, I think single stream would encourage *some* of them to recycle. Make it easy! single stream is so much more convenient Single stream would greatly increase participation. Even I who is a passionate recycler, but just moved into a small rental apartment temporarily, find myself not recycling purely for lack of space of storing my recyclables, but I would bag them for single stream. Mixed materials are hard to recycle. Foil juice boxes. Beverage containers with plastic spouts, envelops with platic windows etc. Maybe with zero-sort it would be easier to cope with these.

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Finding a vendor to take single stream recycling that is closer to the mid-coast than Ecomaine. At our home in Iowa we now have single stream recycling. Based on the local news, it has greatly increased the amount of material recycled and reduced greatly the amount of waste that goes to the landfill. "single stream sounds great Move towards sign stream!!! It would save everyone so much time at the dump and help a lot with traffic and flow. The sorting is a pain But I think it's a good idea. Single stream recycling would be easier I have lived in communities who have this and it is fantastic! I think I am an exception and I believe that single stream would definitely increase recycling! At my home I have space for eight different bins for presorting but others may not Recycling is the right thing to do for our community even if the 'selling price' of recyclables is low. Yes! Zero sort!!!! Options for plastic film and styrofoam Depends on what we can put into single stream Less separation of materials Would others do it more The ease of single stream is worth the cost. I think a lot more people would participate in single stream recycling. Although, we sort everything and recycle, it needs to be easy for those less familiar I am very concerned about trash burning- my neighbor does it. I have called the town office and they have not done anything "I already recycle consistently. However, single stream would be really helpful and other members of my family -- and friends -- would then recycle. Single stream brings on board people less dedicated about recycling.

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It is very complicated and confusing. It takes a lot of time. We do it because we believe it is important but would much prefer a single sort system. We would love to have single sort. I think my kids would recycle more if we had that. I will always recycle, but if you handed out the ubiquitous "blue bins" to everyone they would get used to them and their ease of use. It takes a lot of time and strength to get stuff to the transfer station, and lots of room at your house to keep individual bins. If you let everyone just throw everything into a blue bin at their curb and have a dedicated recycling truck pick it up once a week I think they're would be a lot more participation. In other communities it's part of BEING in the community to have your blue bin out with everyone else's. It's actually kind of fun! Single stream would definitely be more convenient and would probably result in a slight increase in my recyclables, although I currently recycle most of what I can. "At our permanent home in Bettendorf, Ia., they recently converted to single stream recycling where the home owner puts all recyclable material into one container to be picked up every other week. There have been several articles in the news about how many more tons of recyclables are now being collected. And previously we only had to keep paper separated from other recyclables. I would strongly recommend single stream recycling! It works Putting all recyclables in one container definitely saves time on our part. I would like to recycle more often, but the current set up and sorting the recycling is very time consuming and often results in a lack of recycling. It would also be great to reward those who recycle but offering a free bundle of yellow bags/half price bundle

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Cost/impact of carbon emissions of a municipal pickup service vs. individual consumer delivery. • Does the plastic other than #2 really get recycled now? Can more things be recycled with single stream? It would be a lot easier and a time saver, which I would appreciate. • Id send everything in one container and have a sorting station • We have single stream recycling at our main residence, which increases citizen participation. • The Hannaford collection is news to me. Best kept secret in the area?? Where exactly would I take such? Put this info in a press release and on the website for the Town of Rockport please! • I recycle everything, but I know I am in the minority. I support single stream because it increases the likelihood of making it easier for more people to recycle. • It would be interesting to see if pickup by the town of single stream waste (like in urban areas) improves compliance. I know it's an extra cost, but it might be worth the tax dollars to do a monthly pickup if it drastically reduced the amount going to landfill (and save people a trip to the transfer station!) • The fact that I always recycle masks the fact that I MUCH PREFER the single-stream system. • We already recycle most everything we can, but it definitely would make it easier. • The current method is very confusing. Way too many categories. • I'll recycle, regardless. But others might be more inclined if it was easier (single stream) •

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I already recycle most of everything I can, but that is not to say I would not like to have single stream recycling as one of the biggest problems at the transfer station is the hassle of visiting all the different recycling bins. Being able to put recyclables in one or two bins would ease the traffic congestion and make visits much more convenient. Curbside pickup would produce jobs and an easier way to recycle in the community Make it so you don't have to separate the bins are hard to put paper and card board in as they get full and i am short A bin that we could put it in, drop it off, and take away a clean bin for the next time! Used single stream before, super convenient, made the whole process easier, and I recycled everything. I strongly feel that single stream recycling would make recycling a lot more attractive and convenient for the whole community! Please bring us single stream really appreciate the example containers and materials by the bins; it is helpful. I wonder if we could have a dollar sign of how much money we save as a community by recycling -- something right when you drive up that is like a scorecard. A rolling ticker of tons recycled, money saved, CO2 emissions reduced, etc. We need messaging around: when you recycle, you save yourself and our community money -- and do you part to help the planet. I think folks who already care about the planet and climate change are doing what they know they can do. To reach others, we need to not try and convince them about the environment and focus on saving money. Stories of folks who save money by recycling more, etc. Companies that save big money because they instituted recycling programs in their offices, etc.

Compostable food waste • I recycle everything I can but when I visit communities with single stream, it's pretty easy - would it help the transfer station with folks who toss items in the wrong bins that then needs re-sorting? • I am open to the concept of single stream and do believe that it would encourage people to recycle more. For every little old lady at the transfer station patiently unloading her papers and plastics, there are countless "lazy" folks who just put it all in the bag and into the bin. sorting our own stuff into the bins seems almost ritualistic, and I admit to feeling somewhat sanctimonious. • I think single stream would get people to recycle more. I also think having the option of pickup would help people who have limited space to store recyclables, and would get them to recycle more. • Lived in CA and lived single stream recycling. I end up having to use garbage bags here to hold all different types of items- wasteful! • i think single stream would elicit more participation • If we show at with lots of recycle stuff we should get one yellow bag free. You sell the recycle things so we should be rewarded for doing it. • Zero sort recycling would be well worth any additional cost. • Seems like it would be easier and encourage more participation • I just moved to Rockport from South Thomaston. I prefer their mixed recyclable dumpster to running around putting different items in different bins. • Curbside pick up, curbside single stream recycling and curbside composting • I have a dumpster I do not have an option to recycle. I live in an apartment. •

The largest group in our community is the “unsure” group. Let’s look at what these people are considering.

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Approximately 20% of comments from the “not sure” group wanted to know about the increased costs associated with single stream. • About ½ of those people also mentioned that an increased cost may be worth it if single stream increases recycling. • The other ½ said they didn’t want to do anything at all that would increase costs to residents.

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About 20% said they would be in favor of single stream if it created jobs in the community (some were equating single stream recycling with curbside pickup).

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About 20% said they did not think it was fair to pay for single stream by increasing fees for the people who are already recycling successfully.

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20% mentioned some sort of hybrid system where we could keep things as they are, but those who wanted it could pay a fee for single stream service.

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Comments from the undecided… • •

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Single stream would only be beneficial when placed near other trash bins in the down town area. I think increasing general overall fees for people who recycle everything is not fair. Higher fees should go to people who do not recycle. has it shown to increase recycling among residents in other communities. does the benefit outweigh the cost?

