The traffic jam at the entrance of the transfer station is one of many reasons the Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District decided to build a new recycling center that is bigger, safer and won't leak every time it rains.

Starting September 26, the existing recycling depot will be closed in order for N.A. Reny Construction to demolish the existing facility and make way for the construction of a 120 by 96-foot recycling center to be finished by December 31 of this year.

On August 22, the BRRDD Board of Trustees awarded the $437,575 construction project to several companies, which include N.A. Reny Construction, McClintick Foundations, Sam's Electric and Morton Buildings.

The trustees opted for the most expensive of the four proposals submitted, because Morton Buildings offered a 50-year structural warrantee; and based on the outfit's previous work on Boothbay's public works garage, Morton's was a suitable fit, Lewis said.

In the meantime, recycling of bottles, cans, glass, paper, cardboard and plastics will continue temporarily with the cooperation of Lincoln County Recycling Department providing containers for the three months the Boothbay transfer station is without a depot.

The construction project will be financed with a 20-year loan for $400,000 from The First, at an interest rate of 4.55 percent. The remaining $38,000 will be paid for by the refuse district.

According to Lewis, the project will provide much needed improvements over the existing facilities. Not only will the utility pole and the storage trailers be permanently removed from the premises, the design of the building will be flipped around so all recycling will be conducted on the way out, effectively eliminating the bottleneck of traffic at the entrance way.

Lewis said the existing facilities is starting to show its age. Built in 1989, the old facility processed only a quarter of the volume of recycled goods the transfer station does today.

By nearly doubling the size and outfitting the roof with solar panels, Lewis said the new facility will accommodate the growth for many years to come.