About SWAC

The Rutland County Solid Waste District (RCSWD) was initially composed of twenty-three municipalities from Rutland County. Although invited to join the District, the communities of Brandon, Pawlet, and Rutland Town did not vote to join the other towns in Rutland County in March, 1980. In November, 1989, nine member towns decided to leave the District. In November/December, 1989, and January 1990, the communities of Benson, Fair Haven, West Haven, Tinmouth, Middletown Springs, Mount Holly, Shrewsbury, Chittenden, and Sudbury voted to leave the District. In 1991, Pittsford and Clarendon also voted to leave the District but have subsequently voted to rejoin it. Brandon also voted to join the District in March 1992.

In June of 1990, the Rutland Regional Planning Commission was notified that the Fair Haven Board of Selectmen had formed a Solid Waste Alternatives Committee. By July 12, 1990, the eleven towns that had voted to withdraw from the District formed a loose-knit coalition to work with the RRPC to resolve their solid waste management issues.

On April 2, 1992, the SWAC towns voted to form a Joint Municipal Survey Committee (JMSC) to investigate what type of entity could be created to implement the Solid Waste Implementation Plan as required by the State.

22 V.S.A., Chapter 121, Subchapter 2 provides the legal basis for the creation of a JMSC. A JMSC can be used to investigate the formation of a Union Municipal District, or other formal structure, such as an inter-local contract arrangement. To be members, towns are required to appoint three representatives to the JMSC. The law also prescribes the powers of a JMSC, and the method to be used to transition to a Union Municipal District or inter-local contract.

As of August 1992, the towns of Chittenden, Fair Haven, Middletown Springs, Mount Holly, Pawlet, Shrewsbury and Tinmouth appointed the required members to the JMSC. The JMSC has adopted a set of by-laws as required by statute. Towns without official membership on the JMSC were invited to join the Committee. The Committee’s Solid Waste Implementation Plan was developed through extensive public and private sector participation from municipal officials, solid waste facility operators, and haulers, local businesses, interested citizens and waste management professionals.

In November 2001, Mount Holly voted to withdraw from JMSC/SWAC and address solid waste issues as a single municipality. Subsequently, they joined the Rutland County Solid Waste District.

Solid Waste Alliance Communities (SWAC)

Upon the recommendation of the multi-town joint municipal survey committee, the municipalities of Benson, Chittenden, Fair Haven, Middletown Springs, Pawlet, Rutland Town, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Tinmouth, and West Haven operate under an interlocal agreement for the management of municipal solid waste per 24 VSA, Chapter 121.

The purpose of the interlocal agreement is to provide for the efficient implementation of the regional Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP). In alignment with Act 140 requirements for transparency and accountability, SWAC maintains public access to governing documents, including our procurement policies, annual reports, and current SWIP.

SWAC is composed of representatives appointed by the town selectboards. SWAC provides regional solid waste planning, administration, and implementation while allowing member towns to retain municipal powers. The committee sets an annual per-capita fee by November 30 of each year and has the authority to enter into contracts for waste programs, acquire property, or hire a solid waste administrator.

Waste Management and Collection

The highest priority in the SWAC solid waste management plan is to reduce the toxicity and quantity of waste generated. Under our current SWIP, SWAC addresses waste reduction, public awareness, and education on a yearly basis. Our goals include increasing participation in source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting.

Residents and businesses in the SWAC region manage their waste through a combination of municipal transfer stations and private hauling services. While many towns maintain their own facilities, many residents also utilize private haulers for curbside collection of trash, recycling, and food scraps.

Transfer Station Based: The towns of Benson, Chittenden, Fair Haven, Middletown Springs, Rutland Town, Shrewsbury, and Tinmouth utilize municipal transfer stations.

Shared/Private Services: Sudbury collects electronic wastes and batteries for its residents. West Haven has an agreement with Fair Haven to utilize the Fair Haven transfer station. The Town of Pawlet utilizes a combination of a private transfer station in Granville, New York and private hauling services for its residents.

SWAC transfer stations are operated by a mix of paid staff and local volunteers. SWAC ensures that all regional waste, whether collected at a transfer station or by a private hauler, is disposed of in certified, permitted, and environmentally sound facilities.