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How about a reaasonable upcharge for those who would use single stream service, and continue as is for those of us who are sorters alrewady. I do think community-wide more would be recycled if it were single stream. The question is if the greater recycling would make up for the inefficiencies of single stream. It would be helpful to know what the community pays or gains in revenue to recycle and to dump waste cost should not increase if we go to single stream recycling. I don't mind separating. Allow public to utilize recyclable products before they are sold. (Packing supplies is one thought…) I think more people would recycle if they didn't have to separate (?lazy) I would be open to it if general compliance is higher cost & efficency Will single stream help recycling or make folks less aware of what they recycle? add public recycling bins in towns for things like plastic OK if it is a less costly method. Coming from a single stream community before moving to Camden I am not sure it improves recycling. The quantity goes up but likely the quality goes down. People will put more into recycling to reduce the useage of bags. Elderly or people who can not sort for physical reasons may benefit from single stream

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Single stream would be simpler for me, and more people might recycle with it. Not sure about costeffectiveness. Would like to know additional cost of singe stream and how much more would be recycled. Show me the comparative costs I don't want my property taxes to go up and i am willing to work a little more with my recycling to help with that

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Though we are used to recycling all we can and don't mind the sorting, I believe the single stream method might encourage others to recycle more. I would need more information before being able to weigh in on single-stream recycling. How efficient is it? Is shipping uncompressed material more expensive or wasteful? How does the cost compare? lots of people don't know which plastics to recycle (besides milk jugs) and all the different bins at home take up too much space. Maybe if every town had a recycle drop off it would be more convenient, but that is not likely to happen. Which one uses less energy overall as well as which one incentives people to recycle more? Any studies to prove one way or another? I'm afraid some people will use "single stream" for trash to avoid the bag fee. Would it be a curbside pickup option? Or just single stream that we still need to deliver to the transfer station? The current setup is very labor intensive, sometimes dangerous and at times very time consuming. You should be considering door to door collection of waste and recyclables for all businesses and residences in the four towns. Do all recyclables truly get recycled in a single stream method? Non recyclers Will only start if there's curbside recycling pick up Local recycling employment with current method vs. getting more people to recycle using single stream weigh pros/cons Honestly I think having to sort it out makes me notice what I'm really using. But if single stream helped more people recycle then maybe it's a good choice. With the current system you keep the user as part of the "recycling team" thus making it easier to focus on the need to recycle. I don't see the need for single stream recycling but if your survey finds that more people would recycle, then I would go along with it. If someone else has to sort all the materials, I would think that would cost more money for the town. I'd rather do it myself. Would we be paid for our streamed waste, and make the same money as we do with the plan we now have? Would transporting our waste to the streamer significantly reduce our waste profit? If so, it may be worth it if single stream encourages more recycling. If you make recycling difficult or complicated, people will not participate so there is something to be said for single stream recycling. My elderly mother (lives in a different state) no longer recycles because the city

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has made it very hard to put items into the large containers at the recycling center. Even tho Ichecked "no, I already recycle everything," a single stream would belovely! I'm OK to sort my own recyclables to keep cost down. My support for single stream would reflect cost incurred. Pay a monthly fee $32. Put out weekly all you have like in Colorado. Make recycling easy. Sorting makes me think more carefully about how much I use of various recyclables. Cost of single-stream -- direct and hidden ? Is single stream recycling more effective? Cost more? Why not run both if multistream is better. Single for those who won't sort and multi for those who will. i would support single stream if it meant that more recyclables would be utilized and kept out of trash bags The location of recycling bins is obnoxious and creates a traffic jam. Move them to the side!!!! Data on other communities experiences ie. does recycling go up with single stream 2) Environmental & financial costs of each leg does one or the other have larger carbon footprint. 3) I am mindful of those who can't access recycling for financial or transportation reasons. If higher fees move recycling. I'd be inclined to raise prices except for this reason. Whatever it would take to get more people to participate I think the current system works, but am open to single stream. It might encourage people who don't like to be bothered to separate their recyclables to visit the transfer station and help the effort. I'd need to know about costs before coming over to the single stream approach. Trash pick up would give jobs to people they do it in the rest of country

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I am an outlier here. I recycle everything I can or reuse or repurpose. If single stream will help others get on the case, I am all for it.

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Single-stream recycling is great. I've used it before. But: A. It would be challenging for residents to convey a single-stream bin to the waste facility; this would most likely require some sort of pick-up service. B. Larger cardboard pieces don't fit well in a bin without being cut into smaller pieces. Portland provided curbside composted. That was excellent and reduced my trash to virtually nil. If single stream creates jobs, go for it

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Many of the people who report that their recycling rate wouldn’t go up with single stream also said that they had a strong preference for not sorting.

Photo courtesy of Jerry Littlefield (taken mid 60’s)

At the facility… things to consider for ongoing improvement.

We’ve come a long way!

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A nice testament to the great work that the employees do. The overwhelming majority of people either agree or strongly agree with all these statements.

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About 7-8% of respondents to these questions tended to disagree or strongly disagree with the statements.

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What are your biggest areas of concern at the facility? Check all that apply. Traffic flow Safety People drive too fast I don’t know where i’m supposed to put things.

Inconvenient hours Things are great. No concerns.

Other

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Over 40% of people said things are great at the transfer station and they have absolutely no concerns! That’s pretty darn good!

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30% of people are concerned about the traffic flow. Some good suggestions in the comments about rearranging (some of which are already part of the concept designs).

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Many, many comments from people wishing for the facility to be open on Monday (or one day of evening hours).

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Quite a few people saying they don’t know where to put things. Many categories, and likely another argument for single stream.

COMMENTS ABOUT THE FACILITY. BRIEFLY DESCRIBE ANY AREAS OF CONCERN THAT WERE NOT MENTIONED ABOVE I'd like to be able to recycle plastic bags/wrap would love to see weekend hours extended. We often do projects on Saturday and then need to wrap up and take things to the dump on Sunday. Also, it's not that I don't know where to put things - but the separation is just too complex. I don't have room to separate out all the colors of glass, types of plastic, etc. etc. generally good but we need a place for organics and sheet plastic Things are great - but I would like to see more recycling and consistency in taking demo debris (for chopping up to burn), separating drywall, brush, compostables etc. plus taking mattresses/couches apart and recycling as some places in the country do; provide house parts recycling/ swap shop (like ReStore). I wish businesses using dumpsters would be required to recycle more. Evening hours one day a week and/or a few open hours on Sunday afternoon would be helpful. I work full-time in Rockland, so visiting during the week is impractical. Saturdays often VERY crowded. The possibility of a flat tire occurring after being in the demo area is high. Are only open from 8-4 Tuesday thru Saturday, not very convenient when you work those ours Monday thru Friday and only day to take trash is on Saturday which is not always convenient I would like the disposal of unwanted paint, oil, and other semi-toxic waste fluids to be easier. None Dumpster owners/renters NOT recycling :-( Though, some Sunday hours would be nice in the Summer

single stream recycling would be GREAT and I bet more people would recycle if we did this. I do not go to the transfer station as my son takes my trash there..I hear it is very good I want single sort There is no reason residents should be entering an industrial site. It is dangerous and fraught with liability around every corner. MCSWC is lucky it hasn't found itself in a bad way because of the manner in which the site has developed. Segregate homeowner waste/recycling or better yet have it all picked up! Just the amount the trash there! Pollution of aquifer I wish people were organized when they arrive. The worst is when they hold up the trash line while thy put their trash in yellow bags. Could you encourage this? How will you continue to get such an amazing bunch of great employees like you've always had! Cost charges, it depends who's at the gate. I'm short, it's dangerous lifting trash up so high. Hunters in the surrounding woods. I know where to "put things", but that's out of habit and (modest) reading ability. But how about some pictures, or neon-lit Zirconiaencrusted 3-D flow chart to guide us as we attempt to find the right bin. A big TV with an info-loop floating above the dumpsters would be nice. Would be nice to have Sunday hours. Also keep the rude employee away from the people using the facility. Specifically Jim Guerra

No recycling for glass, plastic bags, shrink wrap, styrofoam, electronics(?). General incorrect sorting and throw "away" mentality of users. Would love more frequent hazardous waste pick up/education. Landfill fires are disturbing. More public input on mgt decisions. For profit is not necessarily in people's best interest. Bill Chapman out. Especially in summer being open Mondays for household waste would be great. My only day off is Sunday so I haven't been able to go in a while. The hours are inconvenient, a couple hours Sunday afternoon would be helpful, or later on some weekdays (after work hours). Swap shop should be open all year. I don't appreciate having to purchase special yellow bags for my refuse regardless of whether my landlord is taking care of my trash, I have a big concern with a town such as Camden not having free trash removal for all citizens in its community, the people who bring the business, tourists, and money. Very very concerning. About 1/2 of my yellow bag contents are marked "recyclable" but transfer station doesn't have capacity to recycle these items. Another component is cat litter box waste... it's heavy and I'd love to know a better way. Satisfied overall but I feel like they need more plastic recycling (I.e. Dry goods packaging that is a bag vs. container) Understand there are costs associated with it, but working people would appreciate at least some Sunday hours. And Monday being closed is always hard for folks who use the weekend to clean up and then have to wait until Tuesday to unload. Sunday afternoon hours would be helpful. what is no-sort recycling and can we do it? Maybe having a short window of hours on Sunday for when we can't get there on Saturdays or one weekday that it is open later (til 5 or 6). Traffic flow: Specifically the gate. If you need to buy yellow bags, pull over after the gate and purchase them. Most Saturday mornings there are cars backed up to Union Street due to bag purchases.

