Trash & Recycling Costs to Spike beginning July 1

This article appeared in the March 9 edition of The Lynnfield Villager and is excerpted here. 

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Trash and recycling costs are going to increase significantly in fiscal year 2023, DPW Director John Tomasz told the Select Board on Feb. 28.

Tomasz has proposed a $7,928,338 operating budget for FY23, which represents a 5.1 percent increase over FY22’s $7,547,041 appropriation. Tomasz said increasing trash and recycling costs are a major factor attributing to the DPW’s budget increase. He said trash and recycling collection costs will be increasing from $945,000 to $1,150,000. He recalled that the DPW signed a six-year contract with JRM Hauling and Recycling last year.

“Rubbish disposal is going up $72,000 next year,” said Tomasz. “Recycling collection is increasing by $58,000 and rubbish collection is increasing by $85,000 to reflect the contractual increase that will take effect on July 1. The contract had a reasonable increase last year and a big hit this year. Costs will drop by two-thirds in the coming years.”

Tomasz recalled that New Hampshire and Maine have stopped taking trash from Massachusetts cities and towns. “They are now saying we don’t want your trash anymore,” said Tomasz. “I think we are lucky that we locked into the contract that we did. We should be somewhat stable.”

Tomasz said the DPW and Recycling Committee are urging residents to participate in a curbside composting program offered by Black Earth Compost.

“I have proposed adding $10,000 to the recycling account to assist participants in the organic program,” said Tomasz. “I am hoping to add some incentives to get people to join that program.” Select Board Chairman Dick Dalton recalled that he was given a 13-gallon compost kit and trash bags that the DPW purchased with funds from a state grant.

“I have been doing it for the last three weeks and our family of three is filling it up every week,” said Dalton.

In response to a question from Dalton, Tomasz said reducing Black Earth Compost’s annual cost from $200 to $100 is a possible way to generate more interest in curbside composting.

“I think that will help get more folks involved in the program,” said Tomasz. “We have been pushing this for months, and we now have 100 participants. It really isn’t that many at all when we have been giving away the starter kits.”

Tomasz noted there are members of the Recycling Committee who want recycling to be collected weekly instead of bi-weekly.

“That would be a $225,000 increase in the budget,” said Tomasz. “It wouldn’t save the town money. It would just cost more.”

Select Board member Joe Connell said his two children are frequently discussing the importance of recycling. He also said residents are recycling more frequently and are throwing out more trash because they are now working at home.

“The amount of trash and recycling out on the curb has just exploded,” said Connell.

Select Board member Phil Crawford said he hopes the DPW’s recycling and trash costs will decrease significantly in future fiscal years.