Transfer station manager says commercial haulers are overwhelming Plymouth facility

The Plymouth transfer station manager, Jim, told the Select Board that recent weekends have produced heavy surges of construction and commercial loads that strain a facility set up for residential disposal. “Last week, we averaged about 35 tons of trash,” Jim said, describing multiple contractors dumping several tons in a few hours and furniture stores leaving bulky items for weekend drop‑off.

Board members and staff discussed immediate and longer‑term responses. One member proposed requiring construction contractors to use private haulers and on‑site dumpsters: “Anybody doing construction has to have a private hauler with a dumpster on‑site,” a board member said. Jim said he does have enforcement authority: “I, as a solid waste operator through the state of New Hampshire DES regulations, I have the right to refuse anybody that is not complying with our rules and regulations,” he said, and that the transfer station can shut off service if stockpiled loads threaten capacity.

The board weighed operational fixes (clearer signage, targeted flyers and weekly updates to the public) against capital work. Several members backed adding a dedicated C&D roll‑off and associated site work as a capital improvement project if policy changes and enforcement do not reduce commercial dumping. Board members asked staff to draft clearer signage and a customer‑notice plan and to return with an enforcement and CIP cost estimate for a potential dedicated C&D pad.