Councilors Debate Purchase of Barrels for Waste Automation

Officials from the mayor's office explained in detail Monday night the financial and environmental benefits of moving to an automated waste pickup program and the related purchase of 64-gallon trash and recycling barrels, but councilors held off on making a recommendation, deciding to wait for more information before their meeting next Tuesday.

Members of the Committee on Ways & Means voted 3-2 to table Mayor Joseph Sullivan's request to purchase the barrels for each household at a total cost of $905,000. The town would only have to cover $775,000 with a five-year bond because it has received a $130,000 state grant.

Councilors Sean Powers, Henry Joyce and Committee Chair Paul "Dan" Clifford voted to hold off on a recommendation until 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, prior to the next full council meeting. Tom Bowes and John Mullaney voted against tabling.

Clifford requested a "bottom-line" break-down of the numbers involved in the barrel transaction and Braintree's new contract with Sunrise Scavenger, which took effect July 1. The delay will not affect the contract as long as the council approves the barrel purchase by its next full meeting, Chief of Staff and Operations Peter Morin said.

Morin said that six vendors bid for Braintree's waste contract earlier this year and that Sunrise was the lowest responsible bidder. Its offer included the change to automation, which Braintree officials had been looking into for two years in order to stabilize costs and increase the town's recycling rate. 

The rate is stuck around 30 percent and could go up by 10 to 15 percent by limiting residents' capacity to throw trash for pickup into only one, 64-gallon barrel each week.

The importance of controlling costs through recycling – Braintree pays approximately five times as much to dispose of trash as recycling – is evident in the rest of the town's budget, Morin said.

"...it is important to focus on the nitty-gritty aspects of government as well as the more prominent ones," Sullivan said in his budget address this year to the council. "The dollars we don't have to spend on trash can go to our schools, our roads, our public safety and our workforce."

Over the last three years, under Capitol Waste, the town's refuse collection costs rose 15 percent, to $1,558,812, Morin said. Under the new contract, the town has been able to budget $1,360,000 for the current fiscal year and its contract limits Sunrise to two percent increases per year for five years.

Including the purchase of the barrels, Braintree will save between $700,000 and $750,000 over the next five years with Sunrise, Morin said. That includes savings from the anticipated increase in recycling, which could total $250,000.

"If we didn't make this change, there'd be no way we'd be able to reduce the trash fee ever," Morin said.

Much of the concern from councilors Monday, and from residents who have recently learned about the automation program, is about the size of the barrels.

Bowes suggested that the town look into up front providing seniors the opportunity for smaller receptacles. He also recommended putting savings toward reducing the trash fee in general and in particular for seniors, who currently pay $105 annually compared to the regular price of $160.

Joyce questioned why all taxpayers in town will pay for the barrels even though residents in apartment buildings and other units do not pay the trash fee nor use the town's pickup system.

"We don't have a pick and choose menu," Morin said. "All of us pay for things we don't use."

On that note, Morin also responded to a complaint from Marshfield Road resident Diane Donahue about the barrel not being large enough for her family's trash by saying that it works both ways – families with less trash also don't want to pay for those who have an excessive amount.

Powers asked if the mayor's office would consider working out accommodations for households with many members who may need more capacity.

"We're asking folks to do more work taking out the trash," Powers said.

Morin said the mayor will look at ways to accommodate households who have made reasonable efforts to utilize the receptacles but find them too large or too small. He also indicated that those who need another barrel would likely have to pay for them, but did not say how much it would cost. The barrels retail for approximately $87, he said.

Residents are still allowed to place out two bulky items per week with Sunrise in addition to their barrels. During Christmas week and the following week, households can put out six additional bags of trash, and Christmas trees and yard waste will also be collected on at least seven weekends each year.

As for service issues, Morin acknowledged that there have been some early hiccups, but that Sunrise is getting used to its new routes. The town, through coordinators Jeffrey Kunz Rosemary Nolan, is tracking problems with service. It also has a schedule of fines that it can apply to Sunrise based on the situation.

The vendor was given some "leeway" in the first weeks of operation, Morin said, but "we won't hesitate to use the contract enforcement penalties."

Residents can call Sunrise Scavenger customer service at 617-361-8000 and leave a message 24 hours per day and it will be followed up on the next work day. For all other questions, call the Recycling Office at 781-794-8088.