The town of Amherst is considering closing its dump/transfer station on Belchertown Road. I refer to the Gazette articles of Oct. 13 and 26.

The dialogue leans toward keeping it operative only for town use, but household stickers will no longer be available. This is a terrible idea. First, the friendly guys who work there are fabulous, and I will miss them! Also, this is a place to unexpectedly meet neighbors and pick up used books in their ‘book shed’. The “dump” has a community atmosphere.

Second, the transfer station accepts metals, food composting, organic matter (leaves & brush), electronics, construction material, household trash, and large items like refrigerators. Where will residents be able to dispose of those items when and if the transfer station closes? Down a ravine, on the side of the road, in the woods or in a field somewhere?

The town of Amherst says its motivation to close the transfer station is to encourage residents to reduce their amount of trash for environmental reasons. According to MassPIRG, 25% of trash is food waste. The transfer station has food composting available — USA Waste does not!

I believe the truer reason for this discussion is that the town would like to save money. 

USA Waste & Recycling, the local curbside household trash collecting company, charges $552 a year. The annual sticker price for the Amherst dump is $135. A household’s expense will more than triple for curbside collection if the Amherst Transfer Station closes. And there would still remain the dilemma of where to dispose of items USA Waste or another trash hauling company will not accept.

I am a resident of Pelham and have sticker access to the Amherst Transfer Station, which I’ve used for years. Whatever waste hauling contract agreement the Amherst Town Council comes up with as an alternative to the transfer station will impact the residents of Pelham and Shutesbury as well. If Amherst closes the transfer station, we will also lose access to that well-run, convenient, affordable place. 

Please, don’t close the transfer station!

Wendi Weinberg

Pelham