Town of Southwest Harbor, Maine

Our climate is changing. So is our coastline, our waterfront, and our daily life.

The Southwest Harbor Climate Vulnerability Assessment uses local data and scientific projections to show how climate hazards will affect our town in the years ahead.

Read the Full Assessment

Developed by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute with support from A Climate to Thrive, this assessment was funded by a Community Action Grant from Maine's Community Resilience Partnership. It is the foundation for a community resilience plan now being developed — and your input helps shape what comes next.

Key Findings

Here is what the assessment found

Rising Seas & Coastal Flooding

Flooding already reached Seawall Road and Manset during back-to-back storms in January 2024 — and the frequency will increase.

Extreme Heat Days

1.5 → 13 days/yearDays above 90°F could jump from fewer than 2 per year to nearly two weeks by mid-century.

Tick-Borne Disease

617 per 100,000Hancock County Lyme disease rates have soared from 13 per 100,000 in 2001 to over 600 today.

Gulf of Maine Warming

3.5x fasterGulf of Maine waters are warming 3.5 times faster than the global ocean, threatening lobster and the working waterfront.

Drinking Water & Saltwater Intrusion

Rising seas and drought can push saltwater into freshwater aquifers, threatening households reliant on private wells.

Wildfire Risk

Abundant forest fuels near Acadia National Park and densely clustered homes downtown create conditions for significant damage if a fire occurs.

Why This Matters

This report matters for every resident, business owner, and visitor

It is the foundation for the community resilience plan now being developed — and your perspective helps shape what comes next.

Year-round residents — Understand risks to your property, roads, and services. Advocate for the infrastructure upgrades that matter most.
Seasonal homeowners — Learn how coastal flooding and extreme weather could affect your property and the community you return to each year.
Business owners & fishermen — See how ocean warming, species shifts, and infrastructure risks could reshape the local economy and working waterfront.
Visitors & tourists — Get essential context on emergency preparedness, evacuation routes, and the environmental conditions that make Southwest Harbor the place you love.

Town of Southwest Harbor · Public Health

Protect Yourself and Your Family from Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases

Black-legged (deer) ticks are common in coastal Maine, including Mount Desert Island. These tiny ticks can carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Cases are increasing statewide, and prevention is your best protection.

After Every Outing

Check yourself, your kids, and your pets every day

Even your own yard can harbor ticks. A daily tick check is the single most important step you can take.

Check yourself, kids, and pets every day after being outdoors — even in your own yard

Focus on warm, hidden spots: behind knees, armpits, groin, hairline, belly button

Use a mirror or ask someone to check your back

Check gear and clothing before coming inside; tumble-dry on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks

Before You Go Out

Dress for defense

Light-colored clothing

Makes ticks easier to spot before they reach skin

Tuck pants into socks

And shirt into pants when hiking or working in brush

Permethrin on clothing

Treat clothing and boots — lasts through multiple washes

EPA-registered repellent

Use DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin

If You Find a Tick

Remove it safely — step by step

1
Use fine-tipped tweezers
Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible
2
Pull straight up with steady pressure
Don't twist or jerk — this can cause the mouthparts to break off in the skin
3
Clean the bite area
Wash with soap and water or rubbing alcohol
4
Save the tick
Place it in a sealed bag or container with the date and location where you were bitten
5
Watch for symptoms
Call your doctor if you develop a rash, fever, or flu-like illness

UMaine Tick Lab offers FREE tick identification. Send your tick for testing to find out if it may carry disease. Learn more at extension.umaine.edu/ticks

Town of Southwest Harbor · Environmental Workgroup

Solid Waste & Recycling Decision Guide

Not sure where something goes? This guide covers the most common items — from curbside recyclables to bulky furniture to hazardous waste — and tells you exactly where to take them.

