About CSWD

In 1987, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 78, the state’s first solid waste law. Act 78 created solid waste districts throughout the state. Functioning much like a school or water district, these solid waste districts are government entities that design regional solutions to the solid waste challenges faced by their member towns.

Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) encompasses Chittenden County, and is the largest solid waste district in Vermont with a population of about 153,000. The District’s mission is to provide efficient, economical, and environmentally sound management of solid waste generated by member towns and cities and their residents and businesses.
CSWD-charter (pdf)
CSWD member towns and cities
Other solid waste districts contacts and map

In 1992, CSWD adopted its original Solid Waste Management Ordinance, which dictates how trash, recycling, and other solid waste must be handled and disposed of within Chittenden County. The ordinance was last amended October 27, 2011.

CSWD Solid Waste Management Ordinance (pdf)

In 2004, CSWD revised its Solid Waste Management Plan, which describes the District’s history, current facilities and programs and future plans. The State of Vermont approved the plan as being in compliance with its Solid Waste Management Plan.
CSWD Solid Waste Management Plan (pdf)
Note: Appendices are not included. Please contact us if you’d like a copy.

In March 2009, the Board adopted a 5-year work plan that includes recommendations for the next generation of solid waste management strategies for Chittenden County.
5-Year Work Plan (pdf, 5.21mb)

In May of 2012, the State of Vermont passed Act 148, “An act relating to establishing universal recycling of solid waste.” It was passed unanimously in both houses, attesting to the widely recognized need to change the way we manage our waste stream to keep valuable resources such as recyclables, compostable food scraps, and yard debris out of the landfill.

On November 10, 2012, the State issued a draft plan for enacting the new solid waste law and recommending actions and performance standards to promote improvements to solid waste management statewide. The state also issued a companion draft materials management history and update.

Chittenden Solid Waste District Towns

How CSWD Operates

Each CSWD member town appoints a representative and an alternate to serve on the Board of Commissioners. This Board meets monthly to set policy and make major decisions.

CSWD Calendar (includes upcoming meeting dates)

Executive and Full Board Agendas and Minutes

Since 1992, CSWD has implemented regional programs and constructed facilities to meet the goals of Act 78 and those set out in the District Charter. These programs and facilities are intended to affect the production, consumption and disposal decisions made by residents, businesses and institutions, resulting in less waste produced and encouraging proper disposal.

CSWD employs more than 50 people in five main departments: Administration, Finance, Facilities, Unregulated Hazardous Waste, and Waste Reduction.

CSWD employees
CSWD job openings

Annual Reports (all are pdf)
Contact us for additional Annual Reports.

FY 2012 Annual Report
FY 2011 Annual Report
FY 2010 Annual Report
FY 2009 Annual Report
FY 2008 Annual Report

We also manage:

• Seven Drop-Off Centers for residential and small business recycling, trash and certain special wastes
• The Environmental Depot, a permanent hazardous waste collection facility
• The Rover, a mobile household hazardous waste collection unit
• A single-stream Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for large-scale recyclables processing
• Green Mountain Compost, a large-scale composting facility

To ensure proper waste disposal, CSWD:

• Licenses solid waste haulers and recycling processors, scales used to weigh solid waste, and transfer/disposal facilities within Chittenden County;
• Requires that mandatory recyclables and items banned from landfills be separated from trash;
• Prohibits illegal dumping and burning;
• Imposes penalties and fines for violations of the Ordinance and Regulations.

How CSWD is Funded

CSWD funding comes from three main sources:

1. Fees collected at CSWD facilities for disposal of trash, hazardous waste and other specific items;
2. A solid waste management fee of $22.06 collected on each ton of trash generated in CSWD;
3. Revenue received from the recyclables processed and sold at the Materials Recovery Facility.

Variable funding is also received via grants from the State of Vermont and other sources.

CSWD Budget Files
CSWD’s budget for general fund operating expenditures for fiscal year 2013 is approximately $9.0 million.
The District’s budget for capital expenditures for fiscal year 2013 is approximately $3.1 million.
The District’s Adopted Budgets for FY2012 and for FY2013 are both viewable on the CSWD ftp site.
The District’s Proposed Budget for FY2014 may be viewed by clicking on a section link below:

Audited Financial Statements and Management Letter
(Contact us for additional Financial Statement pdf files.)

• CSWD AUDIT RPT JUNE 30 2012 AND 2011; CSWD Communication Letter FY12
• CSWD AUDIT RPT JUNE 30 2011 AND 2010; CSWD Management Letter FY11
• CSWD AUDIT RPT JUNE 30 2010 AND 2009; CSWD Management Letter FY10
• CSWD AUDIT RPT JUNE 30 2009 AND 2008
• CSWD AUDIT RPT JUNE 30 2008 AND 2007