New Trash Bins On Order, Plan Headed for March Rollout

Both the trash bins and organics bins have been ordered and the new trash plan in both Hamilton and Wenham is on track to be rolled out in mid-to late-March.

“We have ordered the bins and expect to hear back yet this week on a delivery date,” Hamilton Town Manager Michael Lombardo said on Monday.

Each household will get a 35-gallon trash bin and a 11-gallon organic waste bin purchased by the town government.

A color brochure will be mailed to every household in both towns explaining the program, Lombardo said.

The new plan will mean trash – one barrel at no charge - will be collected every other week in Hamilton and recycling and organics will be collected each week. Extra trash bags can be collected each week - including the "off" week - for a charge.

In Wenham, trash, recycling and organics will be collected from every household each week.

The exact start date for the program is yet to be determined and Lombardo said additional information will be distributed when a specific start date is determined.

Organics collection will be provided, at no cost, to each home and recycling will be “single-stream” meaning that all recyclable material will go together in one bin. Town officials are suggesting that residents use their old trash barrels for recyclables.

A color brochure explaining the program is being drafted now and will be mailed to every household when a specific launch date is determined.

Hiltz Hauling will still bill each town separately, based on the amount of trash and compostable material is collected, Lombardo said.

The bins were ordered after officials from each town signed a three page intermunicipal agreement last week.

The bins will cost no more than $81,000 and will be paid $26,752 be year using state grant money. The two towns will cover the $3,000 in interest will be covered by the towns.

Wenham Selectman John Clemenzi objected to the purchase of the trash bins and said that instead, new recycling bins should have been ordered.

“You’re asking someone to dig a big hole with a little shovel,” he said.

Clemenzi pointed to the large recycling toters used in other communities and said the town should have purchased those for residents, which make recycling easier. The town is asking residents to recycle more but is not buying new recycling bins, he said.

But Wenham Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren said much of the savings from the new plan comes from the automation of trash collection using the new bins, including lower employee costs and worker’s compensation costs.

This article has been updated to correct that fact that one barrel of trash - not one bag -  will be collected every other week at no charge in Hamilton.