Signs of spring: Compost workshop, Green Up Day, hazardous waste roundup
April 21, 2025 | By Waterbury Roundabout Springtime brings familiar tasks of cleaning out, cleaning up, renewing and planting.
Mad River Resource Management Alliance Manager John Malter has multiple green reminders for local residents about opportunities to learn more about composting food and yard scraps, cleaning up trash on Green Up Day, and clearing out household hazardous waste from basements, garages and sheds.
Reminder #1: Compost workshop, April 26
A Spring Composting Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, in the Steele Room in the Waterbury Municipal Building, 10-11:30 a.m. in conjunction with the Waterbury Public Library. Participants will be able to purchase a Soil Saver Compost Bin for a reduced price.
Preregistration is appreciated. Do so by April 23 with an email to John Malter at malterport@aol.com. Email or call 802-244-7373 with questions.
Reminder #2: Green Up Day is May 3
Green Up Day is Saturday, May 3. Here are some details from the Mad River Alliance communities:
Green Up Day is Saturday, May 3. File photo by Gordon Miller
Between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Earthwise Transfer Station in Waitsfield will take appliances like dishwashers and washers and dryers at no charge. If you bring a refrigerator or freezer, there will be a freon processing fee of $40 per unit and $150 for a commercial cooler. There also is a fee for processing air conditioners. Green Up Tires collected during various cleanup efforts will be accepted at no charge. Individuals may bring their car and pickup truck tires with or without rims may be recycled for a fee of $6 per tire.
On May 3, Rodney's Rubbish Transfer Station located on River Road in Waterbury is open from 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will accept metal appliances at no charge; those with freon have a $10 fee. Scrap metal is free to drop off. Car and pickup truck tires with or without rims will be accepted for $6 each. Tires found collecting Green Up trash are free. Note: Rodney’s is only collecting Green Up bags from Waterbury.
Green Up Coordinators in the Mad River Resource Management Alliance are: Fayston, Patty Pasley, plpasley@gmail.com, 802-825-1893; Moretown, Mike Dimotsis, dimotsisjane@gmail.com, 802-496-2812; Waitsfield, Bri Skoldberg, briskoldberg@gmail.com, 802-829-0878; Warren, the East Warren Store, 802-496-6758, or email the town clerk’s office, clerk@warrenvt.org.
The Mad River Valley Towns will collaborate through the Green Valley Rally, focused at the Mad River Valley Welcome Center on the corner of Routes 100 and 17 in Waitsfield. Activity for volunteers will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In Waterbury, Green Up details and a signup are posted online at tinyurl.com/WaterburyGreenUp2025. Drop off at Rodney’s 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or at the Waterbury Public Works Garage on Guptil Road in Waterbury Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coordinator Lisa Scagliotti, 802-373-5878 or lscagliotti@comcast.net.
Duxbury is not a member of the Mad River Alliance. The Duxbury Green Up coordinator is Jessica Engels, 978-846-3430, jessicaengels58@gmail.com.
Reminder #3: Household Hazardous Waste Collection, May 10
A spring Household Hazardous Waste collection will be held at Crossett Brook Middle School on May 10. File photo Gordon Miller
The alliance, along with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and Casella Resource Solutions, is sponsoring the Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday, May 10, at Crossett Brook Middle School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This collection is for residents of the alliance which covers Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield, Warren and Waterbury. Bring pesticides, architectural oil and latex paint, and primary batteries to this event to dispose of them at no charge. Eash resident is also allowed to drop off an additional 10 gallons of liquid or solid household hazardous waste at no additional charge. The fee for larger quantities is $5 per unit.
Non-residents of the alliance are charged a $30 registration fee. There is no additional charge for the 10 additional units of waste. (Duxbury is not a member of the Mad River Resource Management Alliance.)
Small businesses must preregister by May 7. To do so, contact Malter at malterport@aol.com. Payment for business hazardous waste disposal is expected at dropoff and business waste will only be accepted, 8-8:30 a.m.
Also at this collection, mercury thermostats will be accepted (with covers on) and those dropping off will receive a card to request a $5 rebate per thermostat. Mercury thermometers also may be dropped off in exchange for a digital replacement thermometer. (One per family.)
Note: This event does not accept any compressed gases, fire extinguishers, ammunition, electronics waste, tires, explosives, medical waste or radioactive waste. Also, it cannot take compact fluorescent lamps or fluorescent tubes. Those may be recycled at Bisbee's or Kenyons in Waitsfield, and at Aubuchon or Waterbury True Value Hardware in Waterbury.
For questions on any of the above, contact John Malter at 802-244-7373.