It's irritating to wait in line for people talking and buying yellow bags, when there should be a separate line for people that can drive straight through to recycle or dump Most people work during the week- having the station open on sundays as well as saturdays would be a big help. If you don't make that saturday run you have to wait two days. Depending on the day and time traffic may be extra busy. Cost Within a major category (plastics for example) it is not always clear which bins to sort specific items. More online educational material would be helpful. Not enough opportunity to access thrown away items. Would like to see a system that kept more things from the incinerator or landfill. Swap shop does not meet this need. limited/seasonal swap shop availability Much prefer single, mixed-recyclables system like Owls Head, etc. It's way too labor intensive to separate things into 7+ bins. In other places I've lived, you have non-paper recycling, paper recycling, and trash. I'm much more likely to recycle when it is so simple, and I consider myself an environmentalist. People less concerned with recycling (my family members) throw EVERYTHING in the trash bc they find it too complicated. Sunday open used to be perfect for me, though I "know" most people who work there and would prefer that they have lives... How eco-friendly the whole operation is. Is it poisoning the surrounding soil, quarry, etc. Is the burning bad for air quality. Falling in line with "I don't know where I'm supposed to put things" I'm often worried I'm putting something in a bin that will decrease the value of the end product. Is cardboard with heavily printed, glossy branding okay in the cardboard bin? are lids supposed to stay on bottles (plastic) or be removed? Can any steel/aluminum go in that bin, or is it

just food cans? Why are magaznines/newspaper separated from mixed paper -- because they are higher value when separate, or because they can decrease the value of the mixed-paper bin? We need a place to put organic waste The change in plastic recycling back to only recycling #1 and #2. The dump should be open on Sunday when most folks are not working. It would make more sense to have it be closed two days during the week when most folks are at work. I still see alot of things put into recycling bins which don't belong there The price of bags keeps getting more and more expensive Sundays are one of the only days that work for me as I work full time. Noise. But it has improved a lot in the last 6 months. Rarely does anyone offer to help lift things. Also, swap shop should be open more! Need more options for hazardous waste! Needs to be open on Mondays (close another day) I wish it was open on Monday! I am blown away by the number of returnable bottles that fill the glass bin. no alerts when changes in what is collectible occur none Will we be converting to a single stream recycling with Eco Maine? Will that not impede what gets recycled if it is not considered properly? Single stream recycling would be a huge improvement in terms of traffic flow, safety, reducing the time to presort at home, sort into the proper bins at the facility, and eliminating the employees need to dumpster dive to keep recyclables from being contaminated with things that belong in another bin. I believe by reducing the time required by all the sorting we'd see a higher recycling rate. It was brought to my attention that once in a while the recycle items get dumped in the land fill area. If there is facts to this it defeats the purpose and time and energy of those of us who separate our trash.

Better signage would be appreciated other than the recycle container area, Swap Shop should be AT LEAST doubled in size. Would like to be able to salvage metal that could be reused rather than just disposed of. Hauling construction debris in is way to expense! I would love to see Sunday disposal hours, even if that means being closed another day. Working individuals only have Saturday and it becomes very congested. I know this would impact contractors but maybe there can be a compromise (I.e., 4 hrs Sunday and closed 4 hrs Friday). where to dispose of mercury light bulbs Lack of progressive trash/recycling/energy recovery. Solar, bio-digester, methane recovery, heat recovery, composting, etc. I would like single stream recycles The North Quarry needs to preserved for CDD & Inert fill in the future I have no problem figuring out where to put items and how to treat them. Too many people don't know or care enough to flatten boxes and separate plastics. Can we beat them? Closed on Monday's!!!!! Ease of recyclables delivery and convienence to help stimulate a reduction in waste. Waste a lot of time sorting when we could be using ZeroSort Later hours would be good, so I can take care of the trash after work. In my case, opening til 5pm would make that possible. I miss the days when the transfer station was open 1/2 days on Sunday. That would be very helpful. Thanks! I wish the transfer station was open on Sundays for those of us who work Mon-Sat. I would like to see a place where useful, but no longer needed, items could be dropped off for others to to reuse, perhaps a swap shop on a grander scale. Traffic around the recycling area can be confusing at times. I occasionally have a hard time maneuvering drops to the

landfill. Again, occasionally; rarely do I have any issues at all. Demolition area can be hard to navigate I wish we didn't have to use plastic bags since our goal is to be more environmental. Would like to see household food waste composting Long term solution to landfill portion. No time to swing by the transfer station before of after work, closed on Sundays Wish it was open on Monday. Maybe be closed on a Wednesday? I don't like getting stuck behind someone who is very slow at sorting and parked badly How about Sunday hours. BAgs too expensive. Whole.houses Are discarded when parts could have been recycled. It's too easy for individuals to throw recyclables away. I'd be in favor of raising solid waste disposal fees No special place I'm aware of for compostable food waste. No composting. Two things: 1) It would be great if the yellow-bag trash dump came first (before recycling) so you could leave it at the back of your car and get it out first. Phew! 2) I with the dump had a way to get rid of films (plastic bags), bubble wrap, and styrofoam. Modern life generates huge amounts of these. Would love to be able to recycle leaves for free and get back mulch. Would love to have a compost recycle for food scraps. Environmental impact of managed waste The bins fill up quickly, and the lower openings get closed, requiring us to lift things, and some of us should not be doing that. There are times that I have left with much of my recycling because I could not find anyone to help me unload it. I realize that might be a personal problem and I could be more assertive about needing assistance. Having the bins under a shelter would be

awesome. I would like to see the "cheaters" chased and chastened or fined. Watching the truck ahead of me empty his yellow bags into the bin, saving the bags for another day, tossing his ski boots and other items, then roaring off, really makes me cranky. Drop offs when closed The SPEED BUMPS ARE ABOUT AS DUMB AS THIS SURVEY. new yellow bags not user friendly for those w/arthritis The size of the trash mountains. I wish the Swap Shop was open more often. I frequently have things to take there but can't make it when they are open. It would REALLY help if they were open on Saturdays. Sometimes the recycling dumpsters are so full I can't get my stuff in without it falling out. It happens that I'm short, which doesn't help, but maybe if someone notices an overflowing one there could be a smaller one made available temporarily. Open Sunday and close another day during the week Sorting plastic, only to see it all in a hopper, bound for PERC I am still not convinced that our way of disposal is the most environmentally friendly. Seems there could be much more done with compostable waste. Possible waste of material are we ever going to get to single stream recycling??? I wish they were open on Mondays, since most people do house work on the weekends AND it seems like the dump is running out of room. I am worried about the space. prefer single stream if it is as effective. Should be open on Sundays also. Because lots of people work Monday through Saturdays. It seems like there could be one line to enter if you only have recycling and yellow bags and another line if you need to pay for something

More signage to educate residents on how to recycle properly and what happens when they don't. I live at Quarry Hill. Far too many people taking their trash/ recycling (it's obvious, as their car/truck is full of yellow bags) cut through Quarry Hill as a shortcut to and from the Transfer Station. This is a private road belonging to a private residential community, but that does not deter people from using it to get the Transfer Station, particularly on Saturdays. Quarry Hill staff and residents have tried to stop these cars/trucks, and let them know that they are not to use this private road to access the Transfer Station, but they are usual met with verbal abuse by drivers. This issue must be addressed by the new "improved" Transfer Station. Your committee should contact [personal information omitted] to discuss this problem caused by the Transfer Station, which is affecting the residents of Quarry Hill, and work on coming up with a solution. Please encourage swap shop recycling if your last in line you need to pull up at least one time to allow others to deposit there recycle We need a place to compost leaves/yard waste/brush. Some areas are too muddy to enter with a car -- like metal recycling and construction waste. Sometimes people park to close to the plastic bin & block access on left side of the remaining bins. I think single stream recycling would increase recycling and decrease waste no areas of concern like to see more ability to recycle useful materials locally I worry that we may recycle less in the future and that we do not take waste reduction seriously and that the haulers are don't have to require separation and that there is too much construction waste and not enough requirement of construction recycling. But most of all, I wish that all food wast were composted and kept out of the trash flow. The swap shop should be open year round or at least more than it is at present. yellow trash bags getting expensive and smaller. need to recycle more.

