The leaf and brush disposal area, currently brimming with tree debris from last week’s storm, will be permanently shut down on Friday, June 1.

Last fall Randy McMullin, environmental specialist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, told the town of Windham that the leaf and brush pile is considered a garbage transfer station and is operating without a permit.

“We have been advised that the town could spend $12,000 to $25,000 to go through the permitting process, but that it was unlikely we would be granted a permit because of the nature of the site,” said Tony Plante in a press release. The leaf and brush pile is located within 500 feet of a residential house, too close to meet transfer station standards.

Public Works Director Douglas Fortier said he was told by McMullin “You don’t meet the setbacks, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.” The leaf and brush pile is currently located next to the public works building and Fortier said that a new location would not be supervised for illegal dumping.

“You could end up with a lot of trash: couches, TVs, etc.,” he said.

After the closing, Plante has advised Windham residents to take their yard waste to either Riverside Recycling at 910 Riverside Street in Portland (797-6200), or Plan-It Recycling & Transfer at 18 Gorham Industrial Parkway in Gorham (854-5353).