Free trash pickup in Amenia: Town has new contract in place with Welsh Sanitation

AMENIA — Welsh Sanitation Services broke its contract with the town of Amenia this past March when it closed the Amenia Transfer Station. Ever since, the Amenia Town Board has been working with Welsh to amend its contract and continue its services.

The town of Amenia originally entered into a franchise license agreement with Welsh Sanitation in October of 2012 for the purpose of operating and maintaining the town residential refuse and recycling center, known as the Amenia Transfer Station. The agreement was later extended in April of 2016 to run through March 31, 2021.

In November of 2017, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) revised its regulations for facilities that handle solid waste. Under those regulations at the time, the Amenia Transfer Station was classified as a registered site, meaning all individuals who utilized this site had to pay an annual permit fee. Toward the end of 2018, the NYSDEC issued new regulations that were designed to increase compliance levels and require all registered sites to re-register with the state of New York. Because of the new regulations and the dwindling number of customers using the transfer station to dispose of their garbage, Welsh Sanitation made the decision to shut down transfer station operations in early March.

Since the transfer station’s closure, the board decided to collaborate with Welsh to amend and modify the terms of the original 2012 agreement. On Thursday, May 16, the board approved the contract amendment during its board meeting. 

Under the new arrangement with the town, Welch will provide residential curbside pickup services free of charge to all residential accounts for a period of nine months from the sign-up date. The sign-up date ends on Sunday, June 30. Curbside service can be arranged by contacting 845-877-9354. Any resident signing up for the residential curbside pick-up must have a pick-up location located within the town’s boundaries. 

The free nine-month service applies to any service level — including 35-gallon, 65-gallon and 95-gallon — for weekly trash and recyclable pick-up along with the use of two automated collection carts (one for trash and one for recycling) for each location. At the end of the nine-month period, residents will be given the opportunity to continue services at Welsh Sanitation’s regular rates or to terminate the service without any further obligation to Welsh. 

Located at 1933 Route 22 in Wingdale, the Harlem Valley Transfer Station will be made available by Welsh Sanitation at the current Amenia price schedule to any Amenia resident who wants to continue using the drop-off service. To do so, one must present valid identification that shows a valid address in the town of Amenia. With the exception of federal holidays, the Harlem Valley Transfer Station will be open on Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A copy of the Welsh Sanitation contract amendment notice can be viewed online at the Town of Amenia website at www.ameniany.gov.