March 29, 2024
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Guilford residents to weigh solid waste disposal options

GUILFORD – One of three costly solid-waste options must be adopted by local residents at the annual town meeting on Monday, March 17.

Residents will decide at the 7 p.m. meeting at Piscataquis Community Middle School, whether to haul or pay someone to haul their trash to a solid-waste facility in Dexter.

Another option is to initiate curbside pickup of trash, or to build a new transfer site in town on Blaine Avenue.

If residents choose to join Mid-Maine Solid Waste Facility in Dexter, they would be responsible to haul their trash to the facility, which is open five days a week, according to Town Manager Tom Goulette. For those unable to make the trip, independent haulers would do so at a weekly cost of about $3 per household, he said.

Residents also would be required to pay a small user fee for disposal of appliances, tires, televisions and universal waste items such as fluorescent light bulbs.

The cost of the Mid-Maine Solid Waste option would be below the town’s current budget appropriation for solid waste for the year, Goulette said.

The town would pay $126,000 per year based on tonnage now being transported to the Penobscot Energy Recovery Co.

Since Mid-Maine also is a PERC member, Guilford would continue to honor its PERC contract.

The initial cost for this option could be lowered if residents recycled more, he said.


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