The man that walks around with the grabber stick and yells at you if you are putting something in the wrong area. I sort at home all kids of plastics, but I am not sure whether the facility sorts according to color or type of plastic. I want to recycle more than you offer COST! Having to overly separate recycle materials. It takes up a lot of room at home to separate so can be a deterrent for recycling. If you do not separate at home it takes too long to dump you recycling while at the dump. Get the 5 town people to volunteer to help dumpers put trash and recyclables in the proper places including in the dumpsters.Maybe do dump education one Saturday a month and these volunteers could be called the Dump Ambassadors. It would be great if the transfer station were open both weekend days for those of us who work full time weekdays and therefore only have one day to do trash runs. Would be great to increase the recycling rate re: inconvenient hours - homeowners tend to work on the weekends and are ready to go the transfer station on Sunday afternoon or Monday which is when the place is closed. Not concerned Should be open Mondays A single sort for recycling is mandatory We should be moving to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) with single stream recycling and an onsite composting facility. -Yes I am civil/environmental engineer. The flow of traffic is delayed by people that come without pre-sorting their recycling items. Or don't pre-bag their trash in yellow bags before coming to the transfer station. Or pull up in the 2nd dumpster lane and cross in front of others delaying the flow of traffic. If I'm not sure where something goes I just ask and they tell me.

I would like to see the Transfer Station set up a way for customers to buy used lumber and other items that are worthy of another use. Flat tires after leaving trash. It would be nice if the transfer station could be open on Mondays--even Monday AM would be a help.... I know where to put typical recycling, but it's hard to know where to put unusual things. How does the Transfer Station try help to teach it's citizens a commitment to separate correctly? Concerned about the growing mound of landfill. Is there a more comprehensive and longterm way to deal with recyclables? why can't we get single stream recycling? 1. One Hazardous Waste Day per year is not enough. Once a month or once every two months would be much better. It would be good if there was a Hazardous Waste Center within a one hour drive from Rockport. 2. We bring our stove ashes to the dump. Often the ashes bin is almost full and it is difficult to add ashes to it. Not that I don't know where to put things, but there are just so many different containers! It means I have to have just as many recycling containers at home and who has a home big enough to house a dozen bags/bins for recycling? Related to traffic control - I wish that people would not block the drive-by lane. I hate getting "stuck" behind someone who is blocking all traffic while they sort their stuff. I wish you open on Sundays I can only make it there on Saturdays. Not a really big deal though Just to have one evening opening, something like "Late Night at the Dump", or "Tuesday Night Trash-os" Sometimes people screech in and thing they can "make" time at the dump. No, there is no making time; take your turn, pay attention to where you park, and move with the flow. As to the hours, I frequently work on the weekend and work during the week. Having the dump close at 4 pm on weekdays is very inconvenient. A day in which the dump remains open until ???? 5 pm?? or so would be great.

more recycle products, hazardous waste regular drop off. open 7days I wish that the bins were more clearly label and that there was a magnet we could take home that explained how to sort your trash and recyclables. Closed Mondays is a bummer and it would be nice if you were open until 5 I have seen people deposit cardboard without flattening. How to educate them? People putting recycling in their yellow bags. Because the transfer station closes at 4 on work days I do wish it was open Sundays because sometimes I have to work a six day week and can't make it on Saturdays. When I have big items, I am not sure where to put them or how much it will cost. Single stream recycling would be a huge improvement No sort recycling will allow more recycling I wish we had single sort recycling Love using swap shop More, clearer signage Most of the staff is great, I have at times been told at the gate to dispose of something in a certain area to then be scolded by another employee for doing as I was instructed. Need single stream recycling That the recycling is being disposed of in the most environment friendly way possible Space availability for 'composted' items in the future That I need to visit the dump at all Dump users are sometimes inconsiderate--having looong conversations with people they bump into at the tranfer station while drivers behind them are waiting for them to pull their cars up and outbof the way. This is a problem with users, not with staff. Not sure that recycling is being recycled- can we make sorting more efficient?

I don't deliver my trash/recyclables, so I don't really know I think people should be encouraged to take things to the swap shop if at the gate they see they have perfectly good items. Many times at demo I have found great stuff I've taken away and stuff that was fine but then run over by the bull dozer. Also charge more, people should be more conscious of what they throw out. Sunday hrs would be nice- or open later on weekdays Closed Sundays Area for recycling is confusing and not easy. Would love to see more plastics recycled again I can no longer get big pieces of cardboard to use I think we need to be able to recycle plastic bags and stryofoam. I am very pleased w/ MCSW, except for the "no picking" policy It would be great if the swap shop was open on Saturday again. More people could use it and people would be able to bring yard sale left overs. We used to get great stuff on Saturdays. Now the hours preclude school children and anyone who has a 9-5 job! I want to see a system for composting leaves and lawn clippings, which I fear are currently wasted. I would love Sunday hours instead of one of the weekdays. Also a redesigned and improved section for swapping would really promote reuse instead of refuse. I just want to recycle and I want to ensure when I am (plastic), it's happening and not ultimately going into trash. It would be great to have a compost area too. We compost at home but if you did so on a larger scale, you could allow residents to come back for composted material..

Need more help on plastics and which can be recycled where. Colored types like yogurt containers and all those misc type plastics. Batteries Line to get in is sometimes too long due to people needing to pay/buy bags When can we get zero sort recycling? Swap Shop hours are too restrictive Charge to much to dump appliances, etc. Can I stress the traffic flow more? A more regulated flow to discourage the "it's all about me, me, me" folks when pulling up to the recycle as well as the yellow bag trash disposal area would be the biggest improvement. Sometimes the cardboard and boxboard bins are too full to put anything in. Open on Monday for contractors/ work would be huge. How recycling is recycled or disposed of. I hear it is not properly being recycled. The holes in the recycling containers aren't big enough Don't like using plastic bags to dispose of trash I would like to see single source recycle bin

Summary of themes/comments about facility •

Many comments about it being difficult for working people to make it to the transfer station. Many of these people are choosing to go with a private hauler, but this limits their recycling options.

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Widespread interest in expanding options for reuse. People suggest directing more material to the Swap Shop, keeping the Swap Shop open more, and developing a system that allows for salvaging from the landfill.

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Many comments about doing more to educate the public.

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Many comments about the physical difficulty of getting things where they need to go. Lifting cardboard into the bins for short people, the elderly, and the handicapped.

Summary of themes/comments about facility

MANY, MANY POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE FACILITY AND THE STAFF. •

Many requests for composting.

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An abundance of very thoughtful suggestions asking that we weigh the costs and benefits of various models.

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Many comments about traffic flow.

18 responses from the survey indicate interest in taking food and/or and yard waste!

SOLUTIONS FOR COMPOSTING/ORGANICS MANAGEMENT?

Space is at a premium at our facility in Rockport due to the fact that usable land is sandwiched between two water filled quarries, one of which is used as a construction debris landfill. However, survey data shows that we have people in the community who may be interested in using organic material for their own operations.

DOES IT REALLY GET RECYCLED?

Throughout the survey, over and over again, people express doubt about whether the recyclables that go to the transfer station are actually being recycled. The community would benefit from a massive communications and outreach strategy to educate residents on what happens to each category of recycling.

“I have seen and participated in slow steady progress in recycling and waste disposal at this facility over the past 25 years. I would like to see some form of legal waiver system to allow professionals to pick/recycle/ repurpose/sell certain items. I think that a practical system could be developed which would never be perfect, but could probably be worthwhile.”

No, but I know people who would be.

Other things that could be improved at the Swap Shop • charge minimal fee for items to discorage resellers. • did not know it was ever open. • Don't need it. • Extend the season and hours it is open. • For my purposes it is fine now. • I don't use it- donate to Syria and Goodwill • I drop off there things that are usable, but I don't pick up anything there. • I have been to other towns with very successful swapshops- because they are open all the time- no staff required, and if you know you can always drop there or shop there you plan on using it as part of your trash schedule • If it actually had something useful to reuse. • If people would not illegally drop off stuff. • It looks like it needs more space. Otherwise, I think it works great. • its never open when I'm there. • Nicer people in attendance • Hours seem to be for the benefit of the 'pickers' who run it-open it up year round and get more volunteers • Check out the swap shop in Tenant's Harbor/St. George • The place is rarely open when I'm there so longer hours would be helpful. The last time I used it what I dropped off barely touched the ground before someone there picked it up and put it out of sight. I hope they used it and didn't sell it. • It needs to be open on Saturdays!! • Try to find volunteers who don't grab all the good stuff! • All of the above, but definitely bigger • Better location

“Definitely bigger!”

