Over the past seven months, voters in four Island towns have approved funding for a major expansion of the Martha’s Vineyard Refuse District transfer station. The $2.5 million project is expected to triple the Edgartown station’s vehicle capacity and allow for future expansion.

Massachusetts has become the first state in the nation to put a ban on commercial food waste entering landfills. Larger businesses on the Vineyard are preparing for the changes, and businesses and residents are feeling the need for more composting regulations.

After a year of negotiating details to build a regional composting facility on the Island, the Martha's Vineyard Refuse Disposal and Resource Recovery District committee voted last night to ship waste to a composting facility in Marlboro on a trial basis.

"This is to ascertain whether it's logistically feasible to ship off," said Richard Skidmore, chairman of the district committee.