Rockingham Recycling Center requires access stickers

ROCKINGHAM, Vt. — The Rockingham Recycling Center reminds residents and non-residents that access stickers are required to enter the center on Route 5, south of Bellows Falls. Access stickers for 2019 will be available June 1 and can be obtained at the Rockingham Town Clerk’s Office and at the recycling center cashier building. Rockingham residents and nonresident property owners who pay taxes in Rockingham are entitled to two access stickers free of charge, additional access stickers will be available for $10 each. Non-resident users of the facility will be charged $35 per access sticker.

Replacement stickers required because of vehicle accident or windshield replacement can be obtained at no cost, proof of loss required. Proof of residency will be required when obtaining stickers. Each vehicle must have an access sticker displayed on the front vehicle windshield. If a sticker is not displayed, you will be asked to obtain a sticker before using the facility.

The access stickers are required to access the facility even if one is using the “exchange” building or leaving recyclables. The only exception to this is for those who are leaving electronic recycling items. All are required to check with the Exchange building attendant before leaving any items. Because of liability issues surrounding upholstered chairs and couches (insect infestation such as fleas, ticks and bedbugs), we will not accept these items in or outside of the building, and they must be disposed of in the dumpster indicated by the attendant. Some items require a charge to be left off. Items which do not get taken for re-use must be disposed of which is a cost to the Town of Rockingham taxpayers.

The operating costs for the center are funded by the Town of Rockingham and its taxpayers. Peter Golec, selectboard chair, noted it was not unreasonable for Rockingham to assess an access sticker fee for users from other towns to help pay for running the facility, as is the practice at other town’s facilities.

Golec reminds all users that even if you have an access sticker displayed, you must pay for disposal of household trash, appliances and other items. There is no charge for items which go into the recycle container. Current trash fees are white trash bags — $1.25, 30 gallon bags — $2.50 and heavy duty contractor bags — $3.75. Construction & demolition debris will be 10 cents per pound weighed on the scale. We strongly encourage the use of trash tickets for trash disposal. Cash is not accepted at the trash compactor. Only Rockingham trash tickets may be used to dispose of trash and these can be purchased at the cashier’s building or the Rockingham Town Clerk’s office. Trash compactor attendants do not have change and will not accept cash. Cash is accepted at the cashier’s building.

The center is in the process of installing directional signs for the compactors, traffic control, parking, and the access sticker requirement. If one does not know where or what can be disposed of at the facility, one of the helpful volunteers will be able to assist.