“Try to find volunteers who don't grab all the good stuff!”

• Consequences for dumping a truck full of old paint or rotten mattresses after hours • Have it open on Saturday. • Keep flea market people away • I would like to see it expanded to include more items like building materials. • Open year round if proper space is available to keep items from the effects of weather. • Make it fun! • This needs to be a more central part of the facility not an after thought. Visit the set up in other places like Franconia NH. • Info board for staff and swappers. • Saturday hours for those of us with jobs! • monitor the person taking in items to make sure they end up in the swap shop and not home at their place for a yard sale or their personal possession. This has been a situation there for years and not even tried to conceal their behaviour ! • Have a fb page to show what is coming in.Longer hours., More space., • I take stuff there and do wish it was open year round. • Check out the St George shop. It is a business. • Make sure the operation of a swap shop make sense, is simple and selfsustaining • Some items can be outside and it doesn't have to be "open" or staffed. • A larger enclosed structure would be nice. Also, I always forget about it, because it's not marked well. • I am unable to volunteer because of my work schedule bu having someone there to help organize things is greatly appreciated.

• Limits on what the volunteers can take home. They seem to fill their cars with stuff the whole time that they are there. That doesn't allow the community a chance to offer their things to others. If they're going to take it all, they should just advertise for people to bring everything to their houses. • One swap shop moniter is notorious for skimming donations and taking them home, much to the irritation of regulars. It will someday cause real trouble. open all the time and self service • Provide power to the building...it is very hot for the help in the summer!!! • swap shops are stupid. just donate to Goodwill or similar. Reuse infrastructure already exists. don't need to invest $$ in more • This is kind of nitpicking, but it seems there are a least one or two people who stop by the swap shop multiple times a day and high-grade the inventory to sell on Ebay and Craigslist. While this is certainly enterprising of these men, I can't be the only one that has noticed that the relative value of the remaining swap materials has dropped noticably. It'd be interesting to get the "professional" pickers to agree to come at the end of the day only or something… • Whenever I have looked, it seems very junky. • work with Habitat for Humanity to recycle items • Never open when I am there, so more hours? • Doesn't have to be year-round, but maybe a longer season • Have a dropp-off for either Goodwill or Salvation Army • Put it near the gatehouse and demo-cart or move everything so it can all be together and thing can be moved from demo to swap shop. Shouldn’t be set apart from everything. There should be a policy to limit volunteers from taking all the good stuff.

Better system for giving and taking. Keep it open year round.

36 people said they’d be interested in volunteering at the Swap Shop. Wow!

Would you be willing to pay for any of the following services? Not enough interest to justify a taxpayer funded investment but likely enough of a customer base for a possible independent business.

Curbside recycling pickup Curbside food waste/ organics pickup A service to sort my recyclables for me Taxpayer funded curbside waste and recycling pickup Not willing to pay for any additional services

Comments from people who answered “other” People should be responsible for their trash •and recyclables so most of these options may depend on cost. seems to work fine if you are able bodied enough to do it. so maybe help for the elderly is needed. Something high school volunteers could do? Trash/Recycling removal should be covered with our tax dollars and be FREE We are too rural to need or want curbside collection We currently pay a very reasonable fee for pickup. We don't need this service, but others may. We live on a private road, so curbside pickup would not be an option we're still able to take our stuff to the transfer station, but offering a fee-for-pickup option might help increase participation. Def not increase taxes to do it. Would be willing to pay for strategies that improve other citizens recycling rates. Want to pay for effectiveness! Would single stream affect the number of employees at the transfer station? I don't want to put anyone out of a job, though I wouldn't mind single stream. The convenience of curbside pickup is nice but - it wouldn't work well it seems to me due to our rural homes and roads.

Raccoons, bears etc into the bins. And my driveway doesn't have suitable pull over space for a truck seems to work fine if you are able bodied enough to do it. so maybe help for the elderly is needed. Something high school volunteers could do? Sorting and transporting trash & recyclables makes me more conscious of the waste stream Not willing to pay via taxes for curbside collection of waste and recyclables. I support additional services but people should pay for their own. How about recycling required - either you do it yourself- or pay for it. I already pay for curbside pickup, I feel the price of that combined with the cost of those flimsy yellow bags adaquate. I compost food and garden waste . I could see the need for curbside waste pick up I do not need these services. Maybe when I am an old lady. I have room to compost and sort my own recycling, but others may not. I live in a rural spot so none of these apply to us. We drive to the transfer station ourselves. I live too rurally for this type of service. I support whatever leads to more recycling and composting

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I think curb side or the single sort would Is there a way to help elderly or other •be •residents who physically can't get to the helpful to older folks or those with disabilities transfer station? i tried curbside, but animals or the wind •made a mess and I like that I can go to the •the leaves should be picked up at some point in Fall! dump whenever I want, whereas its inconvenient to have to have my trash and •More profits made from recycled materials being sold will lower bag fees and recycling out on a particular day. But it would pick-up would be a lot easier if it was single stream recycling. I would be willing to pay for enhanced reuse and, where necessary, ultimate disposal. I would need to see an estimate of costs before answering this, I like the idea of curbside pickup but not at $50 a month for example I would support any of the above if it worked to get more people to recyle and compost I wouldn't use these, but if it would make a difference, please feel free to move forward with them. I'd be willing to contribute more to taxes for single stream recycling I'm already paying a pick up service for all trash and recyclables. And, I can't see any reason why folks in our town can't compost. I'm in a rural area where curbside wouldn't work I'm willing to pay, but also think it would be a burden on others

encourage recycling, education is the key and enforced penalties for those who behave irresponsibly More services for seniors at dump to ease the physical burdens of recylcling heavy objects Not really services I desire but would be willing to support if it made more people likely to compost/recycle Curbside food waste pick up and recycling pick up is an interesting idea and would probably result in more participation, however it should be up to individuals to pay for this service. The town taxes have been increasing and will more with the need for a new middle school. This town is you going to become too expensive for us working class families to live in anymore if we keep raising taxes. Also, my big concern is the out of state people I see at the dump every summer. No one seems to care. Maybe they buy yellow bags, but are they paying taxes to support the dump. Should they be charged a fee, if they are not summer residents that pay taxes?

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Is there anything you want to make sure stays the same at the transfer station? Things that should never change?

This photo directly preceded the question and some people refer to it in their response. It’s difficult to know whether or not it influenced the number of people who mention Sid, Santa, and dog biscuits. It wasn’t our intention to influence responses. Next time, we’ll provide a more generic picture, but we’re glad it made people happy!

Dog biscuits Sid Staff Sid and Ken they should stick around. Two great employees. Syd - he's the best! The staff I always want to be able to recycle Support the staff working there. recycling keep letting people bring their own stuff to recycle wherever is appropriate; keep the swap shop (expand?); you've got a great staff, very friendly; KEEP JIM GUERRA, he's awesome. the nice people who work there The helpful staff. Dog bones! Just hours Never let Sid retire or leave for any reason. He is the BEST! Keep your current staff members forever I use a similar type transfer station at my primary residence in Moore County North Carolina. This transfer station is open Monday through Saturday 7am to 7pm. They do not require recycled items to be sorted into seperate dumpsters. It all goes into one dumpster and is sorted by county employees at a different site. Trash goes into a compactor. Yellow bags are not required and there is no fee.

