By Jen Claise
Staff Writer

A Department of Environmental Services official found no significant violations at the town’s recycling center during an inspection last month, but said that access to the facility could be the town’s main concern.

The center is currently open for a total of 24 hours each week, with hours spread out over four days. Doug Kemp, DES eastern district inspector, said that these hours are typical for a town of Candia’s size, but might not be enough to accommodate residents.

Specifically, Kemp said people could end up disposing of items in the wrong areas if they have to wait too long to get to a certain area of the center. Also, the setup of the facility could prove unsafe when it is crowded with cars.

“There’s no horseshoe-shaped entrance and exit, so that logistically causes problems,” Kemp said. “Again, issues like this are common in smaller towns, budgetary concerns being what they are.”

During his inspection, which lasted about an hour and a half, Kemp said that the issue of access was raised, but was not noted as a serious problem by residents.

“If we receive complaints, or if the situation becomes unsafe, then we would tell the town that something needed to be done and we’d work with them on it,” Kemp said.

Over the summer, Selectman Gary York, who is also the interim operator of the recycling center and incinerator, stepped up enforcement of recycling policies and began sending letters to residents found to have violated them.

In November, York and Selectmen Chairman Clark Thyng announced they had requested the inspection from DES, wanting to ensure the safety of the center and confirm the incinerator is keeping within its daily burning limit.

Kemp found waste is being disposed of properly, but noted the center did not have certain required documents posted at the site.

Specifically, Kemp called for town officials to work out a schedule for completing an operating plan, which lists the facility’s capacities and types of waste handled, and a closure plan, which explains how the facility will deal with hazardous waste from the incinerator.

Facilities must have this information posted regardless of whether they plan to close, he said.

The permit for the incinerator, one of a handful of its size left in the state, is set to expire in 2008. Town officials are unsure if it will be re-permitted as is after that date.

York has proposed the construction of a $4 million in-town transfer station, which would charge private haulers to store trash from Candia and other communities at the facility. York said the town could take in $500 a day by bringing in 500 tons of garbage a day.

Currently, the recycling center handles between 20 and 25 tons a week.

The issue will appear on the March 2005 ballot. In 2004, voters approved the station, but the project failed to get the two-thirds turnout required for a bond issue.