DAYTON  — Following the implementation of a new waste collection policy in Dayton on Nov. 1, town residents and commercial customers are adjusting to changes as the program enters its third month.

The Dayton Board of Selectmen approved the policy Sept. 30, citing an effort to reduce taxes for the town.

Under the new policy, each residence in Dayton is limited to two 32-gallon barrels of household waste with unlimited barrels of Zero-Sort recyclable trash.

Selectmen set the current tipping fee at $74.50 per ton and reported that during the 2016-2017 time frame, the town paid $57,000 in tipping fees.

If each household in Dayton recycled an extra found pounds of trash each week, it would save the town $17,000 in tipping fees, selectmen wrote in an open letter to residents.

The select board also recommends that residents dispose of trash in barrels, but set the maximum limit for barrels at 64 gallons and mandated that those living in pickup areas with multiple addresses must have their trash clearly marked with a street address.

Recycling can be disposed of at the Rummery Road transfer station, which is open through April 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month. 

Starting May 1 and running through Oct. 31, the transfer station will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first and third full weekends monthly.

A  permit is required to bring waste to the transfer station and those are available at the Dayton Town Clerks office. Permits cost $25 and allow residents to dispose of up to 3 cubic yards of trash at a time.

Zero-Sort recycling allows residents to dispose of cardboard, plastics, newspaper, glass, magazines, metal food containers and office paper in Zero-Sort containers, but it does not accept needles, VCR tapes, batteries, hardcover books, scrap metal or yard waste. 

The nearby communities of Biddeford and Kennebunk also participate in Zero-Sort recycling programs.

For commercial entities, the new waste policy adopted by the selectmen mean that businesses will now have to start paying tipping fees. Up until Nov. 1, those waste disposal fees were paid by the town.

Dayton businesses are now be responsible for disposing of their own commercial waste.

Pine Tree Waste is the current waste contractor for Dayton, but selectmen said businesses operating in the town are free to choose a trash hauler of their own choice.

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com