It has been a really good season for the local economy, according to Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District Manager Steve Lewis. In August, the local transfer station reported municipal solid waste collected was 85 tons more than in August 2015. On Sept. 8, Lewis told the BRRDD trustees the large increase likely meant a strong summer for local businesses.

“That’s quite a spike. It’s been a real busy summer,” he said. “When tonnage is up by this much it’s usually due to rain, but we haven’t had hardly any this summer. The local restaurants will tell you the same thing that there has been a busy tourist season.”

The refuse district has also been busy separating plastics. The district recently began recycling all plastic containers. Previously, the district only recycled No. 2 plastics, but an emerging market for numbers 1-7 has made recycling these items profitable.

The district purchased a new baler in July for $8,500 to bind plastics 1-7 for recycling. Lewis reported the baler has been installed and two station attendants were tasked two weeks ago to separate plastic for baling.

So far, the public has been receptive to the district’s increased recycling program.

“The word is getting out,” said board secretary Anna Giles during the meeting. “I received a call from a resident who heard we are recycling other plastics now, and they wanted to know how they can participate.”

In other action, Lewis updated the trustees on the new truck purchase. During a special meeting on Aug. 26, the trustees approved the purchase of a 2017 Peterbilt roll-off truck. The special meeting was held after the 2010 Peterbilt became incapacitated. The truck was involved in two accidents which damaged the front end. The first occurred on Aug. 17 in Edgecomb and resulted in minor damage. The second happened in Norridgewock on Aug. 24. The truck was traveling toward Waterville when it struck a vehicle.

“The car stopped to make a turn and the truck ran into it,” Lewis said. “There was damage to the radiator and oil cooler and transmission cooler. We were going to replace it in a couple years anyway so we decided to purchase it now, and avoid about $20,000 in rental fees.”

The trustees purchased the 2017 Peterbilt for $89,344. The trustees will make payments with two-percent interest for five years, according to Lewis. During the September meeting, the trustees approved the purchase for two new loader tires. The two foam-filled tires cost $5,917. Lewis expects the district will need to purchase four more later in the year.

The trustees will meet next during their annual dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5.