MID-MAINE SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION 
      	The towns of Dexter, Exeter, Ripley, St. Albans, and Corinna are members that form the Mid-Maine Solid Waste Association (MMSWA). Other users of our facility include Guilford (since 2004) and Cambridge (since 1999). The Association is governed by a Board of Directors, which represents the interests of each of the participating members.
      	The MMSWA facility provides for the disposal of solid waste at its Transfer Station and operates a Recycling Facility on the premises. The site also offers demolition debris disposal, composting, tire disposal, white goods (refrigerators, appliances, etc.), universal waste (televisions, monitors, etc.), and metal disposal. 
     	During the 2016 year MMSWA disposed over 6,100 tons of municipal solid waste (household waste), 1200 tons of wood waste, 1,300 tons of landfill debris, 170 tons of compost, 55 tons of universal waste, and over 1,200 tons of recyclables. Because we process these items separately it is important for our residents to keep these items separated when bringing them in for disposal. Each year MMSWA is required to report to the State of Maine the total amount of waste attributed to landfill disposal, recycled goods, and transferrable waste. The State mandates that MMSWA has a 50% recycle rate, so if recycled items are disposed along with the household waste, our community may not meet the state requirements or benefit from the financial gain of recycled goods resale. As of 2014 MMSWA still had not met the state’s recycling rate. Every year the cost of disposing household waste increases by 4 to 5%, so the more our residents recycle, the more each town’s disposal fee increases can be minimized. 
Please assist MMSWA in achieving its recycling goals by separating your trash prior to arriving at the facility.  This allows our staff to maintain a clean, organized, and customer-friendly environment while increasing our recycling efforts.  Remember, the more materials recycled, the less our waste disposal costs will increase in the future.
In the spring of 2016 MMSWA started collecting food waste and scrap and sending it to Agri-cycle in Exeter. They process the food to make clean energy. There is still a disposal cost but it is half of the rate it would be. Please ask attendant if you would like to help or learn more. 
The costs incurred to operate the MMSWA facility in 2016 was in the amount of $1,100,000.00. This figure includes a new scale, $580,000.00 for household waste disposal and $46,000 for wood waste disposal. We recovered $112,000 with sale of recyclable materials and saved $120,000 in disposal costs as a result recycled goods, including food waste.   
There is a new fee schedule starting February 2017. Some of the items added to this list are Drywall, Wood Waste, and Shingles. Please see attendant if you have any of these items. 
Rules for the use of the transfer station and recycling facility, as well as a schedule of fees and vehicle permits are available at your town office. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at 924-3650. Current permits are required in order to use the MMSWA facility. Hours of operation are 8am to 5pm Monday-Thursday and Saturday. We are closed on Fridays and Sundays.     	An important reminder, please make a concerted effort to secure all incoming loads in order to prevent roadside debris.
      	If you have any questions about the DEP's rules pertaining to municipal waste, universal waste, or demolition debris, please feel free to contact MMSWA or visit the Department of Environmental Protection website at www.maine.gov/dep. 

Respectfully Submitted, 

Trampas King 
Superintendent, 
Mid Maine Solid Waste Association