Simsbury Waste Disposal Fees Going Up

SIMSBURY, CT — Starting July 1, it will cost you a bit more to dump bulky waste at Simsbury's transfer station.

And, according to town officials, you can thank inflation and high fuel prices for that.

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen June 13 quickly and unanimously approved a new fee schedule for the town's transfer facility, which is located at 66 Wolcott Road.

Selectmen didn't discuss the matter much other than to vote, but Simsbury Director of Public Works Thomas J. Roy explained the situation to selectmen before they voted.

"This one was pretty straightforward," he said.

Roy said Simsbury doesn't operate the facility with town staff, but rather it hires Paine's Inc. out of East Granby to operate and manage the facility.

In return, Paine's is paid through the fees paid by transfer station users.

Citing higher fuel prices that have impacted transportation costs and other inflationary economic measures that have occurred since the town signed on with Paine's three years ago, Roy said Paine's is asking the town for higher fees.

Despite the hike, however, Roy said Farmington's fees are still lower than at comparable town sites and the increases themselves are, relatively, small.

"Looking it over, it still seems pretty reasonable," Roy said.

For example, the cost to dispose of single, small items will go up from $12 to $15 and disposal costs are going up by about $5 per car, pickup truck and trailer load.

In addition, the annual permit fee would increase from $20 to $25.

"These costs are generally comparable or less than the fees charged by other municipalities for similar services," wrote Roy and Simsbury Town Manager Maria Capriola in written paperwork submitted to the council.

To watch the full Simsbury Board of Selectman meeting, visit this link.

To see the new fee schedule, click on this link and scroll to page 44.