Seven Days

The Bristol landfill was buzzing with activity on a recent Saturday morning. A pickup truck dropped off a large load of old toys and furniture. People added black 30-gallon trash bags to a pile that would be bulldozed, compacted and then covered with a fresh layer of dirt at the end of the day. At the recycling drop-off, neighbors paused to chat.

Officials in the Addison County mountain town say their dump is a beloved social hub. So why is it closing in 2016, 13 years ahead of schedule?

The dump is bringing in less trash — and less cash. Increasingly, Bristol residents are hiring trash haulers to pick their garbage up curbside and truck it to the state's commercial landfill in Coventry.

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