Town Officials: Everyone Can Help Reduce Trash Costs with New Program

The following was submitted by Hamilton Town Manager Michael Lombardo, Wenham Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren and Sue Patrolia, sustainability coordinator for Hamilton and Wenham. 

Starting the first week of April, residents of Hamilton and Wenham . Everyone will have free weekly pick up of single-stream recycling and organic recycling. The single-stream recycling program allows all recyclables to be combined, including plastic, tin, glass, paper and much more. All food waste with bones, coffee grounds, soiled paper towels and more can go into . These two new recycling options enable residents to greatly reduce the amount of trash that ends up in the trash barrel.

All residents . In Hamilton, the barrel will be collected every other week. For those that need to dispose of trash during the off weeks, Hiltz will provide collection, . Trash barrels will not be picked up during the off weeks in Hamilton. Wenham's weekly trash barrel and overflow "green bag" pick-up remains the same.

Waste removal is an expensive taxpayer-funded municipal program, costing the towns about to $650,000 per year. Through the hard work of town leaders, committed volunteers in both communities, Hiltz Disposal and support from the state Department of Environmental Protection, Hamilton and Wenham have found a way to reduce municipal waste costs and offer expanded services to the community.

Change is not easy. For years residents have been taking trash removal for granted. We leave our trash on the curb and it goes “away.” But given the current economic and environmental reality, every town has begun to understand that “away” is costly.

In purely economic terms, there are two parts to “away” one might not think about.

1. Trash Hauling – the cost of the actual picking up.

2. Tipping Fees – the varying disposal cost of the material picked up.

Trash Hauling:

Historically, each town has arranged a separate contract with the same hauler. Working together they have been able to negotiate a very innovative and money-saving contract with Hiltz Disposal, which offers single stream recycling, curbside pickup of organic waste, and automated trash pick up – at a reduced rate. 

Trash Disposal (Tipping Fees)

The recycling we put out costs the towns (our taxes): $0/ton and is recycled

The organic we put out costs the towns (our taxes): $40/ton and is recycled

The trash we put out costs about (our taxes): $70/ton and is burned

Each and every resident has the opportunity to take the most advantage of these enhanced recycling programs and help reduce the amount of trash the towns have to pay to incinerate.

Please watch Hamilton-Wenham Patch over the next few weeks and your mail for more detailed information on the new organic and single stream recycling programs, including answers to questions on the new trash and organic carts, what can and can’t go into each cart and helpful tips on taking advantage of the enhanced offerings.

For additional information visit your town website:

Hamilton

Wenham - go to “Special Interest” at the bottom of the page