Proposed Fee for Harwich’s ‘Treasure Chest’ Sparks Debate

HARWICH- Harwich residents have expressed concern over a recently proposed $10 fee that would provide access to the Treasure Chest facility.

“The Treasure Chest is basically a swap shop where people can bring things that they deem as re-usable and somebody may want,” said Lincoln Hooper, DPW Director for Harwich.

The proposed fee comes after a spike in recent visitations to the shop due to similar sites in Dennis and Yarmouth closing their doors.

One point of contention for the fee is the confusion among residents of what role the town’s existing recycling sticker has to do with the Treasure Chest; “I don’t understand how the Treasure Chest is not recycling. I think that is one of the main purposes of it,” said Mandy Devey, a Harwich resident.

Town officials responded that the fee is necessary to cut down on the amount of Swap Shop patrons as well as out-of-town visitors that try to access the facility.

At this time some Lower Cape Town’s do provide complimentary access to swap shop usage, while the town of Eastham collects a $5 non-resident fee for access to their building.

No word yet on if/when this fee would be put into place.