Quincy Leaving Trash Alliance Has No Financial Impact on Braintree, Mayor Says

Quincy's decision to sign on with a different waste management company to save money does not mean any significant changes for Braintree residents, Mayor Joseph Sullivan said.

"I respect and appreciate Mayor [Thomas] Koch's mind set," Sullivan said in an interview Wednesday, following the news that Quincy had signed a 10-year lease with Boston-based Sunrise Scavender Inc.

The move saves Quincy several million dollars and means five new hybrid collection trucks for the city, according to the Boston Globe.

Braintree and Weymouth will continue what Sullivan said has been a successful parternship over the past five years. Both communities have a one-year option with their current provider Capitol Waste that they could exercise this July.

Either this summer or next, Braintree and Weymouth could solicit bids, looking for savings themselves. They may also explore bringing another nearby town into the partnership.

Sullivan said that Quincy's new provider, Sunrise Scavender, reached out to him on Monday. He and Weymouth Mayor Susan Kay will meet again soon to discuss future plans.

"We'll continue to monitor our own options," Sullivan said, while stressing that the town's current waste management firm "has offered us a valued service."

Despite the switch, Quincy will still bring its waste to the Braintree Transfer Station run by Covanta, providing the town with a host fee.

The change will not affect Braintree's trash fee, Sullivan said. Through service partnerships and a focus on growing recycling – 34 percent of households recycle, up from 20 percent when Sullivan took office – the mayor said he would eventually like to see the trash fee disappear.