The Kent County Finance and Infrastructure Committee approved adding two full-time transfer station operator positions for the department of public works. The recommendation responds to rapid operational growth at the North Kent Transfer Station, where solid waste and construction debris volumes have climbed 36% compared to the prior fiscal year.
The facility currently serves nearly 300,000 commercial and residential visitors each year, making it the busiest site in the county fleet. Expanded services such as polystyrene recycling, commercial hauler drop-off and residential food waste collection contributed to increased demand. Operating hours were also adjusted to open at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays to assist commercial haulers on their routes.
Staff reported that the site requires 19,760 annual staffing hours, while existing base staffing of eight employees provided only 16,640 hours. The addition of two full-time positions is expected to substantially reduce overtime and retiree rehiring costs, on which roughly $79,000 was previously spent.