Pretty much all of it should stay the same. I have never experienced aore well laid out and run transfer station! Good on ya! It works! Help from employees when needed The gate art; fun stuff! friendliness and helpfulness of the staff they are always great! The personal touch of longtime employees make our transfer station feel like a community center. However good that feels though, safety comes first. I wouldn't mind single sort recycling, or some simpler designs (maybe all plastic or all paper-based cardboard and stuff in one bin) but at the same time I'm happy with it the way it is. I love Sid! people. the signs are good, clear. stay open on Saturdays please! Staff!!!!! Friendly and helpful staff, wonderful personalities. A very welcoming environment that makes going to the "dump" a pleasant experience. Thank you! Hoping bag fees do not get increased I really appreciate the least amount of sorting of recycling as possible You all are doing a great job. Thank you! see above. This is an exemplary facility in terms if great customer relations, diligent use of best practices and good PR

Keep it convenient. Maybe a one stop process would be an improvement vs recyclables then dumpster Keep the swap shop Friendly staff, dog biscuits No Sid! Sid needs to stay……give him a pay raise too! That guy right there. And Jim's committment. Thanks. Dog bones The ability to recycle all that we can recycle there is awesome. See above We love the dog biscuits! Place signs clearly identifying what is and IS NOT allowed in each disposal container most folks want to do the right thing. The great people who work there and all the recycling! I like that we don't need a sticker to enter anymore. Also the recycling system makes a lot of sense and is well set up. My dogs love the treats....and keep recycling easy Things are fine the way they are. The recycling, and the yellow bag idea Recycling

sure, the swap shop is great. i'd love for the bottle redemption to be monthly for different nonprofits though Develop ways for us to get rid of such things as paints, solvents, etc. all the time. Even when you have the waste disposal day in June it isn't always possible to get there that day, and there are still things we can't bring. When you don't provide a solution to disposal it can lead to inproper disposal. Continue to take fluorescent light bulbs please! Love the dog treats... and I don't even have a dog! Just a nice friendly smalltown touch. Wonderful, friendly helpers. The way they make little red shed (office) festive on holidays and year round with things upcycled from the transfer station Options for larger and smaller bags. Dog biscuits! Helpfulness at the entrance.

SID! Make scrapes/building materials (boards) available for people to reuse/ repurpose. Maybe a separate magazine drop? Fun to read something other than a computer once in a while. swap shop Swap shop Ability to recycle as much as possible

Can they sell the Small size yellow bags at hannaford as well as the big?

Always keep Syd :)...and the dog biscuits !

I find it to be a great place.

that we continue to allow households to sort their recyclables I love my friendly folks at the dump! Swap shop! Also the incredible team, who are unfailingly kind and helpful. Sid gives dog biscuits. The people at the gate are always very nice and helpful. That right there ^ Sid handing out dog treats. Obviously HIM ! 😍

The light-hearted reception.

The friendly people!

I like the incentive to recycle

quirky things like the above pic

Keep as many recycling options as possible. Friendly people to deal with. :-)

Great people at the gate always pleasant

Must always be open on Saturdays. It's the only day I can go. I do wonder if it would be less congested on Saturdays if it were open later one or two days a week.

Love everyone there! Keep it simple, friendly, real. Don't make unnecessary rules that will drive us crazy.

I love the humor and community spirit!

I'm a huge fan of the Lions Club service project that returns all the bottles - this benefits the folks at Coastal Opportunities, The Lions Club scholarships, and gives money back to MCSWC without the employees having to do all the work. Hooray Lions! And thanks for the MCSWC for supporting this successful project.

Dog treats must stay! Love the above pictured greeter!

the employees are awesome

Keep creating/displaying the beautiful artwork from around the community.

Swap shop is a tremendous resource, we use it all the time!

The commitment to educate folks on recycling

We have loved the "Large Plastic Bin" for recycling bulkier items like old plastic lawn chairs, old buckets, etc. Also a bin to recycle plastic bags, trash bags, small plastoc like drinking straws, the plastic rings that hold cans together, bottle caps, etc.; that is an awesome availability to reduce all those little pieces of plastic being tossed into landfills. We try to recycle as much as possible. I wish there was a place for disposable diapers where they could somehow be broken down and reused/ recycle but I am not sure if that technology exists! We are looking into more biodegradable options for things like wipes, toilet paper, etc. If only the community took more time to sort through their "trash". So much of our waste can be recycled! It is too easy to simply throw things away in public trash cans. It all ends up in a landfill somewhere. Sad. A few extra steps goes a long way. It takes everyone's participation. Would love for our community to put together a project showing the impact of mindlessly throwing out trash. Perhaps collaborating with a team at the Maine Media Workshops/recruiting volunteers to make a video/documentary of our waste disposal station right here in Camden, Maine-- our home-- to show what is really happening in our "back yard". A visual aid to promote recycling, reusing things, etc.

Great employees Syd Leach is one of the nicest and genuine people. You are very lucky to have him on your team. Keep the swap shop handy! Getting dog treats when I bring my dog is pretty cool Having Sid at the gate. We enjoy the staff; please keep them around! Our dogs love them, too! Sidney and Skip Sid at Christmas The flow from recycling and yellow bag disposal. Sid is a Community Treasure; Skip is great as well love sid! Friendly helpful staff Having to stop at the gate when you have trash in yellow bags is a real pain. Sid and dog bones. Would always want to be able to bring demolition materials to the station. I love how much we can recycle and it doesn't cost us. When I lived in Rockland it was so expensive and not friendly at all Employees should stay Allow pick station Food composting The staff are great and very helpful! The friendly people that work so hard! Great staff, convenient hours The people and their willingness to help out. Same or more ability of recycling.

Ability to recycle nearly everything Friendly and helpful staff, dog cookies, I swear, everytime we leave the house, my dog is convinced we are going to the dump. The Great Attitude of Everyone There I find it wasteful to put my trash bags into another yellow trash bag. Is it possible to switch to stickers as a form of payment? These stickers would go on each trash bag. Friendly good natured staff as shown above Santa. Dog cookies. Strange finds making an art installation Don't reduce recycling options! Recycling is great, as is Sid I appreciate knowing that the transfer station management has knowledge of environmental science and makes decisions accordingly. I wish they (Jim Guerra) would get more support from board of directors, etc, when needed. Keep Sid!! Syd! SWap shop Other than hours nothing. Sid is The Best!! As far as operations go, to this observer it all runs really well at the dump itself. As far as larger issues and concerns go, I admit to not perhaps being fully informed. The staff is fantastic and generous with support. Really appreciate that. Also, I want us to keep working to minimize throwing away material that could have been recycled. Sid is the best!!! I love the staff!

I love how organized it is and the the people are really awesome Friendly and helpful staffing at entry gate I love that we can all see the mountains of recycling plastics, etc., it is very educational. This is the best run transfer station in any town in which I have lived in New England It's all good Keep it funky, keep it real, don't change the "gate house" or displays. Don't spend money on frills and fluff and such. It is the "dump", the transfer station. I live directly across the street & am very impressed with all staff The people are great and dog friendly. Familiar faces greet us from week to week with smiles and a pleasant word. Thanks to all the staff! don't let Skip,Sid,Kenny or Gary retire till they're 80 Great people!! It's actually one of nicest places you could want for a transfer station. Nice employees and a view, plus the recycling is very well labeled and organized. Love that pirate/Santa good guy shown above! Please with current operation the swap shop Sid. No. I think it is important to make the facility evolve. It is a governmental service and should reflect efficiency of staff and finances. I hope that you can continue taking all kinds of plastic such as yogurt containers, which didn't used to be the case.

I like the dog biscuits, even though my new dog can't eat them, because she's on a grain-free diet. Biscuits for doggies! The atmosphere, everyone is kind the people are GREAT!!! love the hut decorations and the swap shop Thanks to the folks at the gate. They're all helpful and friendly. That initial positive contact as one enters will help keep users focused on proper sorting and placing of materials. Dog treats for my furry friend :) He loves dump runs! Yes, please keep Santa, the Christmas lights and decor and the dog biscuits! It would be nice to be more self sufficient rather than rely on a company to come take the trash away. It's been said that there's little or no money saved by continuing to pre-sort waste at home versus letting the transfer station or waste receiving company sort it. Is this true? If we're saving money for the towns by continuing to presort, I'd like to hear about it. Dog Treats — My dog loves going there! It's a weekly highlight for her. All the rest. The recycling drive-thru is very convenient. The picture says it all! Keep the friendly, slightly off kilter atmosphere! Its the best place to connect with neighbors and friends. All of the employees currently on staff are great. All good. being able to deposit recycleable items Flexibility The good people staffing it pleasant, friendly people at gate entrance. loves dogs. glad we have the place.

