Collection time on trash issue

News

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

June 18, 2009

By Bethany Bray

Months of trash talk may result in a decision to kick the current six trash-bag allowance to the curb at the June 22 selectmen's meeting.

This spring, the Department of Public Works recommended selectmen make changes to Andover's existing trash policy, including making recycling mandatory and reducing the maximum amount of trash residents can put to the curb.

Now, after weeks of discussion, selectmen are considering not one, but four options to change Andover's trash policy.

The proposed changes came out of discussions about saving money in the DPW budget. If every household increased recycling by five pounds every week, the town will save between $70,000 and $100,000 in one year, said Sandy Gerraughty, DPW business manager.

"This could be part of a solution to the budget gap," said Selectman Mary Lyman.

If adopted by selectmen, the trash policy changes would take effect July 1, 2009.

In a memo to selectman, the DPW recommended reducing the maximum amount of trash allowed to four bags or barrels per week. Selectman Jerry Stabile expressed support at a June 8 meeting for allowing a maximum of three bags and for requiring people to recycle to have their trashed pick up.

Selectman Brian Major noted that Andover already has an 87.5 rate of recycling among residents, and trash tonnage has decreased 28 percent in the last five years.

At their June 8 meeting, selectmen delayed a vote until next Monday's meeting.

Here are the four options being considered:

Three bags; no recycling bin, no pick up: Trash is limited to a maximum of three bags or barrels, with a maximum of 100 gallons. Recycling is mandatory — if a blue bin is not put out with trash on recycling weeks, the trash will not be picked up. Exceptions will be made for "extraordinary trash" from special events, like parties; also for large families with more than three barrels of trash that prove "due diligence" of recycling efforts.

Kinder, gentler three-bag option: Trash is limited to a maximum of three bags or barrels, with a maximum of 100 gallons. Recycling is mandatory, but not enforced. Exceptions will be made for "extraordinary trash" or large families.

Four bags; no bin, no pick up: Trash is limited to a maximum of four bags or barrels, with a maximum of 135 gallons. Recycling is mandatory — if a blue bin is not put out with trash on recycling weeks, the trash will not be picked up. Exceptions will be made for "extraordinary trash" or large families.

Kinder, gentler four-bag option: Trash is limited to a maximum of four bags or barrels, with a maximum of 135 gallons. Recycling is mandatory, but not enforced. Exceptions will be made for "extraordinary trash" or large families.