Survey

Survey of Andover Townspeople

In a rural town of 2400 people with few avenues for information dispersal, it is quite difficult to survey a good chunk of the population. Using Facebook, e-mail, and handouts I was able to collect 95 survey results in one month. Due to the in-depth responses I received and the various methods of collecting the information, I feel the survey shows an accurate slice of Andover's residents. Google Forms was used to create the online document, shown on the left, and a print-off version was made to accommodate those with little access to computers. The print-off was placed in the Transfer Station office and the Town Hall. I collected and transferred the answers to the online document.

The results of the survey can be seen in charts below (click the arrow to expand). The summary is written below it.

Results ^^^

Summary of responses

95 people took this survey [60 on the computer and 35 on paper] from Nov. 17 - Dec. 17, 2014.

Most responders:

• attend the dump once per week
• rate the overall setup as a 3/5
• think the dump is friendly, a social place, clean, convenient, sufficient and user-friendly
• say recycling is very important (5/5)
• think the single stream system is great (5/5)
• like the staff, single stream, reusable items drop-off spot, and Swap Shop Day the best
• believe the overall flow, the reusable items drop-off spot, trash dumpster and Swap Shop Day could be improved
• attend the Swap Shop Day 'sometimes'
• would like to see a permanent Swap Shop building
• would not pay for reusable items they take
• think the Town spends "just enough" or were not sure of the Town spending at the Transfer Station

Responses to long-answer questions

Any comments on the single stream?

The responses stretched from "I love it, convenient, easy to use" to confusion over recyclable materials to "we lose big money." There are suggestions of widening the disposal chute so there is less congestion and lowering it so that kids can participate. Many of the responses spoke of the loss of revenue that came from marketing recyclables, such as corrugated cardboard and aluminum cans.

If the town of Andover had $500,000 gifted to the transfer station (!), what would you want the Selectmen to do with it?

The responses to these questions were creative, thoughtful, and interestingly in line with ideas that I'd had myself. Here is a brief summary:

• alternative energy (solar panels, biomass plant for processing yard waste, biodigester for food waste, wind energy)
• form a study committee
• educate the people, starting with the kids at our school
• compost yard and food waste
• build a "Swap Shop" building for re-usable items
• buy new balers, sell the old balers for scrap metal
• improve the flow for unloading trash and recycling
• relocate things for ease of snow removal
• return to sorted recycling and accept more items
• plant a wind break
• improve the staff quarters: get better heat for them, a bathroom, running water
• put down hard pack or tar to keep dust down and improve plowing
• improve aesthetics
• install a large piece of art that demonstrates the three R's (reduce, reuse, recycle)
• a car/truck scale for construction and demolition debris so the costs are accurate and constant
• improve the signage
• raise the wages for the attendants
• equipment upgrades

Any ideas for the transfer station?

These responses were similar to the ones above, though most are more cost-appropriate. The ones that are repeats from above are not duplicated below.

• change the bulletin board location
• pay as you throw garbage disposal
• sell coffee and baked goods
• mandatory recycling
• return to old recycling system
• purchase a horizontal baler
• create a building to house the town's trucks and equipment
• add an access point to the single stream compacter
• create a mission statement
• have once a year purchasing of dump stickers ($5) instead of once/lifetime
• chip yard waste to sell as mulch
• have gatherings, music, social events
• use Andover and Proctor school kids to help sort, unload, etc.
• create full time position--this person could also help with other areas of town business
• place trash hopper in a way that it can be accessed from both sides
• put trash and recycling next to each other for ease of flow
• "artist day" for local artisans to pick the dump

Feedback on the survey

There was some feedback on the survey (explicit and implicit). One person suggested that I include information about the costs to the town so that people could make educated choices about "the way the town spends". Other's made comments about the Board of Selecmen that are too profane to put in this portfolio, but suggests that maybe my questions about the $500,000 (which was intended to read as "Dream big") were too coaxing. It was also mentioned that the survey lacked questions about the hours and days of operation and the quantity/quality of staffing.

Survey of Transfer Station Attendants in New Hampshire

This second survey, shown to the left, was created in hopes that I could get the "inside scoop" on how transfer station workers feel about their own "dump" and to narrow my search for similar operations to Andover's. This Google Form was distributed by Marilyn at the Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA) via e-mail to all their members (30 in total). We were both underwhelmed by the number of responses, though they have proved helpful for me--Canterbury, with an exact population size and same staffing setup, is only 20 minutes from Andover and will be an interesting case study. It also helps that I have ties to the "dump" Supervisor there.

Results^^^

Summary of responses

7 towns took this survey [6 through the Google Form, 1 via fax] from the following towns: