HomeMy Public PortalAboutSolid Waste Summary Paper1 | P a g e
BREWSTER VISION PLANNING COMMITTEE
SUMMARY PAPER
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
July 2022
I. BACKGROUND
Solid waste management is a critical activity designed to protect human health and the
environment while providing a service at a reasonable cost and supporting the economy. Many
municipalities, including Brewster, have assumed this important management role by providing
either a transfer station or even curbside collection.
Over the years, the Town of Brewster has utilized a variety of solid waste strategies beginning with
the landfill located at Run Hill Road. During the 1980’s the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (MassDEP) began looking at more environmentally advanced
technologies to manage waste, rather than simple burial in a landfill. New regulations were
adopted at the state level and the Town of Brewster began the lengthy process of closing its
landfill. The current transfer station building was built in 1988 and designed for trash hauling.
The SEMASS Partnership Agreement was signed in 1985 by the Town of Brewster after significant
negotiation along with the other Cape Towns that had joined together to maximize leverage in the
volatile waste disposal market. By utilizing waste-to-energy as the preferred technology for trash,
the Towns reduced the amount of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to trash disposal while
generating electricity. The initial 30-year contracts required that all waste be delivered to SEMASS
either via the “trash train” or by direct haul. Minimum tonnage was set requiring the Town to “put
or pay” meaning a Town could not divert waste elsewhere for processing or disposal. This was not
a problem during the original term of the contract as recycling was not emphasized by the
Commonwealth at the time. The SEMASS Partnership Agreement was originally due to expire in
2015.
The SEMASS facility was constructed, owned, and operated by Energy Answers Corporation until it
was acquired by Covanta in 2008. SEMASS shreds and burns the trash to produce steam that in
turn powers two turbines, each capable of producing eighty megawatts of electricity. Brewster’s
trash was and is combusted on-site at the Rochester facility and the resulting energy produced
was, and continues to be, sold to the power grid.
In 1990, the MassDEP, introduced waste bans on many recyclable items as well as those
containing toxic materials. To date, the waste bans cover the materials as found on the
Department’s website, specifically MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans | Mass.gov. Once introduced,
the Town began its recycling program in earnest, while continuing to send its residual, non-
recyclable waste, to SEMASS for energy production.
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In parallel with negotiations with SEMASS for a new agreement in 2010, the Recycling Commission
began discussing ways to reduce how much of Brewster’s waste was sent to SEMASS. The new
contract negotiated by the Town and effective January 01, 2011, allowed for any legitimate waste
reduction, reuse, or recycling program to be implemented with no penalty. The Town chose to
renegotiate 5 years early to keep future tip fees in check by providing stable, below market rates
until 2030.
In addition, a recommendation by the DPW and the Recycling Commission to prohibit commercial
waste haulers from using the transfer station was enacted by the board of Selectmen and effective
January 1, 2011. There was strong sentiment that since the private (commercial) haulers were not
requiring recycling for their customers, that the Town taxpayers should no longer subsidize the
cost of their disposal at SEMASS.
II. RECENT ACTIONS BY THE TOWN
Late 2013 proved to be a turning point for Brewster’s solid waste management plans and
techniques. After several years of research, discussion, public outreach and public meetings,
effective October 1, 2013, the Town implemented Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) as a means of
increasing recycling and decreasing the volume of trash for disposal. The program began in
October intentionally, being a slower season, which allowed for any bumps to be smoothed out
with full time residents. At the same time, the Recycling Commission also re-branded the facility,
changing its name to the Brewster Recycling Center, as materials were either recycled or re-used
in the production of energy. Extraordinarily little that leaves the Recycling Center is actually
landfilled, most being recycled or reused.
During the first full year, the PAYT program resulted in a 47% reduction in waste for transport to
SEMASS for energy recovery and an increase of 26% recycling. To assist in the reduction of waste,
through a MassDEP grant, the DPW obtained more home composting bins. The subsidized bins
sold out quickly. Their use also helped reduce the weight and volume of waste that was
transported off Cape for processing. In total these changes resulted in net savings for the Town
and compelled permit holders to think about the waste they were generating, its cost, proper
management, and consequences.
Since the introduction of PAYT, the Town has continued to derive benefit from the program,
despite COVID and the increase in the Town’s population. For FY 16, which was the first truly full
year of PAYT, the permit holders generated 1,241.09 tons of trash and 851.88 tons of recyclables.
The amounts recycled and sent for energy recovery are remarkably consistent, with only small
yearly variations. For example, in comparison, FY 21 permit holders generated 1,213.11 tons of
waste and 847.82 tons of recyclables. Many variables affect these numbers including light-
weighting of most packaging and the gain or loss of recycling markets.
The Town has added other opportunities, too, such as organics recycling, to help decrease the
amount of material that is sent off-site for combustion. More recently, permit users were asked to
separate newsprint and glass, to save money, but also to make sure these materials are managed
better. Collections for e-waste, hazardous waste, mattresses, and yard waste continue to be
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successful and desired by permit users. To assist with cost, the Town has received grants,
submitted by the DPW, to help educate residents, as well as to purchase additional equipment,
obviating the need to use taxpayer funds.
