Fairfield commission sends transfer-station fee increases and new dumpster rules to public hearing

At its March 9 meeting the Fairfield Solid Waste and Recycling Commission voted to post proposed changes to transfer‑station fees and new regulations for dumpster placement for public hearing, with staff aiming to adopt the rules in April and implement them July 1.

Commission Chair opened the discussion and John Catell, the commission director, said the revisions respond to higher contractor costs under the town's recent contract and to recurring operational problems. "We kept our fixed rate people, fixed income people at the same rate of $2," Catell said, and recommended raising the per‑car fee from $7 to $8 to align with neighboring towns and to cover rising costs.

Why it matters: the proposed changes update how Fairfield charges residents and commercial haulers at the transfer station and add enforceable rules about where commercial dumpsters may sit on town roadways. Supporters said the rules aim to reduce public‑safety risks from dark, unmarked dumpsters and to discourage long‑term placement of construction containers in rights‑of‑way.

Details the commission discussed include maintaining a $2 rate for fixed‑income residents, raising the car entry fee to $8, and incremental adjustments for various hauler and commercial weight rates. Catell described multiple line‑item adjustments, noting that commercial haulers' rates would increase modestly and that the increments at the scale house remain in 125‑pound blocks. As Catell explained, "We're increasing the cars from $7 up to $8" and staff said they would allow some leeway for small overages during weighing.

Members also pressed for clearer dumpster requirements. One commissioner said complaints had arisen when construction dumpsters sat in roadways for months and pushed for companies to mark their equipment and use reflective tape or barriers to improve night visibility. "There needs to be a company on the dumpsters, and they need some sort of reflective or barrier so people could see," the commissioner said.

Process and next steps: the commission voted by voice to recommend posting the proposed regulation changes and fee schedule for a public hearing; staff will post the draft (with edits displayed in red) and collect comments. Catell told the panel it would hold a public hearing roughly 5–10 days after posting and return to the commission for possible adoption in April, with the rules slated to take effect July 1 if adopted.

The commission did not publish a roll‑call vote; the motion passed on a voice vote. Staff will post the full proposed regulation text and a hearing notice and report back at the commission's April meeting with public comments and final recommendations.