New Dumpster Regulations Come With a Fee

New regulations have been adopted by the for businesses and any building with a dumpster. 

Under the new regulations, dumpsters must be placed on top of an "impervious pad" made of either cement or asphalt. Lou-Ann C. Clement, public health director, said this will help prevent run-off from getting in town drains.

There are two kinds of dumpsters that need permits - short-term and long-term dumpsters. Short-term dumpsters are those that are used for renovations and constructions purposes, meaning they will not always be on the property, according to Clement.

Long-term dumpsters are those that belong to a business and will permanently be found on the property. 

The process of approval for both kinds comes with a fee. People with long-term dumpsters can expect to pay $40 for the permit for the first dumpster. Any additional one after that will cost $20, Clement said. 

Short-term dumpsters will cost $20 for 90 days, renewable for 180 days in total, according to Clement.

The reason for the new regulations, said Clement, is to keep the town from being fined by the Department of Environmental Protection in the future. Environmental and health concerns were also part of the reason for the new regulations, she said.

The regulations were adopted on April 7, and took effect on May 12. But, because of the short staff at the Board of Health, notices were sent out only three weeks ago. 

Clement said that as of now, not many businesses have complained about the new program. She's only had to field questions. 

"Our goal is to get each dumpster permitted and the locations approved," Clement said, "because it's a new regulation we'll go slow. We'll send letters and as long as people are cooperative and keep us in the loop I don't see an issue." 

There isn't a specific date set for when businesses need to have their permits ready, but Clement said they should make it a priority to begin the process as soon as notification is received.

For Phil French, manager at , the new regulations are not a problem. 

"I think they (are) fair and I think they should help the town," French said. "Everybody is trying to get their share and this is just part of running a business."