Trashy Plans

For the past eight years, Gary Butterworth has served as Town Manager of Glen Falls, Maine. By his own admission, he’s never been a threat to win any popularity contests.

    “Last year alone, I received over a thousand pieces of hate mail,” says Butterworth. He laughs a hearty laugh. “I don’t mean to brag, but I’m pretty sure that’s a record.”

    This writer found the administrator personable, insightful, engaging, and self-effacing. He presents as a good ‘ol boy with a college education. So, why such contempt for the man?

    Butterworth turns up his hands. “Part of it is that I say what I think. Mostly, though, it’s the trash.”

    By “trash,” he means the town’s transfer station budget which, to the ire of residents, perennially ranks among the state’s highest per capita. The town’s remote location plays a role in this (“The farther the landfill, the greater the transportation cost,” explains Butterworth), as does ever-increasing tipping fees. During his time at the helm, the annual transfer station budget has more than doubled, from $420,000 in 2017 to over $900,000 for the current fiscal year. Big numbers for a town of 1900.

    “What folks fail to understand is that those costs--transportation and tipping fees, I mean--are out of the town’s control. The best way to reduce the transfer station budget is to reduce the amount of waste we produce. Unfortunately, most people would rather complain about the problem than actually solve it.”

    I ask Butterworth to elaborate.

    “On average, we barely recycle ten percent of our waste. The rest gets trucked to the landfill. Here’s the thing, though: recycling doesn’t cost the town a dime. So, turn that ten percent into, say, thirty percent, and we’d save a couple hundred thousand bucks a year. And frankly, we could recycle more than that with a little effort. The locals, though, have never wanted to play ball.”

    “They oppose recycling?”

    “Historically, yes,” says Butterworth. “We asked them to separate glass and aluminum and they lost their ever-lovin’ minds. They acted like I was perpetrating some sort of government tyranny. In reality, all I’ve ever done is try and save them money.”  

    “You’re unusually blunt for a public official.”

    The Town Manager shrugs. “I’m six months from retirement. Like I care.”

    Containing costs through recycling isn’t the only solution the town has attempted on Butterworth’s watch.

    “We tried privatization. We tried pay-to-throw. We even tried to build our own landfill. It’s been failure after failure after failure. Meanwhile, the transfer station budget has gone up and up and up.”

    “Hence the hate mail.”

    Butterworth nods. “Hence the hate mail.”

    Hate, though, has quickly turned to love thanks to Butterworth’s latest idea, which he unveiled at Tuesday night’s Select meeting. Locals say it will provide a much-needed something to do at night. Butterworth says it will restore a Maine tradition while promoting recycling in a powerful and brand new way​`.

    If approved by voters, Glen Falls will play home to Maine’s first-ever combination transfer station and wildlife park.

    The town manager pumps his fist. “We’re bringing back the bears!”

    In Butterworth’s view, the ongoing replacement of old-fashioned landfills with transfer stations is destroying one of Maine’s favorite pastimes, namely, bear watching.  

    “You’ll see the occasional bear at the transfer station, but it’s nothing like the old days. You can’t throw your trash in acompactor and expect to attract bears. You’ve got to spread it out, let the aroma waft. That’s what brings ‘em.”

    Phase one of Butterworth’s plan calls for construction of a below-ground concrete pen (picture a walkout basement) where residents can toss food waste. Bears may come and go as they please while spectators enjoy them from a safe distance. (Note: household trash will be strictly forbidden in the pen to keep the bears from littering.)

    Phase two of the plan (slated for 2026) involves construction of bleacher-style seating, public restrooms, and parking for up to five food trucks. Oh, and a ticket booth for the viewing area.

    “Charging admission is the key,” says Butterworth. “That’s how we incentivize people to embrace recycling.”

    The town manager continues. “Picture this: five or ten bucks per adult, a dollar or two for kids under twelve. Bring recyclables to the transfer station, though, and earn so many points per pound toward free admission.” Butterworth leans back in his chair and clasps his hands behind his head. “Add the various new revenue streams to the reduction in waste and we’ll cut the transfer station tax burden by half.”

    But will the bears show up?

    Butterworth doesn't hesitate. “Build it,” he says, “and they will come.”