One of the biggest issues facing the City the past couple of years has been trash and recycling collections. 

On Monday the Council took a first step to potentially address the issue, voting unanimously in favor of awarding a $50,000 consultant contract to Weston & Sampson Engineers Inc. to study the feasibility of a municipal transfer station. 

It was explained by Public Works Director Eric Earls that a couple months ago the sanitation division used the transfer station that Waste Management has in Warwick at the north end of Jefferson Boulevard. He said that if the City was to have their own station it would be better. 

“This would be even more beneficial,” said Earls. 

Earls pointed with its own station city trucks would spend less time on the road and instead of driving approximately 25 to 30 miles to dump trash in Johnston they would only need to go about one to four miles.

“That would allow them to get back out on their routes quicker,” said Earls. 

Earls said a station would also allow for less wear and tear on the vehicles. 

Trash and recyclables at the transfer station would be consolidated into a larger truck and then hauled to Johnston. Also, he said having the transfer station would likely eliminate the number of “rejected loads.”

What Earls means is that when the sanitation division picks up loads containing items that can’t be recycled the City gets fined $250 per Aload and loses the materials that can be recycled which causes the City to pay even more in tipping fees. 

Earls said that if the City has their own transfer station the city could sort through recyclables and remove items that can’t be recycled. 

“Now we’re not getting the rejected loads,” he said. 

It was also pointed a transfer station would be a convenience for residents. He explained that right now if someone has too much trash or recycling that individual or household would have to wait until next collection day. With the transfer station the City could look to open it to the public. 

Consultants would be asked to assess the feasibility of a municipal transfer station and its location. Earls said that the first properties looked at would be city owned properties. 

Earls said that the City could also size it to be bigger than just Warwick’s trash. 

“We could potentially offer the services to neighboring communities,” said Earls. 

Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur pointed out to a recent day when he saw a sanitation truck stuck in a line of traffic on 295, and that he is in support of pursuing the transfer station partly because it would avoid that from happening as frequently. 

Ladouceur said that he also thinks that the City could potentially charge landscapers to dispose of their yard waste instead of going somewhere else which would also increase the amount of revenue the City generates. 

Council President Steve McAllister said he is glad to see the City looking into different ways to handle the trash pick up. 

“I really appreciate you guys looking for different ways to tackle this,” said McAllister.