The South Shore Recycling Cooperative (SSRC) has been working on a proposal to develop a permanent household hazardous waste depot at the Hanover transfer station located at 118 Rockland St. Hanover, MA. The facility would increase the number of household hazardous waste (HHW) events available to participating member towns. It would allow drop-off events throughout the year, rather than the few staggered spring and fall events currently offered.
Claire Galkowski, executive director of the SSRC, spoke to the Pembroke Select Board at its Oct. 7 meeting, asking the town to sign an intermunicipal agreement (IMA). The IMA is based on the 2023 IMA signed by towns participating in the Minute Man Household Hazardous Product Facility in Lexington, MA, which has operated for 20 years and was vetted by their nine participating town counsels. The proposed facility in Hanover and the IMA are similar, and nine member towns have signed on. Braintree, Weymouth, Hull, Marshfield, Cohassett, Plymouth, and Norwell decided not to participate. As of the meeting, SSRC member towns Abington, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Hanson, Hingham, Kingston, Rockland, Scituate, and Whitman had signed the agreement. According to Chenard and Galkowski, Hanover's Selectboard is supportive and is expected to sign imminently. Galkowski noted the engineering contract must be awarded by October 28, and that all eleven participating members must sign the IMA to proceed with the current timeline, with the facility to open in May 2027. The current deadline for the grants awarded to the project is in March.
According to Galkowski the proposal was conceived after the 2022 fall HHW collections were canceled on short notice because the vendor was insufficiently staffed. CDL drivers were not available to transport the hazardous waste. SSRC scrambled to find vendors and facilitate the collection events. She noted that the pool of haulers was diminishing at the time—and it is even smaller now—with only two vendors allowed under the state contract. Towns are experiencing difficulty scheduling HHW collection dates because of the shortage of vendors.
The proposed HHW depot would act as a buffer against this vendor consolidation, especially in serving communities off-season and possibly on days other than Saturday. Galkowski explained that SSRC is currently under contract with Clean Harbors for these services and that the rate is extraordinarily low with a 30% discount through fiscal year 2028. If Clean Harbors does not bid for the subsequent SSRC contract, communities could see a 45-50% increase in costs under a typical state contract. The HHW Depot could further reduce costs by disposing of hazardous waste by the drum-full rather than by the carload. Operating costs would increase slightly because of the need for insurance. The average estimated cost per participating member town is $2,500 per year. Galkowski provided options for towns to defer some of this, including volume-based resident copayments of $10-$30 per drop-off.
She went on to explain that if/once all towns approve, each town would appoint a member to the HHW Depot Council. The council would decide how to allocate costs and what policies to implement. She reiterated that even with increased costs in various scenarios, the facility would allow disposal of hazardous waste by the 50-gallon drum rather than by individual carload. Galkowski finished her presentation by advocating for the continuity and stability the permanent facility would provide.
Select Board member Steve Ciciotti asked for copies of the agreement, noting members of the select board did not have any paperwork to review. He added that the board would not be able to decide at the time. Galkowski provided the board with copies. Town Manager Bill Chenard pointed out that the Town Advisory Board, the Town Manager’s office, and Pembroke’s legal counsel approved the IMA. He also noted that a non-vote would count as a “no” vote, and the project would not move forward for any participating member towns. Galkowski noted the changes in the contract submitted months ago are insubstantial. Chenard agreed the changes were minor.
Select Board member Dan Trabucco asked Chenard to explain the current program, what this proposal would replace, and what is best for the town. Chenard affirmed the program, specifically tied to the proximity of the Hanover location. He noted that Pembroke residents would have the opportunity to use the HHW Depot in Hanover, as well as the pop-up events in the non-participating towns. The project would eliminate risks that could cost Pembroke a considerable amount of money, such as spills and fires.
Chenard addressed the additional cost involved noting the short-term increase is not a substantial amount and is within the town’s Solid Waste Management budget; a spill or event at the Wilson E. Whitaker Recycling Center would be far more devastating. He noted that the town would prefer not to add residential copayments and assured the board the budget is sufficient to cover the difference. Chenard strongly recommended the board approve the IMA. He added that the changes to the IMA stemmed from Norwell pulling out of the agreement.
Ciciotti asked Galkowski why Norwell backed out. She explained that Norwell's Town Manager felt the host agreement with Hanover which provides a discount and no fixed cost assessment was not fair to Norwell. In response, and to reduce the impacts on other participating towns Hanover agreed to shoulder 40% of the fixed costs it would incur if it weren't hosting. Ciciotti reiterated that he wanted to know why Norwell pulled out of the agreement. Chenard stated he did not think it was appropriate to discuss Norwell’s decision. Select Board member Tracy Marino asked why other towns did not sign. Galkowski explained that Plymouth, Braintree, Weymouth, Hull, and Cohassett are further away and wanted to provide their residents with convenient access. Marshfield is new to the SSRC and she has not had enough communication with the town in that short time. Marino asked if Galkowski was worried the current model would go away. Galkowski is not concerned about the current model going away but about the increased costs and difficulty of scheduling events. She noted the costs have increased exponentially and will continue to do so. She expressed concern that the fewer options available, the more they will cost due to lack of competition.
Trabucco asked how long the town is bound to the agreement and what process is necessary to withdraw. Galkowski told him the agreement is 25 years, but the town could withdraw with eight months' notice and no penalties, excepting the present year's obligations. Trabucco went on to discuss how regional consortiums generally benefit the town, noting that the town manager and town counsel agree this is the best option for Pembroke.
Select Board Chair John Brown asked for a motion to approve the town manager’s recommendation. Select board members asked permission to read the agreement before making a decision.
The board does not have another meeting scheduled before the October 28 deadline. Chenard noted the select board could post another meeting for a vote at a future date before the deadline. Select Board member Sean Keegan also expressed reservations about voting on an agreement he has not read. Chair Brown noted that holding a meeting before Town Meeting has happened in the past and would allow Select Board members to review the IMA and vote with more knowledge on October 20. He tabled the vote until October 20. Both Galkowski and the Select Board agreed to the new meeting.
Town management, town counsel, and the Advisory Board approve of the agreement to become a participating member of the SSRC proposed HHW Depot in Hanover. The Select Board will vote on membership October 20 before the Special Town Meeting. Residents are encouraged to attend public meetings to voice their questions and concerns.
For more information regarding the South Shore Recycling Household Hazardous Waste Programs please visit: https://ssrcoop.info/household-hazardous-waste-collections/
For more information about the HHW Depot project please visit: https://ssrcoop.info/2026/09/15/newsletter-september-2026/
Editor’s Note: This story was first published on October 9, 2026. It was updated on October 10, 2026, to correct details about the review of the Lexington agreement, Pembroke’s role in future collection events and Hanover’s share of fixed costs. The story was also revised to add details from the meeting and to remove Galkowski’s apology about the timing of the amended agreement and her characterization of Norwell’s decision.
