The Waterville Valley Select Board convened a special meeting on October 14, 2026, for the second of two public hearings on the proposed transition to a transfer station-only solid waste collection model (link). The hearing addressed the rationale for the change, operational details of the new system, financial implications, and a range of questions and concerns raised by residents in attendance.
Background and Rationale for Change
The Select Board established the Municipal Solid Waste Committee approximately five to six years ago to address two primary concerns: expanding recycling efforts and preparing for the eventual closure of the Casella-operated landfill in Bethlehem, which Waterville Valley currently uses for waste disposal (link). That landfill is now officially closing on December 31st of this year. The next closest landfill, located in Berlin, carries an estimated closure date of 2035, if not sooner, leaving limited regional options for waste disposal (link).
The current collection system — a single town-owned truck serving 68 dumpsters across town and hauling waste to the landfill — has been identified as a single point of failure. The truck is prone to breakdowns, which tend to occur during busy holiday periods and cause significant disruptions. Replacing the truck, which would be necessary to continue the current system, would cost approximately $350,000. The existing model also requires two Department of Public Works (DPW) employees for three eight-hour shifts, plus travel time to the landfill, in addition to staffing the transfer station, which must remain open for residents and properties without dumpsters (link).
The New Transfer Station Model
Transitioning to a transfer station-only model is intended to create a centralized waste collection point, improve DPW staffing efficiency, and allow for the eventual introduction of single-stream household recycling, targeted for 2027 (link).
For the initial transition period, the town has contracted to rent two compactors with enclosed holding containers. These units will run on single-phase electricity and are designed with pedestrian-height access so residents can deposit waste directly. The town has engaged engineers to develop a longer-term final design, though the scope of that work will depend on how the transition period unfolds. A longer-term plan had called for a drive-up ramp and barn structure to accommodate a full-size compactor, but those decisions will be informed by the transition experience.
The Board acknowledged that single-stream recycling carries a higher cost per ton than landfill disposal. However, a 2023 survey found a significant majority of town voters supported implementing household recycling even at a higher cost (link). The initial rollout will focus on residential solid waste, with recycling to follow.
Financial Implications
A cost comparison was presented, showing proposals for potential three-year contracts with either Waste Management (WM) or Casella, as well as transition-period rental costs (link). The current annual cost for the trash portion of the existing system — comprising tipping fees and per-ton charges, not including labor — is approximately $60,000. When other operational costs are included (but excluding the purchase of a new truck), the total current system cost is estimated at $188,000 (link). The Board indicated that quarterly fees currently charged to property owners are expected to be reviewed and potentially reduced significantly as the new system matures, with an estimate that those costs could be halved over time.
Operations and Schedule
The transfer station will initially operate three days per week: Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. Sunday hours are extended to accommodate skiers returning from the mountain, while the Thursday slot is intended for residents who leave town midweek (link).
Beginning December 1st, condominium owners whose associations have not contracted with an outside hauler will be expected to bring their waste directly to the transfer station. Single-family homeowners already use this system. All residential properties have been allocated two placards for transfer station access, which can be picked up at the transfer station if not yet received.
Residents are also reminded that the transfer station accepts electronics, battery-operated devices, mattresses, tires, and construction debris. It also hosts the Swap Shop. A public safety notice was issued during the hearing: residents were urged not to dispose of batteries in their regular trash, as a fire was ignited in the collection vehicle just the prior day when improperly discarded batteries came into contact with one another (link).
Public Questions and Board Responses
Residents raised a range of questions and concerns during the hearing:
Cost Comparison and Service Level: A resident noted that condo associations are receiving quotes of approximately $226 per dumpster per month from private haulers. Applied across 68 dumpsters, that would total roughly $184,000 annually. The resident questioned whether the town should instead contract directly with a private hauler on behalf of all properties, arguing this might provide equivalent service at comparable or lower cost relative to what residents currently pay in aggregate. The Board responded that this option had been explored years ago and found to be more expensive at that time, and that locking the town into a private hauler contract would leave it vulnerable to significant price increases (link). A staff member noted that the current town service frequently involves picking up dumpsters that are only partially full — sometimes two or three times per week during holidays — a level of responsiveness that a private weekly pickup schedule would not replicate (link). The Board also emphasized that any analysis must account for single-family homeowners, who do not have dumpsters and would be subsidizing a condo-focused dumpster service through their taxes.
“Paying Twice” Concern: Several residents expressed concern that condo associations contracting with private haulers would effectively be paying twice — once through their HOA for private pickup and again through town fees supporting the transfer station. The Board clarified that using private haulers is a voluntary choice; all residential properties may use the transfer station at no additional cost, so associations opting for private service are doing so as a convenience.
Dumpster Removal: The plan for handling existing town dumpsters involves coordinating pickup through the DPW. Businesses have been asked to allow temporary placement of dumpsters outside their enclosures so that private haulers can swap them out. Approximately 20 to 25 dumpsters in good condition will be offered for sale; the remainder will be scrapped. The existing trash truck must be retained for approximately eight to nine months until its loan is paid off (link).
Corral Rebuilding Requirements: Associations that choose to retain dumpsters and use a private hauler will be required to rebuild their enclosures to comply with Select Board Ordinance 21 by July 31st of next year (link). The ordinance is enforced through the town’s zoning enforcement process, with penalties and fines specified in the ordinance. A resident suggested that, given the short notice of these changes, an extension to the July 31st deadline would be reasonable, and a Board member indicated that associations could bring such a request to a future Select Board meeting.
Recycling Vote: A resident requested that the town hold another vote at Town Meeting on the question of household recycling, citing meaningful changes in the tax rate and overall cost picture since the 2023 survey. The Board acknowledged the comment but noted that recycling costs are not included in the current cost projections, meaning actual costs could be higher (link).
Shipping Waste to Concord: A question was submitted asking whether the town had explored sending waste to an incinerator facility in Concord after it was asked last month. The Board confirmed that this was not reviewed recently but the option had been seriously investigated in a prior year — a contract offer was even obtained — but was ultimately rejected. The facility has strict requirements about the contents of waste fed into the incinerator, and because the town does not control what residents place in their trash bags, bringing unmonitored waste to that facility would expose the town to significant fines. A pay-per-bag system with DPW monitoring could potentially make that option viable in the future, but the town is not pursuing it at this time (link).
The Board took all public comments under advisement as the town moves into budget season and continues to implement the transition to the new solid waste system.