Sixteen thousand new trash and recycling carts will begin arriving at homes and businesses across Marblehead next week as the town transitions to an automated collection system.
“Trash and recycling will only be collected from town-issued barrels/carts beginning July 1,” Health Director Andrew Petty wrote in an email to the Current. “Items outside of barrels will not be collected. A copy of the curbside collection regulations are posted online and a copy will be delivered to you with your new barrels along with other directions for proper curbside putout.”
Here are the regulations:
Each cart will be printed with a serial number and assigned to the property rather than the owner or resident. The new barrels will cost the town about $900,000, financed over five years. There is no additional cost to property owners.
Automated collection
The carts are part of the town’s new trash and recycling contract, which features automated collection trucks equipped with mechanical arms that lift and empty barrels, reducing the need for a second worker on each route.
Trash carts will hold 65 gallons, while recycling carts will hold 95 gallons. Pickup will continue on a weekly schedule.
“Folks that live in the downtown (Old & Historic) district can request a smaller set of barrels,” Petty added. “We can issue them a 35 gallon trash and a 65 gallon recycling cart. We do suggest that you try out the larger barrels for six weeks before but we are able to change them from the beginning if you know it will not work.”
Trash fees are no longer being covered through property taxes, and the town plans to bill property owners unless residents opt out in writing.
At the June 9 town election, voters will decide whether to approve a $2.3 million permanent override to cover trash collection costs, which would eliminate the need for the fee-based system.
Petty encouraged residents to bring old trash barrels to the Transfer Station, where a bin for large plastic items will be available.
