Chittenden Solid Waste District
The Chittenden Solid Waste District (“CSWD” or the “District”), acting by and through its Board of Commissioners, pursuant to the District’s Charter (24A V.S.A. Chapter 405), 10 V.S.A. Chapter 159 and 24 V.S.A. Chapter 59, adopted amendments to the Chittenden Solid Waste District Solid Waste Management Ordinance (SWMO) on April 16, 2025.
This Notice summarizes the amendments made to the Solid Waste Management Ordinance, which become effective on July 1, 2025.
Purpose of Solid Waste Management Ordinance
The SWMO is enacted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of the District, its member municipalities and their inhabitants, and the general community; to regulate the management of solid waste within the District; to require separation of certain materials from solid waste destined for disposal; to facilitate the adequate provision of solid waste services such that the generators of solid waste pay costs that reflect the real costs to society of the management of solid waste; to establish fees for services provided by the District to manage solid waste; to regulate waste disposal practices that pose a concern to the public health and welfare and the environment; to fulfill the District’s responsibilities under 24 V.S.A. § 2202a; to implement and further the District’s Solid Waste Implementation Plan and the State’s Solid Waste Management Plan; and to provide for the efficient, economical, and environmentally sound management of solid waste.
List of Section Headings
The section headings of the SWMO are as follows:
Purpose and Title, Definitions, Regulation of Solid Waste, Licensing, Public Safety, Illegal Disposal, Open Fires and Incinerators, Solid Waste Management Fee, Payment of Fees Due the District, Recordkeeping and Inspections, Penalties, Enforcement and Remedies, Powers of the District General Manager, and Miscellaneous.
Amendments Summary
Section 8.3 SWMO Purposes and Uses – A new Section 8.3 is added to describe the purposes and uses of the Solid Waste Management Fee imposed on all Solid Waste generated in the District.
Section 8.4 SWMO – Amount of Fee –The amendments to the SWMO amend the amount of the Solid Waste Management Fee (the “SW Management Fee”) from $30/ton to $40/ton, effective July 1, 2025. he SW Management Fee is subject to annual adjustment as part of the District’s annual budget approval process.
Each January 1, the District is to indicate the expected Solid Waste Management Fee for the coming fiscal year. That fee will be part of the annual budget public hearing held on or before January 31 of each year. After such hearing, the Board will consider comments and develop the annual budget, including adjustments, if any, to the SW Management Fee. If no adjustment is made, the SW Management Fee will remain at the then current rate.
In establishing the SW Management Fee, the Board will consider such factors as the purposes and need to collect the SW Management Fee, tipping fees and other revenues received by the District from solid waste management facilities owned or operated by the District, as well as any changes in Consumer Price Indices as determined and published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, referencing both the Northeast Urban Class B/C Consumer Price Index and the Garbage and Trash Index (or a reasonable equivalent index) for the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding January 1 of the current fiscal year.
Section Renumbered – As a result of the new Section 8.3, the Sections for the Amount of Fee, Waivers of the Solid Waste Management Fee, and Weighing, are renumbered as Sections 8.4, 8.5 and 8.6.
Right to Petition for Special Vote
Under 24 V.S.A. §1973, the qualified voters of the District have the right to petition for a vote on the question of disapproving the amendments to the SWMO. A petition for a vote must be signed by not less than 5% of the qualified voters of CSWD and presented to CSWD’s Board of Commissioners within 44 days of the date of the adoption of the amendment. Unless a petition is filed, the amendments will become effective July 1, 2025.
For More Information
To obtain more information or provide comments, contact Sarah Reeves, CSWD Executive Director, 802.872.8100 or at 19 Gregory Drive, Suite 204, South Burlington, VT 05403 or at SReeves@cswd.net.
A complete copy of the SWMO and the amendments are available for inspection at CSWD offices at 19 Gregory Drive, Suite 204, South Burlington, VT 05403
To read the approved amendments – click here.
Read CSWD’s Letter to the Community about these changes.