BCAT News

As reported by BNEWS in September, the time has come for the Town of Burlington to renew its trash contract.

DPW Director John Sanchez and DPW Business Manager Rachel Leonardo were before the Select Board on Oct. 24. Looking at a three- to five-year contract with Republic Services, Leonardo laid out the options they’re investigating and the feedback they’ve received from residents via email and social media.

The first option is to eliminate curbside collection of household yard waste, which seems to be frowned upon by residents. Another possibility is every other week recycling collection, which Leonardo noted was not well received.

“I would say this is probably the No. 1 negative feedback from residents from email, social media and calls to the DPW,” said Leonardo.

The option for moving to four-day collection services didn’t garner much response, according to Leonardo, and charging an annual $100 fee met with mixed reviews. In the end option the fee comes down to $2.50 per collection and would maintain current services as is. 

There is also the option to keep services as they are without a fee, to which Town Administrator Paul Sagarino pointed out the difficult times we’re in, in terms of cost escalation. 

During discussion, Select Board Chair Nick Priest noted the amount of available service providers is shrinking, which is forcing more open-handed negotiations. Vice-Chair Mike Runyan voiced his option toward the town creating its own waste collection system, however there’s no time to fully organize that effort before a contract needs to be signed. Runyan suggested continuing the current services under a three-year contract while the town explores additional options for yard waste and compost. 

Board members Joe Mornadi, Mike Espejo and Jim Tigges agreed with continuing the current service on a three year contract and sharpening the pencil come budget time. The DPW’s Sanchez noted that they’ve yet to see what kind of savings a five year, opposed to a three year, contract would have. At the same time a three-year contract gives the town enough waste collection coverage with time to figure out what to do moving forward.  

“The biggest  issue we have right now and I say we, as the northeast and even as a country, don’t have enough truck drivers. We don’t have enough equipment. We don’t have enough trucks. We ordered a truck after the May Town Meeting and have been told we’re not going to see it until after winter,” said Sanchez.

Even with prevailing issues of obtaining qualified personnel and equipment, Town Administrator Sagarino believes the analysis of Burlington’s own municipal waste collection is worth looking at.

The Select Board wants to examine terms of a contract proposal before taking a vote on the matter.