The Plympton Highway Department will give a ZOOM presentation Monday night, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. telling just how PayT, or Pay as You Throw, trash bags might be in the town’s future. Faced with rising disposal fees and a segment of the population that just doesn’t care about recycling, PayT might be the only solution. Transfer station attendant Art Morin says that people throw recyclables into the trash compacter without a second thought for the cost of their actions.
Morin said that transfer station attendants have no authority to force compliance with facility rules, they can only “politely suggest” that people use the cardboard and paper or plastic and glass recycle bins. Morin said that many times when he would politely suggest that the cardboard or beverage cans dumped in with the garbage costs the town money while if those items were put into the recycling bins it would cost the town nothing, the perpetrator would simply say they don’t care and drive away.
Neighboring Halifax and Hanson both use the PayT system and their disposal bags are available for sale at locations throughout the town, Stop and Shop, for one. The cost? A package of five 33-gallon trash bags costs $18 or $3.60 each for Halifax. A package of five 15-gallon bags costs $13.75 or $2.75 each. Prices are slightly lower for Hanson PayT bags.
A person who uses three small bags a week, at $2.75 each, would pay $429 per year. The cost of a transfer station decal was $240 per year for 2022, with seniors over age 65 paying $120. Most households use more than three small bags of trash per week.
Colleen Morin, assistant to the Highway Superintendent Rob Firlotte, said that residents can expect a substantial increase in transfer stationsticker prices. Price changes will need to be approved by the board of selectmen.
The ZOOM informational meeting Monday, Oct. 24, will answer many of the residents’ questions.
Transfer staton agent Art Morin said that Pay as You Throw will make those who use the disposal services most pay the most for the service they are using, and hopefully use recycling more. That would be more fair to everyone.
Questions such as how the system will work and what will happen to our current transfer station and its workers will be considered at Monday night’s ZOOM meeting.
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