Quick Reference

What to do with common items

Item	Where to take it	Notes
Regular bagged trash	EMR Transfer Station, Long Pond Rd, SWH	Fee-based; open Mon–Sat. [1] [2]
Mixed recyclables	EMR Transfer Station, Long Pond Rd, SWH	Single-sort recycling; follow posted rules. [2] [3]
Large/bulky items	EMR Transfer Station, Long Pond Rd, SWH	Furniture, carpet, etc. Not accepted in Bar Harbor; must go to EMR. Fees apply. [4] [5]
Batteries, waste oil, electronics	EMR Universal Waste Day or HHW/UW event	2nd Saturday each month at EMR, plus annual HHW collection day. [6] [7]
Oil-based paint, solvents	Regional HHW/UW event (MDI)	Accepted on HHW day; latex paint is often handled differently. [6] [7]
Donation & Reuse Options
Gently used clothing (MDI)	Serendipity, 36 Kennebec Pl, Bar Harbor	Donated clothing and shoes; supports Bar Harbor Food Pantry. [8] [9]
Clothing + shoes (Ellsworth)	Goodwill Ellsworth, Downeast Hwy	Gently used, clean, sellable only. [10] [11] [12]
Nice clothing for local causes	2nd to None; Turn-Style; Emmaus (Ellsworth)	Focus on good-condition items; supports local programs. [13] [14] [15]
Small household items	Serendipity; Goodwill; 2nd to None	Must be clean and usable; no broken or soiled items. [8] [13] [11]

Before You Go

Tips for a smooth drop-off

Check hours first

EMR Transfer Station is open Monday through Saturday. Hours vary by season.

Sort before you arrive

Separate recyclables from trash at home. Single-sort recycling means one bin, but follow the posted rules.

Donate with care

Thrift shops accept clean, usable items only. Broken or soiled items create disposal costs for nonprofits.

Never dump hazardous waste

Batteries, paint, solvents, and electronics require special handling. Wait for a HHW/UW event or 2nd Saturday at EMR.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Town of Southwest Harbor · Transfer Station

EMR Transfer Station

Hours, location, fees, and the Universal Waste Day calendar for the Eastern Maine Recycling Transfer Station on Long Pond Road.

Hours

Monday – Friday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday	8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday	Closed
Legal Holidays	Closed

Location & Contact

47 Long Pond Road
Southwest Harbor, ME 04679

Phone: (207) 244-4347

Email: emr@midmaine.com

EMR Office: 28 Main Street, SWH
Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM – 3 PM
Office phone: (207) 244-9033

Fees

Trash disposal is fee-based. Fees are assessed by load at the gate.

Recycling is accepted at no additional charge when materials follow posted sorting rules.

Bulky items (furniture, carpet, mattresses, etc.) incur additional fees.

Contact EMR at (207) 244-4347 for current fee details. The town pays approximately $175/ton in tipping and facility fees.

Monthly Collection

Universal Waste Day Calendar — 2026

Universal Waste is accepted at the EMR Transfer Station on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Bring batteries, fluorescent bulbs, electronics, waste oil, and other hazardous household items.

Jan 10Saturday

Feb 14Saturday

Mar 14Saturday

Apr 11Saturday

May 9Saturday

Jun 13Saturday

Jul 11Saturday

Aug 8Saturday

Sep 12Saturday

Oct 10Saturday

Nov 14Saturday

Dec 12Saturday

Accepted on Universal Waste Day

Batteries (all types)
Fluorescent bulbs & tubes
Electronics (TVs, computers, etc.)
Waste oil & antifreeze
Mercury thermostats & thermometers
Aerosol cans

HHW — Annual Collection Only

Oil-based paint & stains
Solvents & thinners
Pesticides & herbicides
Pool chemicals
Gasoline & kerosene
Propane tanks

The annual HHW/UW event is typically held in September at MDI High School. Check Acadia Disposal District for the next date.

Recycling at EMR

Single-sort recycling rules

Accepted (loose, not bagged)

Paper & cardboard (flattened)
Plastic bottles & jugs (rinsed)
Aluminum & tin cans (rinsed)
Newspaper & magazines
Mixed paper & mail

Not accepted in recycling

Glass bottles & jars
Plastic bags & wrap
Styrofoam
Food-soiled containers
Bagged recyclables (must be loose)

Contamination costs everyone. Loads with unacceptable or soiled materials may be rejected and charged the $110/ton tipping fee as trash. When in doubt, throw it out.

Town of Southwest Harbor · Environmental Workgroup

Housing Working Group

Collecting data and exploring options to increase the supply of year-round workforce and affordable housing in Southwest Harbor.

