Stockbridge Transfer Station tripling yearly rate
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. (NEWS10) -- The Stockbridge Transfer Station has been charging residents $50 to dump all their trash for more than a decade. Starting July 1, the yearly rate is increasing to $150.
Town Supervisor, Michael Canales, says to meet the demands of the station, property taxes have been increased in years past instead. "It just opened up the question: Should it be the users that are paying since it's not something everybody uses or should it be that the entire community pays for through taxation?"
But not everyone in town says they agree with the Town’s vote.
"I'm concerned with raising something that's a necessity three times," said Carol Owens. "Most of the people that are full-time residents of this town are retired seniors like myself and we can't afford it," added Harold French.
People in the area told NEWS10's Anthony Krolikowski that bears are a common sight. The transfer station is a solution for homeowners who bring their trash daily.
Area businesses will be coughing up double. "I payed like $150 last year and now it's $300. I pay plenty of taxes already to the Town and to the County and stuff so I don't that's really reasonable for them to charge us that much," described Claire Raposo, Owner of The Lost Lamb.
To back its decision, the Town put together a list of how much nearby stations charge and how long they stay open for:
| TOWN | FEES | HOURS |
| Great Barrington | $550 (1 only & replacement w/doc. $35) or $85 plus pay/bag @ $3.50 - $7.25 | FRI 8:00am - 3:00pm, SAT 7:00am - 3:00pm SUN 10:00am - 3:00pm |
| Sheffield | $250 | TUES & FRI: 1 - 4pm, SAT: 8 am - 4pm, SUN: 8:30am - 2pm |
| Monterey | Wed & Sat: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, Sunday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | |
| New Marlborough | $225 | Sunday 9 am - 1 pm Wed 9 am 1 pm, Sat 9 am- 3 pm |
| Lee | No Town Facilities | |
| Lenox | No Town Facilities | |
| Richmond | Town Home Pickup | |
| West Stockbridge | Looking at sticker fees | Tues & Thurs: 10:00am - 6:00pm Saturday: 8:00am to 6:00pm |
| Alford | $50 (required for each household in Alford) | Tuesdays: 7am to 12pm, Saturdays: 8am to 12pm |
| North Adams | $60 permit plus charged scale weight per drop off (min $10) or plus bags @ $ 1.50 - $3.00 each | Tues - Sat 7:00 am - 2:00 pm |
| Adams | $100/permit plus $1.60/bag | Sat: 7:30am to 3:00pm May 1st - September 15th: Thursdays: 3pm - 7pm |
| Sandisfield | $90 | Wed- 2:00pm -4:00pm Sat - 9:00am- 2:00pm, Sun- 11:00am -4:00pm |
| Otis | $90 residential, $300 commercial, $300 STR | Mon- 7AM -3PM, Thurs- 10AM -6PM Sat- 7AM - 3PM, Sun- 9AM to 4PM |
| Becket | $80 (bags $2 each) | Tuesday & Sat: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Suggested Stockbridge | $150 resid. w/2nd for $50 (2MAX) $300 Commercial (1 MAX) $300 Short Term Rentals (1MAX) | 7 days a week operation |
Stockbridge sees itself as a competitive provider. "Neighboring communities that are as high as $550 or some that are lower than us buy charge dumping per bag fee, or other fees that end up being $500+ for an average family," stated Canales.