Should Westborough Leave Tidy Town for Trash and Adopt SMART?

WESTBOROUGH, MA—Westborough residents could by putting their trash to the curb more often if officials, and the town, adopts a new program called SMART (Save Money and Reduce Trash) for its recycling and trash needs.

Westborough's public health director and the recycling coordinator from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently explained to the Board of Selectmen the SMART program, reports the Community Advocate.

The program operates as a PAYT (Pay as You Throw) utility service that aims to reduce trash, create a recycling program, and create a uniform pickup.

For eligible towns, the MassDEP Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grants, according to the state's website, offers funding to cities, towns and regional entities - as well as certain nonprofit organizations that provide services to them - for recycling, composting, reuse and source reduction activities that will increase diversion of municipal solid waste and household hazardous waste from disposal.

The proposal, reports the Community Advocate, is the result of a committee that was formed to study what is a relatively low instance of recycling rates in Westborough, which generates more than 2,100 pounds per household each year.

Currently, trash is picked up every other week by Tidy Town, and residents can also drop off trash at the transfer station.

Read the full report on Community Advocate.

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