The Solid Waste Committee member, Scott Mahoney, presented the committee’s recommendations for the PAYT program (Pay as you throw) at Monday’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting. The program was originally set up as an enterprise fund, over the years the program had been subsidized by the general fund. The committee has been asked by the town administrator, to review the fee structure, as part of the budget setting process to recommend a new structure which would address the programs increasing deficits (FY09 $268k, projected FY10 $273k, projected FY11 $287k).
In the short run (as part of the budget process), the program will not undergo major sweeping changes, only the deficit funding and fee structure is being addressed. The committee put forth four new possible cost structures with varying flat fees and bag costs. A flat fee only structure would not provide an incentive to recycle and thus the tonnage of trash is likely to increase making the structure unsustainable at the price level as variable costs would rise. The low flat fee structures do not cover the fixed costs (distribution, delivery and storage of the bags) and thus may be unsustainable if more households were to migrate to a private carrier.
The committee’s recommended structure of $165 flat fee and $.50 per small bag and $1 per large bag covers the fixed costs with the flat fee and the variable disposal costs with the bag fees. At 1 to 3 large bags per week, the town bag system provides lower costs than the private carrier’s small tote yearly costs.
Selectperson Fran Bakstan, working with the Solid Waste Committee, together they have received “a lot of input” from the community and they hope for a compromise that provides for the majority. The town administrator explains the “move is to best practices, and ease of understanding… to be upfront about what we want to accomplish, be transparent… It is due to the budget cycle that has kicked this into debate, we just want to be explicit on what the policy is”.
The Board of Selectmen will continue the hearing on February 8th.
Link to prior post on the subject.
To see a re-play of the BOS meeting, see link
Here’s the new pricing structures under consideration
Loading ...Note: Those using a private carrier will have the option to pay the flat fee to participate in the hazardous waste day, brush days, cardboard, metal and tire recycling center and free bag at Christmas. There will be hardship waivers for those in need.
I would prefer to see the price of bags remain the same and have a lower flat fee as this encourages recycling and composting. The price of bags is a variable that the consumer can keep their cost of trash removal low by recycling, composting and reducing the amount of trash generated. To pay a high fee and have incentives that cost tax dollars and not used by many of those who are paying that fee, does not seem equitable.
My private carrier small tote fee is $252/year. I was considering switching to the PAYT program, as I no longer fill the small tote, due to extensive reducing of waste, repurposing of items formerly discarded, recycling and composting, but all the proposed options would cost me significantly more money.
Claude: Who are you using as a private carrier?? Thank you.
I use Tidy Town out of Westborough
Paying $252 per year for a small tote, without the hassle of buying bags is certainly better than paying a flat fee of $165 per year, as the Solid Waste Commitee suggested to the selectmen. Thanks for your input, Claude.
Tidy town charges $27.50/month for the small bin ($27.50 x 12 = $ 330.00 a year. The large bin is $396 a year. I don’t know where that $252 number comes from, but I called Tidy Town and those are the current prices.
[...] Selectmen’s meeting room. There’s still time to weigh in on your preferences, in the NorthboroNews Reader’s Poll and by attending the Selectmen’s meeting. AKPC_IDS += "4695,"; February 5th, 2010 | Tags: [...]
I think the lower Tidy Town cost is the one original subscribers, like us, got. We gave up on the town program due to the poor quality and nuisance of the green bags and the sheer convenience of Tidy Town, which we have always found customer friendly. Oh, and I would rather pay a flat fee, even if it goes up a couple of bucks now and then, than participate in a program that goes through so many changes and involves so many steps. Like, whoops, its a snowy, icy day and there’s not a green bag to be found in the house! We’ve lived in Northborough for almost 25 years and with the exception of the this trash mess, have found services to be very good. We’ve lived in many other places around the country and have never seen such confusion.
[...] Dawn Rand acknowledged that whatever structure is decided upon, “in fairness, we will need to revisit this [program fee structure] every year”. The fee structure discussion will be continued next Selectmen’s meeting on 22nd. Prior Post. [...]