Standish recently made permanent a new schedule for its transfer station that was being trialed over the course of the summer.

The new schedule, in effect since June 2, increases the number of days that the station is open from four to six. The transfer station is closed on Wednesdays. Sticker fees are also increasing from $25 to $40.

John Cross, Standish’s director of Public Works, spoke to Lakes Region Now at the beginning of the trial period and said the new schedule came about because of Standish’s growing population. The rapid development in recent years even spurred a discussion of a moratorium on large-scale subdivisions. While sticker usage has increased, officials said the total volume of trash has not changed.

Lines at the station stretched out the gate some weekends, Cross said, so the town hoped the new schedule would help to spread the traffic out.

After three months on the new schedule, Cross said congestion at the station has decreased significantly. He said prior to the changes, it could see up to 2,000 cars a day on Sundays, a number that has decreased by 500 since the new schedule was implemented. Cross said the change has created a safer environment at the station, with fewer lines and less frustration for people trying to drop off their trash.

The transfer station staff are largely in favor of the change, Cross said. He said employees didn’t want to have to “hop back and forth” between schedules when the trial period was slated to end next month, and preferred having a consistent schedule.

Cross said that, in a survey regarding the future of the transfer station, 94% of respondents voted in favor of keeping the new schedule. The changes involve an overall pay increase of $40,000 for transfer station staff. Cross said the town is trying to make the schedule changes permanent without increasing the municipal budget by having other areas within the budget absorb the increased costs.

When asked about how seasonal changes would impact the new schedule, Cross said it would be the same year-round, closing only if Town Hall closes. He said the transfer station would now close on all holidays in order to match the town schedule.