The Swap Shop responsibility was moved to the DPW resulting in more usable items being left
rather than items that were no longer fit for use. New rules were drafted and instituted by new
volunteers at the shop, resulting in more materials being diverted from Brewster’s waste stream.
Changes continued to occur following the success of the PAYT program. Waste practices at all
Town offices and facilities were evaluated and recommendations made for change when
appropriate. As a result, a recycling program was established at all of our beaches and
recreational areas.
Several Town bylaws have been passed including a ban on single-use plastic bags and the sale of
single-use plastic bottled water by Brewster businesses; and a ban on single-use bottled water by
Town Departments. The latter followed a significant outreach campaign, co-sponsored by the
Brewster Water Department and the Brewster Recycling Commission called “Drink Brewster Tap.”
And the changes continue. Additional textile recycler options are being brought on board in
advance of a new textile waste ban effective November 2022. Admission to the Recycling Center
will be more seamless now that license plate reader technology has been implemented.
Prior to the pandemic, the Brewster Recycling Commission was continually active in community
outreach to promote better management of household waste. The Commission held on-site
education whenever a new initiative was launched; they did an on-site survey of users; they held a
Trash Education forum for residents; they sent letters and visited businesses before and after new
initiatives were begun; and they produced multiple flyers etc. to communicate these significant
changes to the public. The Chair also wrote monthly articles for the Cape Codder primarily on the
topic of better solid waste solutions for the Town of Brewster.
III. KEY ISSUES MOVING FORWARD
There are two major challenges facing good solid waste management in Brewster:
1. Changes in the recycling industry as to what and how to recycle; and
2. Re-education of patrons regarding the importance of these changes.
The recycling industry must continually adapt to new materials and new ways to manage those
materials. To process materials effectively at MRFs (Material Recovery Facilities), a combination of
mechanical and human separation is necessary. This means that some small (ex. less than 3”) or
unique (ex. multi-material cartons) materials cannot be effectively recycled and thus, should be
discarded at the local level, rather than included in our large recycling containers.
For the system to work effectively, residents must follow the Recycling Guide to maximize what
can and should be recycled. Wishing or thinking that products can be recycled only contaminates
loads and reduces the material that actually does get recycled. Unfortunately, there are many
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misconceptions based on inaccurate social media posts which frustrate and discourage residents
from recycling.
While there are many ways to communicate change, it is never simple and there does not appear
to be one universally acceptable method of communication in Brewster. The Town provides
updated information through its website and social media pages, as well as in the print media,
however, the information is not always readily absorbed or seen by all residents.
As an alternative to providing solid waste management through the Recycling Center, the Town
could choose to use total curbside collection for trash and recyclables and compliance could be
better. There are many Massachusetts and nation-wide communities which have municipal trucks
and drivers, or they bid out town-wide curbside collection to a private hauler. Having curbside
collection does provide the opportunity to interact with each homeowner regarding their home
trash management activities via educational or rejection notices as used in many municipalities,
but there is a significant cost to town-wide collection and a feeling of loss of control by
homeowners, both issues which would need to be overcome.
There are two major challenges facing good solid waste management in Brewster:
1. Changes in the recycling industry as to what and how to recycle; and
2. Re-education of patrons regarding the importance of these changes.
The recycling industry must continually adapt to new materials and new ways to manage those materials.
To process materials effectively at MRFs (Material Recovery Facilities), a combination of mechanical and
human separation is necessary. This means that some small (e.g., less than 3”) or unique (e.g., multi-
material cartons) materials cannot be effectively recycled and therefore should be discarded at the local
level, rather than included in our large recycling containers.
For the system to work effectively, residents must follow the Recycling Guide to maximize what can and
should be recycled. Wishing or thinking that products can be recycled only contaminates loads and reduces
the material that actually does get recycled. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions based on
inaccurate social media posts which frustrate and discourage residents from recycling.
While there are many ways to communicate change, it is never simple and there does not appear to be one
universally acceptable method of communication in Brewster. The Town provides updated information
through its website and social media pages, as well as in the print media, however, the information is not
always readily absorbed or seen by all residents.
As an alternative to providing solid waste management through the Recycling Center, the Town could
choose to use total curbside collection for trash and recyclables and compliance could be better. There are
many Massachusetts and nation-wide communities which have municipal trucks and drivers, or they bid
out town-wide curbside collection to a private hauler. Having curbside collection does provide the
opportunity to interact with each homeowner regarding their home trash management activities via
educational or rejection notices as used in many municipalities, but there is a significant cost to Town-wide
collection and a feeling of loss of control by homeowners, both issues which would need to be overcome.
To maximize recycling, reuse activities, and reduction of the amount of waste generated by Brewster’s
homeowners, the following is recommended:
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1. Recycling Center user-wide survey (based on permits) to determine the most effective method of
communication so that changes in procedures can take quickly place when most economically
advantageous to the Town.
2. A local on-going multi-media campaign covering what, why and how to recycle typical household
materials.
IV. BUILDING BLOCK GOAL
To manage a municipal solid waste system that protects public health, safety, and the environment,
optimizes financial methods, communicates effectively with users, and employs innovative strategies to
reduce solid waste and related costs.