Jan Gottesman
milbury sutton chronicle
Millbury – Local officials have been aware of new state regulations regarding mattress disposal since earlier this year, but the state has only recently announced new rules.
Millbury will charge $45 to dispose of mattresses after November 1st. If you want to get rid of the set (mattress and box spring) it will be $90. But that’s only for so-called clean mattresses. Extra charges apply for mattresses that are too dirty to recycle.
DPW Director Keith Caruso met with elected officials for the first time at the October 11th meeting, followed by an informational meeting with the State Department of Environmental Protection on October 17th, followed by an update at the October 18th board meeting. did. regulation.
Initially, it was thought the town could charge $40 to recycle mattresses, but residents would also have to purchase clear plastic bags. These are available at city halls and transfer stations and are more expensive.
This fee covers the town fee for a company called Tuff Stuff Recycling to collect the mattresses and the rent of the dumpster at the transfer station.
The bags contain bed bugs so transfer station staff don’t have to deal with used and dirty mattresses.
“If you lose the bag for any reason, you can submit a form saying there will be an additional charge of $5,” Caruso said. “Then you can come back and buy another bag.”
The bag is king size so all mattresses will fit.
This price will last until July 1st, the beginning of the next fiscal year. DPW can get a better sense of how many mattresses to pick up and how many times Tuff Stuff needs to be called to pick them up.
DEP says the community charges between $25 and $70 for each piece, Caruso said.
An additional $15 will be charged if the mattress is determined to be non-recyclable due to its condition. The decision is made by the staff at the transfer station.
“Mass. DEP says it will take time before mattresses become unacceptable,” Caruso said. “Across the state, maybe 1% or 2% are nonconforming mattresses.”
If a Millbury resident does not have a transfer station sticker or does not have a vehicle to bring the mattress to the transfer station, there is a $55 per unit charge for curbside pickup through the company rather than at the Town Hall. . Mattresses must be brought to the curb.
A 20-foot sealed container is located behind the Staging Station building where the Boy Scouts are currently located.
“We do the stacking” inside the container, Caruso said.
The regulation was expected, but Caruso said it was difficult to get a cost estimate until the regulation was announced.
“Now they’re coming out of the woodwork,” says Green Mattress, another company Millbury DPW considered, which required a $55-per-piece fee.
DPW recovered 39 mattresses in June and 40 in July. It dropped to 20 and 21 in August and September respectively. Selectman Scott Depres said he will be released in June when the transit station permit is released. Previously, a resident could drop off his one mattress for free.
“We are not the only ones suffering from this,” Caruso said. “Everyone seems to be running around trying to find a career.”
