Busses and recycling concerns

The possibility of housing the District 13 bus depot at the transfer station has some Middlefield town officials concerned, citing the need for room to expand.

Middlefield Finance Director Joe Geruch said that soon towns will need to set aside areas within their transfer stations in order to recycle electronics.

"I have concerns about using DMIAAB land for anything but trash," Geruch said. "If we use up all the available land there, and then we need to meet this requirement, where is it going to go?"

District 13 Business Manager Ron Melnik said that in his conversations with DMIAAB officials, it was stated that the electronic recycling requirements will not have a significant impact on the site.

"They don't see it as a space issue," Melnik said.

The transfer station, located on Cherry Hill Road, and jointly owned by both Middlefield and Durham, has 14.78 acres in Middlefield and 6.9 acres of land in Durham. Currently, a section of the site uses roll off dumpster containers for recyclables like paper and cans. Electronic recycling will occur in the same way, simply adding another roll off, Melnik said.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) website, a new law signed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in July 2007, will provide Connecticut residents with "convenient and accessible" opportunities to recycle certain electronics for free. Under the new law, covered electronic devices (CEDs) like computers, computer monitors and televisions will soon be recycled through municipalities starting July 1, 2009. The DEP is still working on regulations to expand the list to include similar items like printers.

The new law allows recycling centers to be able to bill manufacturers of the devices for the transportation and recycling of their products. By July 2009, municipalities are expected to have electronic waste, or e-waste, collection programs in place, either on their own or in conjunction with a region, and residents will be able to recycle seven or less CEDs at a time at no cost to them.

According to the DEP, "the department expects that every town will identify one or more collection points for CEDs within its borders, preferably at an existing transfer station, recycling center, or other municipal facility.

The Environmental Protection Agency reported that e-waste grew by almost eight percent from 2004-2005 alone. On Jan. 1, 2011, a disposal ban will go into effect for CEDs, which will prohibit people from placing them in the trash.

The DEP website, www.ct.gov/dep, is also offering an online electronics recycling survey in order to help prepare and implement the program.