Tackling Trash

April 22, 2013

Rational Taxpayers of Hampton has been concerned for a while on the issue of taxpayer supported commercial trash collection. How this practice ever began was indicative of the cozy relationship between former town politicians, town management, public works department administrators and select members of the business community. The time has come to fix the problem. Historically the boards have either kicked the can down the road or have voted to maintain the status. With the new BOS we hope they will tackle and settle this once and for all.

First we need to recognize that there are inequities and inconsistencies in the system, some area businesses arrange for private collection, some rely on the Town. Some get picked up once a week, others seven days a week. The Town currently enters private property to collect trash where other instances the trash and recyclables are brought curb side. What we have is a hodge-podge of ingrained bad practices.

What Rational Taxpayers of Hampton proposes is that all these bad practices continue but with the following changes. Collection of commercial and residential trash will take place once a week courtesy of the Town. Any additional pick-ups by the Town will be charged to the business or property owner at equivalent commercial rates. Any pick-ups on private property will require the property owner to sign a waiver of any liability to the Town for any damage or potential problem as a result of the Town’s trash services.

We feel that several hundred thousand dollars can be generated by these changes to the Town which would offset the costs of services and eliminate Taxpayer subsidies beyond a reasonable amount. 

For Rational Taxpayers of Hampton

Norman Silberdick