Dog treats!! The friendliness and helpfulness of the empoyees of thetransfer station. The fellows at the gate are great - very polite and helpful - keep 'em. Specific diagrams of where to put non-household trash, such as old rakes, shovels,, fluorescent bulbs, etc.would be helpful. As a single senior woman, I find taking my own trash and recyclables is easy and I have always been treated respectfully when I ask questions. Where things can improve, then do so. I need more info to make suggestions. Keep the Swap Shop! EVERTYHING SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE FOR CONSIDERATION! THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS WORLD THAT CAN'T BE IMPROVED UPON. The gate house I enjoy our dump, my husband use to go, now I do. Sometimes I even get to see an old friend and get to say hello. Things are good, though all-together recycling would be nice.... The FRIENDLINESS of the employee's is a MUST!!!!! Seeing Sid's happy face as we drive in Glasses being saved in mailbox dog cookies. :) Separation of waste The ability to dispose of all types of trash easily and within a less than 10 mile drive. Keep the local staff. They are a lot of fun to chat with and very knowledgeable. Keep helpful and people friendly, polite attendants at the gate. That man right there--he is unbelievable and so are the rest of the staff The folks are great--don't change the people!

The few times I have needed to ask questions the folks there were helpful. Keep King Triton! What a happy, feel good guy. Whatever you do, keep it simple and easy to do "the right things" Ability to recycle paper, plastic, metal, glass is critical. We recycle 100% of those items. Keep the ability to dispose of large metal waste. (dumpster) would like single stream recycling The staff is wonderful. Very helpful and pleasant. They go above and beyond. The people : ) Stay weird! I love the swap shop and the quirky decorations. Post a message each month at the bin for bottles/cans with deposit to indicate how much money is being generated for the Lion's Club. Social psychology research shows that this kind of information reinforces good habits and incentivizes others to participate. Sid Bigger swap shop The helpful staff should remain the same; Friendly employees! Santa No. Review everything not really location Change is always going to happen . . . Better information on tags as to what goes where.

Please rate your level of concern with the following things: Data clearly shows widespread concern for the environmental impact of the community as a whole. People are interested in the question of how can the community do better. The majority of respondents are more concerned with this than they are with their own personal situation.

Wow. Strong support, especially for the styrofoam ban. Support slightly lower in Rockport for both proposals.

How do you feel about the cost of waste disposal in our community (yellow bag fee)? How would people answer the same question relating to: • • • •

Groceries? Rent? Gas? Taxes?

Bag fees should be increased to pay for expanded recycling options.

Higher disposal fees lead to increased illegal dumping.

How can we best incentivize people to reduce the amount of waste we must transport to Portland for incineration?

Higher disposal fees lead to less wastefulness and more recycling. How do we make incentivize recycling and waste reduction without making the cost of responsible waste disposal out of reach for low income residents? The community is divided and/or undecided on whether or not higher disposal costs have a positive or negative effect on responsible behavior. Most seem to recognize that there are many variables.

Providing recycling bins to residents is a good use of taxpayer money.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about waste/recycling/composting in our community that we haven't asked? Please feel free to share your suggestions here. My husband Jeff might be able to help with the repair cafe. I'd also contact the makers faire folks about this thanks for your efforts! Have one more person proof read your forms before they go out. (page 5) Regarding Repair Cafe: Be sure to research the liability issues. Unfortunately, we have to be aware of such things these days. Would love to see more publicity about the Swap Shop. Single stream systems often exclude GLASS - this is bad idea more opportunities to dispose of toxic waste I think that the yellow bags are a huge waste & environmental problem. I'd love to see an alternative to that massive amount of yellow, plastic waste! Great idea... composting should be more common!!! food waste is terrible for landfills, causes methane emissions (has effects because it is a green house gas) All taxpayers fund our operations, even if those taxpayers rarely step into the facility. The operation should shy away from being a location that attracts

people into one that processes waste/ recycling and educates residents on how they can better improve their environment locally. Please replace the dilapidated signs directing people to "use this bin" where we put our yellow bags. Those signs were in bad shape 5 years ago, now they're awful. Is there a better use for the idle person who watches the area where the yellow bags and commercial trash is dumped? Couldn't a camera and speaker system watched by the gatehouse attendant accomplish the same oversight function at a fraction of the cost? a repair cafe on bicycles would be wonderful! Thanks so much to you all for the time and effort you're putting into this - much appreciated More flyers promoting recycling around town. Bank(s) Post office, Zoot Coffee etc. Change them every year! Ask the local schools to compete for the best flyer/poster. Have tours around the facility….. so many options : ) Tell us where the 'stuff' goes, who does what with it, are we really doing good for the environment .... or just going through the 'feel good' motions = show

success stories that will encourage us to do more recycling! These are great ideas! Our town should promote recycling outreach to local businesses, employee break rooms, town public bathrooms, etc A place to put plastic bags please!! The staff is very friendly. Love the repair cafe idea!! Get the paint/solvent etc. problem solved, please. I'd pay you to get rid of such properly. Needs to be an everyday thing. When the gate person told me in September I'd have to wait for June I couldn't believe it. Question re: recycling bins as a good use of tax payer money: I wasn't sure exactly what the question meant or how to answer. Is that a bin to just collect recycling to take to transfer station? If so, then no. Does it include pickup service? If so, not sure Pellet bags - are they or are they not recyclable? If so, where would they go? Composting is very important to me given so much organic matter going to waste in our community. More composting, more Recycling. My brother from PA visited and was amazed by what we all do. We have

come a very long way and are not finished. This program has made a big difference. My neighbor, in a very tight neighborhood, burns his trash. I would like to know what I can say/suggest to him. Information about it at the transfer station? I've been to the Hazardous Waste facilitie in Gray. People should be educated on this option. The set up at the dump seems backwards. It would be nice to get the stinky yellow bags dumped first and then loop to the recycling area. I think a lot of people like to put their garbage bags in last and would like to get those out first. Overall, it's well run by cari g friendly staff. Have you considered clear bags instead of yellow? This might help ID what's going into the hopper and Love Repair Cafe idea!! Being one who saves broken items "I'll fix that" and not get to some of it, Repair cafe could help remedy that! Also, I feel the manufacturing companies of products need to be more responsible for their packaging. Thanks for listening to the public

Please consider the same system as New York City. It's easy to use and the majority of the residents participate. I have seen and participated in slow steady progress in recycling and waste disposal at this facility over the past 25 years. I would like to see some form of legal waiver system to allow professionals to pick/recycle/ repurpose/sell certain items. I think that a practical system could be developed which would never be perfect, but could probably be worthwhile. Would like more options for digital and tech disposal I have dogs who would dig up anything composted and I would fear a vermin infestation if this really got underway in our town Fiberight was the better solution to the trash issue. I'm still disappointed these communities didn't get on board with Fiberight nope Can't wait to hear more about innovative and creative ideas. Keep up the good work! So far a great survey! I am wondering if the needs of the four towns from community town dwellers to

folks living more rurally will be different. Will the survey look at each town separately or even the proximity to the Rockport facility? The team at the Camden dump is wonderful. Thank you for all you do and your friendly smiles! I'd like to not put styrofoam in the trash. Hard to buy meat not on styro trays! It's great to see you exploring all of these ideas! Very exciting to think about having repair cafes, bag fees/ bans, here so we can be a more environmentally friendly community. Appreciate all efforts to keep costs affordable while doing a good job of recycling. It is important for the communities. Thanks! Could people buying bags pull over and park to pay. It slows down the flow Achievable recycling levels should be clearly defined before capital expenditures are made to handle "hoped for" recycling levels. I like the idea of the repair cafe thumbs up! Great place to meet your friends and neighbors. I feel good about recycling and helping the environment, in my small way.

The bags are too expensive for the shoddy quality; one-third of them have holes in them & they come rolled up & in a plastic sleeve !! I am not the only one with this complaint Are we planning for the closure of our landfill? It seems pretty full now. I feel single sort recycling has made a huge difference in other communities (Southern Maine) I've lived in. It could help here. I care about where our trash ends up. I support the proposal to process this waste into fuel and what ever, instead of hauling it to Portland to be incinerated. Love the repair cafe idea. It just occurred to me that taking trash recyclables to the dump is difficult for elderly, handicapped or folks who dont drive or have a car. Drop off places around town or near grocery stores? What are downsides of single stream? Or just separating paper from everything else? Knox-lincoln conservation district sells wholesale compost bins every year.

