Trash Issue At Foxborough Parks, Fields Improving

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Two weeks ago, several town leaders were at odds over finding a solution to trash piling up at Foxborough parks and recreational fields. But it appears one solution suggested at the prior selectmen meeting has things under control.

On Tuesday, Public Works Director Christopher Gallagher told selectmen the amount of trash at parks and fields has greatly reduced over the last couple of weeks. Gallagher attributed this improvement to United Material Management, a Foxborough-based trash hauling company, volunteering to empty 20 barrels at the Booth Playground and the Payson Road recreation complex. He said visitors were also complying with a "carry-in, carry out policy."

Normally, the highway department is responsible for emptying 150 barrels on town properties. The barrels are typically emptied twice a week and make up enough trash to fill two 30-yard dumpsters. But this routine was suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic per state guidelines.

When Gallagher checked the trash inventory Monday morning, he said he found none of the 20 barrels were overflowing, and parks were free of excessive amounts of litter. He then suggested having 150 town-owned barrels may have been excessive to begin with.

"We may not need 150 barrels in the future," Gallagher said.

Prior to the actions taken over the last two weeks, several town officials were not in agreement on how to solve the trash problem. Selectwoman Stephanie McGowan originally supported having the highway department empty the barrels again, but said she was happy to see the conversations led to people self-policing the litter problem.