Gray--Household
Hazardous Waste (HHW) days at the Gray Sand and Salt
Shed last Saturday was another success. In its third
year, and in the spirit of regionalization, several
area towns get together annually and split the cost
of having environmental collection company come out
to help collect household hazardous waste.
Above, New Gloucester Selectmen Chair Steve Libby
checks in a customer, who proceeds to the line where
appropriately garbed helpers would remove the items
from the vehicle trunk. The Monument: Prata photo
This year, EPI from Gray was the company helping residents
from Gray, New Gloucester, Pownal and North Yarmouth
dispose of any accumulated toxic, poisonous, flammable,
corrosive, or reactive items lingering in their garages
or basements. Normally there is a cost to dispose
of these items but during the Annual HHW days, fees
to the residents are waived and the four towns split
the disposal fees.
The Gray Solid Waste Committee worked very hard to
organize the details of the event, and were on hand
at the adjacent transfer Station in successive weeks
prior to the HHW days handing out flyers and promoting
the opportunity.
In conjunction with HHW days, the Gray Transfer Station
sponsored Green-Up weekend, where residents were able
to drop off large scale items off for free. Televisions,
computer monitors, pressure treated wood were all
accepted at no additional fee. The Town of Gray hosts
Green-up days twice per year.
Gray residents are required to have purchased a sticker
to access the Transfer Station. Mr. Berkowitz and
Solid Waste Committee members scanned the vehicles
in line for compliance. Mr. Berkowitz reported that
during his 4-hour stint at the gate, over 500 residents
came through and 119 stickers were sold.
Here, Peter Thoits of the Gray Solid Waste Committee
and Manager Berkowitz check waiting vehicles for stickers.
Stickers cost $5 and are good for the year. There
were varying degrees of responses to the news that
residents must purchase a sticker to get in. One resident
refused to buy one and so he parked outside the gate
and walked in. he walked out carrying a discarded
computer monitor.