I am not sure about the styrofoam take out container ban. Think I'd need to know more about the advantages and disadvantages. Meaning - what gets used instead, and is it really a good thing? I really don't know... Love the repair cafe at the station. Wonder if the maker faire folks could play a role? Already mentioned it but municipal composting with the option to come and buy back dirt for the garden would be great. It would also reduce the yellow bag garbage. Add more recycling options and make it as easy as possible for people. I like visiting the dump and recycling as much as I can. No No, this is a great survey and I appreciate the time and effort that went into it. Pat, morning newspaper reader at the landing, does an "Excellent Job" at everyone "doing correctly right sorting at the bins" and friendly, and serious at at her job !! Love her S10 paint job !! ED All others are also "Best" !! I'm impressed that you even included Repair Cafe's. There is a great book called "Stuff" which is the first place I

heard of them, and I think they'd be a great idea for this area, where we have a lot of talented people but also a lot of people lacking funds. I am very much for recycling and reuse and do everything I can. Unfortunately, I have limited time to help organize or volunteer for either that or the Swap Shop, but I believe strongly in both so I will do what I can. I hope we can get people to recycle more - it's SO important! it is an excellent set up! Does the facility provide compost or mulch? My vision is after you pass the gate and go to the right have a large covered enclosure for users to drop off non-trash and non recycling items (electronics, small amt. of demo., reuse items, then proceed to a single drop-off where facility staff unload single-stream items to the right and yellow bags to the left. I'd love to see the transfer station start a composting system. Though we compost at home, I know many people who don't and it pains me to see

people throw food waste in the regular garbage. I have a garbage disposal, but it only gets used for the tiny bits that remain of anything, since I compost just about everything. A repair cafe is a great idea. I used to drive kids through to see the dump. School tours would be good. I am extremely dismayed at the current level of construction waste. SO much flooring/ window trim/ wood is going to the landfill. Such a waste. No pun intended should take otc and prescription drugs for safe disposal Your employees are always friendly, helpful, and polite. We need year-round hazardous waste disposal options -- like the paint return we now have. I am happy with the system in place. don't make it difficult. more information on composting would be great. create an informational booth for residents. Repair Cafes is a good idea, but an even better idea may .be to establish a for profit "Fix It Store" that sells the stuff that is repairable that it fixes. Solid waste disposal needs to be safe, cost effective, environmentally friendly

and paid for by those that use it. The operation we have now is none of these things. I think you are trying but you aren't there yet. Make it easy for people to change their behavior and they will. I wish we could find a market for #1-7 plastics. Livestock together with composting Why are the yellow bags weaker now? They tear easily. Will the dump consider a clothing/cloth dumpster? The process of end-users sorting should be called "sorting" not "recycling". End users are technically not recycling anything. Most places in Europe have bins in public places like parking lots for sorting glass and metal. At the very least, I can't see why MCSW doesn't at least have these bins outside the gate so that end users could drop off these items when the dump was closed. People without gardens might compost more if the transfer station accepted material for composting -- or, if there were a registry of farms/homeowners looking to accept compost This survey points out many ways that as a community we can collaborate to

improve our qualityof life, building more connections, learning from each other and growing stronger as towns, businesses and individuals. Not just in recycling,waste, etc. Love the idea of repair cafe! Do you have any promotional brochures available at town offices, local stores, etc., especially for people new to the area? Would be helpful! Thank you for maintaining a place to get rid of our stuff! Community education is important as a tool to keep it's citizens "on board." Keep the whole system commensurate with the size of the population and easy to use, even if it requires citizens to live to their responsibility as such. At least a few of our neighbors burn trash regularly. We have contacted one and asked him to stop -- to no avail. Can the town do anything about this? Repeat: Keep publicing trans. sat. activities week after week after week: REMIND REMIND REMIND no More PR on the why's & hows of recycling and importance of doing so. The third Saturday in June is the worst possible day for recycling. It is the single most popular day for Wedding in

the country and is the absolute height of sports days for youth leagues. I hope information about these goes to elementary and high school students. Can there be a site for food waste and yard material to be composted, similar to what Rockland does? And the compost is sold back to the public to help support the transfer station. I wish there were more options for hazardous waste disposal. I am more concerned about that than anything else. You do agreat job - my frustration is with the public - biggest complaint, not putting refundables in the bin for the Lions' Club! It's right next to the glass!!! 15 cents /wine bottle! Just moved from San Antonio, Texas where we had 3 barrels picked up at various times of the week. A brown garbage barrel for plastic bagged trash, a blue barrel for unsorted recyclables and a green barrel for compost items. No bags in the green barrel, just kitchen scraps, pizza boxes and brown paper. The blue barrel took plastic bags stuffed into a grocery plastic about the size of a basketball or medicine ball.

I am proud of our Transfer Station and ready for their leadership for better recycling and Re-Use. Love the repair cafe idea Single stream rec ycling and community curbside pickup would improve recycling by vacationers Many people base disposal on costs and will complain about bag fees, etc and yet throw most. Items away. If we, as a community, take responsibility for our trash we can easily reduce waste 50%. Many people want to do the right thing but if honest they are somewhat lazy so if they want curbside service they have. To be willing to pay for it. Draw strings or "handles" on the bags to make them easier to tie up for transportation and disposal. The ties given do not work very well and the bag is not easily tied as it is currently designed. There are plenty of bags commercially available that would easily solve this problem . Great survey...appreciate the opportunity to comment and the extensive answer options...and the dump guys are great! I really appreciate that my kids gifted me with a pick up service, but I also miss the weekly social hit!!

I think this is great what you are doing! Thank you I am going to reiterate having a Waste Management truck come by weekly/ biweekly to take trash. I feel the environmental impact from too many people driving, sitting, and letting their car idle is greater that having a truck come around to pick up trash. This survey will undoubtedly be educational for many in the community. In general I think trash disposal should be very costly, but high cost may not have the desired effect of forcing Americans to recycle/reuse/repair-we're too stubborn and selfish. Conceptually we need to set up the facility so reuse is the first and easiest choice, i.e. an integrated, nice and always open swap section. This should be part of the main facility. Would love a kindling section too. Reuse, then recycle then refuse. The organization of buildings and stations should work towards not against this. Love the repair cafe idea. love the idea of a repair cafe! I've mentioned it previously in the survey--I think there is something really important about a community being involved in their own trash removal/

recycling and visually seeing what trash removal involves (the landfill). I really appreciate having a place to take miscellaneous trash (yard waste, demo debris, etc) and find it affordable. To clarify earlier comments about batteries. All "rare earth" electronic batteries should not me mixed in with household trash. If nothing else create a separate "dump" that they can be "mined" from later. I like the way the st. George dump is set up. Able to throw out your garbage including styrofoam, paint cans for free plus wood and metal drop piles. You need to be open on Mondays. sometimes hard to mix commercial residental customers. trash should be a pay as you throw situation. pay as you throw is fair and the conservative/free market way to approach a choice... I am very concerned about the amount of litter in Rockport. Clean up needs to be factored into the budget - this should not just be shouldered by volunteers. In addition the harbor master should keep Rockport Marine Park and the beach clean. There should also be tougher fines , signage and enforcement for littering

GREAT idea to start a repair cafe. It could be quite successful with our high proportion of retirees!! The size of the facility at Palo Alto is amazing. How would we get such a space? Hannaford's accepts plastic packaging?? I had no idea. I love that you're inviting the community to contribute ideas and energy to the future of our recycling and waste disposal activities. Bravo! Am sharing the Repair Cafes video on Facebook, along with your survey. Thank you all. You are doing a great job!!! there just has to more awareness and more people caring for their town and the planet More options for construction debris other than demo pile Town offered recycling bins or a single sort system would be a plus! I think this survey is a good start for many good things that can be done to improve recycling and help our damaged environment. I am particularly heartened by the repair café concept and hope that will be implemented. You do a very good job. The Hazardous Waste days are WAAAY too expensive! I was really

shocked the one time I came. These should absolutely be free to town residents under a certain limit. This is the kind of junk that really is going to pollute the water and soil, and the towns should be encouraging proper Hazardous Waste disposal. love the idea of the repair cafe. I often have things that are too good to throw away but am not sure how to fix. would love someone to be able to get use out of it I would strongly recommend single stream recycling. It works in Scott County Iowa (we live in Bettendorf Iowa)

TAKE YOUR PLASTIC FILM TO HANNAFORD SUPERMARKETS (and other retailers) FOR RECYCLING

http://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org