Given the community s oceanfront shoreline, the approximate year- round population of 22,000 residents swells to an estimated 30,000 persons in the summer months. Residents of both communities can dispose of solid waste by either contracting with a private refuse hauler or by directly accessing the transfer station. This increase in disposal costs was due in part to increasing tipping fees, higher processing costs, and abuse of a flat-rate annual vehicle pass program, which provided unlimited disposal with little or no incentive to recycle materials.
Some residents continue to use trash cans for refuse disposal.
Residents who maximize their recycling efforts can minimize tag purchases and reduce their overall solid waste disposal costs. Complementary Programs Residential users can dispose of bulky waste and yard waste at a rate of 5 cents and 3.5 cents per pound, respectively. In addition, the town constructed new recycling disposal facilities for direct access residential users that became operational on August 1, 1994. The enhanced recycling center accepts a wide variety of materials that can be recycled by residents at no cost, including aluminum, steel, plastic, newspaper, glass, and many others. Yard waste, uncontaminated wood demolition, and ferrous and nonferrous scrap metals are also recycled, but are assessed a tip fee due to associated processing costs.