Southwest Harbor’s Solid Waste Costs Highest Per Capita in Hancock County. Town tweaks its Community Service Funding Policy
news

Southwest Harbor’s Solid Waste Costs Highest Per Capita in Hancock County.

Town tweaks its Community Service Funding Policy

Carrie Jones

just now

litter signage
Photo by Gary Chan on Unsplash

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware.

Exterior view of Paradis ACE Hardware store with a sign displaying trusted brands including Benjamin Moore, Clark + Kensington, STIHL, EGO, Big Green Egg, Weber, and Yeti.

SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Southwest Harbor’s solid waste costs are thought to be the highest per capita in Hancock County, the town’s Sustainability Committee told the Select Board, last week.

The town’s solid waste costs were roughly $513,000 in 2025, an increase from $466,000 the year before. The cause for that is believed to be an inefficient system that is thought to subsidize both businesses in town and the United States Coast Guard as well as a large construction waste allowance and unmonitored dumpsters.

“A recent study performed for the Hancock County Planning Commission found that we are the town with the highest per capita tonnage and the highest per capita cost,” Sustainability Committee Chair Craig Kesselheim told the board members.

As a result of the discussion, the Sustainability Committee will research three possibilities: a pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system, a town-wide composting program, and municipal regulation of private dumpsters.

Line graph showing tons of municipal solid waste generated per capita per year by various communities, with blue dots representing PAYT communities and orange dots representing others.
Click to expand. Via presentation.
Presentation slide titled 'Sources of the Problem' discussing factors contributing to high waste tonnage, including unmonitored dumpsters, the equal treatment of businesses and residents, excessive construction waste allowances, and the role of US Government agencies.
A list of eight actions for sustainable waste management initiatives, including securing dumpsters, adopting issues on the town's website, transitioning to direct billing, expanding composting partnerships, promoting recycling, revising waste ordinances, preparing for procurement contracts, and monitoring waste metrics.

The Sustainability Committee’s Solid Waste Working Group highlighted eight actions it believed were within the Select Board’s authority: securing dumpsters, adding information about the issue on the town’s website, transition so that EMR (the transfer station) directly bills the United States Coast Guard, expanding composting, increasing recycling and reuse prior to items being thrown away, revising the town’s Solid Waste Ordinance, preparing for a 2029 procurement contract, and monitoring and setting goals around tonnage.

Slide discussing solutions for town management focused on visibility, accountability, and shared costs. Includes points on dumpsters, town government public information, and partnerships with US Government.
Slide discussing solutions for a town focusing on visibility, accountability, and shared costs, including topics like dumpsters, town government information, and US government partnerships.

The town pays for the Coast Guard’s tonnage directly. The National Park Service is billed directly by EMR.

The solid waste costs are absorbed into the town budget, which is paid by property tax owners. The direct line of seeing those costs is a bit obscured through the budgeting process. In turn, that removes incentives for businesses or residents to reduce waste.

The working group believes 35-40 dumpsters are not secure, which means they can be accessed by people who are not in Southwest Harbor.

Slide on waste management authority by the Select Board for the Town of Southwest Harbor, outlining their negotiation powers and guiding principles.
Slide detailing the annual review of waste tonnage and taxation, highlighting the need to monitor totals and per-capita figures, and encouraging the establishment of reduction goals.
A presentation slide titled 'Options for 2029 Procurement contract(s)' outlining four options: 1. Restricted hauling hours, 2. Contingency plans, 3. Curbside pickup with limits, and 4. Excess tonnage billed.
All above images are via the presentation.

In other business, the board renewed the liquor license of the Harbor Restaurant Group LLC on behalf of Harbor Table at 336 Main Street.

COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION FUNDING POLICY

Document outlining the Community Service Organization (CSO) funding request policy for the Town of Southwest Harbor, including eligibility criteria and submission requirements.
Text document detailing funding request procedures for organizations in Southwest Harbor, including voting outcomes and deadline responsibilities.
Via Select Board packet linked below.

The board also reviewed the Community Service Organization (CSO) Funding Request Policy.

Town Clerk Jennifer LaHaye had proposed multiple small amendments to the town’s policy, such as moving application deadlines to December 1 for consistency, creating a financial worksheet for organizations to fill out, and the flexibility to require an in-person presentation if the Select Board decides it needs one.

The board also approved closing the Town Office counter all day, November 3 for town elections. This allows staff to be at the polls.

The short-term rental survey will launch on election day and the Sustainability Committee will disperse flyers as well as QR codes to solicit responses.

The public works garage is on schedule to be completed at the end of the year. MaineDOT’s work at the Seawall Road has been underway and a 2025 approval for a tower on Water View Lane is being reviewed for its expiration date and compliance with the current telecommunications ordinance.

LINKS TO LEARN MORE

Agenda and packet

Watch the meeting

HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY

When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other.

We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going.

If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship.

It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light.

Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now.

Thank you so much for being here.

Founding member information can be found here.

Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.

Discover more from Bar Harbor Story

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply