Selectmen approve small compost pilot at transfer station

The Selectmen approved a plan by Chickadee Compost to establish a small composting operation at the transfer station. Kate Tompkins and Mark Carter presented a design calling for covered totes, mixing piles and solar-powered fans to aid aerobic breakdown of materials. Tompkins said the curing time for finished piles would be about six to eight weeks and that the approach would be low‑cost to start.

Board members asked operational questions about lids and sourcing carbon materials for the mixes; presenters said they had suppliers for shavings and other bulking material. Selectmen gave informal approval to proceed with the pilot subject to operational details and appropriate regulatory compliance.

The board emphasized minimizing odors and avoiding seafood waste on town property to keep gulls away from the airstrip and public areas.

Tompkins and the town manager agreed to continue coordinating logistics, permitting and monitoring of the pilot.