Selectmen Mull 'Pay As You Throw' Program

As the prepares the official questions for the override vote set for June 7, residents and town officials are looking into a new trash collection system, which could enable the town to save money and be more environmentally friendly.

How It Works

The “Pay As You Throw” (PAYT) program implements a residential fee for trash collection based upon household size and usage. The current waste management system is funded through a flat tax all town residents pay, regardless of how much or how little trash they actually produce.

“Unlike the present system where you put out as much as you want and pay the same, this system is about equity,” proponents of the system relayed to the Board of Selectmen at Monday night’s meeting.

The PAYT program still allows for unlimited recycling and the same rules apply for yard waste and regular trash pickup. But instead of putting trash outside their homes in barrels, the PAYT plan requires residents to put waste in different size bags that they purchase themselves at local stores. The committee behind PAYT is proposing the town use 33 and 15-gallon bags to measure residents’ waste; residents would then pay for waste collection services depending on how many bags they use.

Dollars and Sense

By eliminating trash barrels, decreasing service fees and lowering disposal costs, the program could save the town between $1.8-3.2 million per year. Supporters say the plan provides a price incentive for residents to emit less waste  and encourages people recycle more.

The committee behind PAYT say the program could reduce town waste emissions by 25 percent or more, which could provide additional savings to the town by reducing waste disposal costs. 

Other area towns such as Malden have already implemented the program and reduced waste emissions by as much as 50 percent.  

Next Steps

The PAYT program could be part of the override package, as town officials determine the official questions for the June 7 ballot. At Monday night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager Brian Sullivan estimated that a three-year override would break down to $320,000 per year with the PAYT option and $425,000 per year without it.

These numbers are likely to change as the Board of Selectmen researchs override options and gathers . Though town officials by and large are in favor of the measure, the Board decided to table the PAYT discussion until its next meeting. Next week the Board of Selectmen will decide whether or not to include the PAYT program with the override or to put it on the ballot as its own separate question. 

"It's important to bring those two into line," said Town Manager Brian Sullivan in regards to the PAYT program and the override. "We have to put into context that part of this will not be free to residents. We need to give people the opportunity to respond to this."