Selectmen announce new trash/recycling cart system

Selectmen voted 4-1 on Tuesday night to approve a new trash and recycling contract that will increase recycling and add very little fees, but will require residents to use a designated cart for trash and recyclable materials.

The new contract and service begins July 1 and selectmen plan to institute a major public information program to educate residents.

The only fee is $15 if residents want CRT electronics (printers, computers, TVs, cameras, etc.) carted away by the hauler, Republic/Allied Waste, which is the same provider currently picking up trash and recyclables in Canton. Residents can transport the electronics themselves to a community drop-off spot (to be determined) in order to avoid paying the fee.

If residents wanted Allied Waste to pick up furniture or white goods (washers and dryers), they can call for a free pickup by Allied Waste.

Every homeowner will receive a free 64-gallon cart to be used for trash and a 94-gallon cart to be used for recyclable materials (newspapers, cans, bottles, glass, etc.). The same pickup schedule will remain in effect with trash pickup every week and recycling every other week. The town will pay for 100 carts in reserve in the event that any are stolen, damaged or lost. If residents want additional carts, the cost will be $75 for a recycling cart and $65 for a trash cart.

Selectmen and Town Administrator Bill Friel began negotiating with Allied Waste nearly seven months ago once they heard that the tipping fees collected by SEMASS were going to substantially increase. Friel reported to selectmen Tuesday night that those tipping fees will increase from $37 to $65 a ton in December.

Selectmen agreed that the contract they negotiated with Allied Waste is much better for residents than the initial proposal heard last summer. Friel said the comments turned in by residents through emails, letters, and phone calls were helpful to selectmen in forming a new contract.

Selectman Victor Del Vecchio said the new service will encourage more recycling and ultimately save the town money, but not charge residents for curbside service except for the minimum fee for CRT collection. Selectman Bob Burr added that the board takes this service to residents very seriously and while other communities facing hard financial times have instituted a trash fee, selectmen resisted adding any service fees.

The new contract allows for the pickup of white goods and furniture whereas the original contract did not have pickup arrangements for these items. The new contract also calls for drivers to get out of the vehicles to align the carts if they are not in the correct position. An electronic arm will pick up the barrels and deposit the waste into the truck.

The one point of contention among selectmen Tuesday night concerned contract flexibility. Del Vecchio, for example, argued that if a customer wanted to use a 96-gallon cart for rubbish instead of having to purchase an additional 64-gallon cart, then he or she should have that flexibility. The other four selectmen felt the contract established clear conditions for additional carts — a system that has apparently been successful in the nearby towns of Westwood, Dedham, and Norwood.

Del Vecchio argued strongly that selectmen should retain flexibility and not let Allied Waste dictate the terms. He was the lone selectmen to vote against the new contract, although he said it is much better than the original one and has many positives for residents.

The contract is for five years, and if the state imposes any new trash or recycling regulations, Allied Waste will pay for the cost of implementation.

See this week’s Canton Citizen for more news from Tuesday night’s selectmen’s meeting.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=24795

Posted by Mike Berger on Mar 27 2014. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.