Our Work

What the Housing Working Group is doing

At the introductory Housing Working Group meeting, we identified three main goals:

Revisit the housing recommendations from the 2010 and 2022 Comprehensive Plans
Collect data and inventory the current SWH housing supply
Gather information from other towns on what has worked

The top priority from the 2022 Comp Plan revision and the direction from the Select Board was to collect information to support future policy discussions and action. Once we know what we have, we can explore widely for possible action to increase the supply of year-round workforce and affordable housing.

Key Definitions

Two types of housing need

Workforce

Workforce (Middle Income) Housing

Rental or homeownership opportunities for middle-income households where the rental fee or mortgage cost is not more than 30% of gross monthly household income.

Because the cost of housing on the coast is significantly higher than inland, Workforce Housing here refers to households earning 100–150% of the state household median income.

Affordable

Affordable Housing

As defined by the Maine State Housing Authority: rentals limited to households earning 80% or less of state median income, and home ownership to those earning 120% or less of state median household income.

$93,307

2024 Maine median household income
Both definitions refer to year-round housing unless specifically designated for seasonal workers. This figure has increased significantly since 2020.

Data Collection

Housing inventory in progress

Year-Round Housing

Zone A near complete

We are documenting year-round housing and determining whether each unit is owner-occupied or rented. Criteria include:

Owner address in SWH
Homestead exemption on record
Voter registration at that address
Field observation (plowed driveways, shoveled paths in winter)
Conversations with local rental agents

If a registered voter at an address is not the owner, the property is noted as rented. Zone B is larger, more challenging, and in progress.

Seasonal Housing

Just starting

Seasonal housing is complex and includes three distinct categories that should probably be treated differently in any future regulation:

1. Short-term rentals (under 30 days)

Airbnb and VRBO listings. Hard to quantify: listings may include hotel rooms, purpose-built tourist accommodations, and places listed as “near” SWH. They never include street addresses.

2. Transient tourist accommodations

Hotels, inns, cabins, campgrounds, and other purpose-built rooms for summer visitors. These have existed since the Rusticators first came to SWH.

3. Summer residents

Property owners who pay taxes, use their property mainly for family and friends, and may rent by the week or month when not here. Any future short-term rental regulation would likely not apply to these traditional summer residents, who have been part of this community since the mid-19th century.

Employee Housing

Inventory beginning

Both seasonal and year-round employee housing is another facet of housing availability. We have the beginnings of a list that should grow as we continue the inventory work.

Covenant & Public Housing

Documented

SWH currently has 4 houses under affordability covenants that restrict purchase cost and/or resale value and include income qualifications for homeowners.

Separately, SWH has 71 public housing apartments with income limits for occupants. These are distinct from covenant-restricted housing.

Statewide Resource · Maine

Municipal Wastehub

Ensuring affordable and environmentally sound disposal of Maine's municipal solid waste through smarter logistics, sustainable waste management, and policy leadership.

Visit municipalwastehub.org

Mission

A statewide partner for affordable, sustainable waste disposal

Municipal Wastehub works with Maine towns to keep waste transportation costs low, reduce carbon footprint, and advance smarter, greener waste practices through policy leadership and community education.

Streamlined Logistics

Efficient, reliable hauling that keeps municipal waste transportation costs low and reduces the carbon footprint of getting waste where it needs to go.

Comprehensive Management

End-to-end solutions from collection to recycling to disposal — sustainable and cost-effective for communities large and small. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Policy & Education

Empowering Maine municipalities through policy leadership and community education to advance smarter, greener waste practices over the long term.

Why This Matters for Southwest Harbor

A regional resource for our local work

As the Environmental Workgroup continues to study solid waste management options for Southwest Harbor, Municipal Wastehub serves as a valuable statewide reference. The organization's focus on affordability, environmental responsibility, and inter-municipal cooperation directly aligns with concerns voiced by SWH residents about waste transportation costs, the legacy of historic landfill use, and the long-term sustainability of disposal practices on Mount Desert Island.

Their work on streamlining hauling logistics and supporting smaller communities is particularly relevant for towns like ours that depend on regional transfer stations and outside processing facilities.