Town to prepare bids for new trash & recycling contracts

The Select Board gave the go-ahead to Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall to begin preparing bids for a new trash contract and join with other communities on a shared recycling contract that could possibly lead to cost savings for the town.

Aspinwall told the board at its meeting on November 24 that its current contract with Republic Services, which includes trash and recycling collection, is set to end on June 30, 2021. Republic did not charge the town a separate recycling collection cost, but Aspinwall estimates that a new contract would include a recycling cost ranging from $188,000 to $200,000.

Aspinwall estimates that the total cost for trash and recycling in the new contract would be over $2 million.

Aspinwall said by joining with other communities on a separate recycling bid, the town could receive a better price. Republic is eligible to bid for the services as part of a new contract.

Aspinwall said he hopes to go out for bid by the end of January, and in the bid he would like companies to offer increased education for residents as to what materials are acceptable for recycling.

Two weeks ago, the Select Board heard from the town’s Sustainability Committee, represented by Christine Smith, who said she would like to send out a survey to residents asking them for input on what services they would like in the next contract and whether they would be willing to pay for additional services. Smith said the Sustainability Committee will be working with several town groups and committees to distribute the survey.

In other news from the November 24 Select Board meeting:

* After hearing input from local houses of worship, the board is preparing to set Saturday, May 22, as the start date for the 2021 annual town meeting. The meeting will be held on the CHS turf field starting at around 12:30 or 1 p.m. The rain date is June 5.

* Aspinwall provided an update on maintenance responsibilities for Revolution Way, the new roadway through the Paul Revere Heritage Site. Aspinwall said Canton Holdings is currently responsible for plowing the streets and Northern Spy is responsible for plowing the parking lot and sidewalk leading to its restaurant. Next year the town will be responsible for the sidewalks in the park. Upon the street’s acceptance as a public way, the town will be responsible for the street and all of the sidewalks (including the sidewalk to the MBTA station), but Northern Spy, according to the terms of their lease, will continue to be responsible for maintaining the parking lot and the sidewalk leading to the restaurant …

See this week’s Citizen for more highlights from the November 24 Select Board meeting. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Dec 4 2020. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.