Warren closes transfer station to Barrington residents

Barrington town manager not pleased with Warren's decision

Posted 8/22/17

For years, Barrington residents were allowed to bring their trash to the Warren transfer station as part of an agreement between the two neighboring towns.

But recently Warren officials began …

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Warren closes transfer station to Barrington residents

Barrington town manager not pleased with Warren's decision

Posted

For years, Barrington residents were allowed to bring their trash to the Warren transfer station as part of an agreement between the two neighboring towns.

But recently Warren officials began barring Barrington residents from the transfer station, forcing local folks to haul their trash to the central landfill in Johnston. 

Warren Town Manager Jan Reitsma said the decision came after officials reviewed a town ordinance that reportedly stated the transfer station could not accept waste from non-Warren residents. Mr. Reitsma said the ordinance was being reviewed by the town's solicitor.

"Over time, the transfer station in Warren accepted a lot of waste it should not have," said Mr. Reitsma. 

The decision to turn away Barrington residents from the transfer station has not pleased Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha. 

"Jan and I had a conversation about why they chose to close it to Barrington residents," said Mr. Cunha. "I could understand if there was a cost to Warren, but there's not. The Barrington residents are paying for it."

In the past, Barrington residents using the transfer station would pull their vehicles onto a scale located at the Birch Swamp Road facility in Warren, have their haul weighed, and then dump the trash. The Barrington residents would pay a price per pound rate.

Mr. Reitsma said his town had to pay about $12,000 recently to repair the scale at the transfer station. He added that increased use of the Warren transfer station was also pushing his town closer to the "cap" at the central landfill; once the town exceeds the cap it would need to pay a higher tipping fee. Mr. Reitsma said officials need to conduct a cost-benefit-analysis.

"We could raise the rates," he added.

Mr. Reitsma said he was "aware of the need" for a transfer station in the East Bay, but felt that Barrington, Warren and Bristol officials need to discuss the issue. 

"The towns need to get together on this," he said, "but that's easier said than done."

Mr. Reitsma also questioned whether municipal governments should be in the business of running a transfer station. He said that the venture might be better run as a private business. 

"Then the question is 'Who wants that in their backyard?'" he said. "We need to think about this. There needs to be a discussion."

In the meantime, Barrington residents needing to get rid of large quantities of trash can either haul their own loads to Johnston or they can rent a Dumpster. 

"Not only does this decision by Warren hurt (Barrington) residents doing self-help projects, but it hurts small businesses too," said Mr. Cunha. He added that opening the transfer station to Barrington residents would be "the neighborly thing to do."

Mess at Latham

Mr. Cunha is concerned that closure of the transfer station to Barrington residents will result in more illegal dumping in town. He was recently enjoying a walk around Latham Park in Bay Spring when he spotted a large pile of construction debris at the base of the park's flag pole. 

"There were two or three pieces of wall-board and some framing," Mr. Cunha said. 

The town manager called the department of public works and a few minutes later a town crew had cleaned up the mess. 

"I think we will see more of this," said Mr. Cunha of the littering.

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