By Dakota Antelman — Dakota@theconcordbridge.org
By the numbers, the rollout of Concord’s new trash and recycling pickup program has been a success.
But as the town’s waste removal contractor runs its routes, crews are bypassing the homes of some residents who say they are unable to participate.
In interviews and letters to The Concord Bridge, local seniors said they’re frustrated with the way the town shared information about the program— and upset about a system they say does not show enough consideration for residents with mobility issues.
“I think it’s really unfortunate that the town has not considered the needs and the ways of supporting seniors,” said longtime Concord resident Honore Weiner.
“There are some issues with the program,” Town Manager Kerry Lafleur told the Select Board on October 21.
Changes to program
The Public Works Commission approved changes to the trash and recycling program in June after a presentation from Highway and Grounds superintendent Aaron Miklosko and program analyst Justine St. John.
Unlike the town’s old model, where residents separated paper and cardboard from other recycling, the new program is single-stream. The program also uses “automated pickup,” with one truck using a mechanical arm to dump barrels into trash or recycling compartments.
By using a single truck for both forms of waste, the program cuts the number of vehicles on the road, Miklosko said.
The trucks now bring recycling to one destination, rather than two separate sites. Miklosko said automated pickup also cuts emissions by letting Waste Management use newer, more efficient vehicles.
The new program additionally keeps costs down, avoiding a $155 annual increase that would have hit subscribers.
Larger barrels
For its traffic, emissions, and financial benefits, the program update also brought with it a need for large waste barrels.
Though new in Concord, Miklosko said the 96-gallon recycling carts and 35-gallon trash carts are common in other communities. Concord’s old dual-stream recycling system was among the few remaining ones of its kind in Massachusetts.
Aware of potential concerns, Miklosko said officials were working with Waste Management to offer smaller recycling bins for people who wanted one.
‘This is a problem’
At 78, Weiner said she is “very capable.” But her driveway is steep and exits directly onto busy Main Street in West Concord. When she saw a sample of the new barrels, she had an immediate reaction: “This is a problem.
“Anybody with any physical limitations would have difficulty with these,” Weiner said.
After contacting Concord Public Works, Weiner said she called the Council on Aging (COA). Staff there directed her to contractor Sean Denmark, a former Concord resident.
Weiner said she is “set for now.” Denmark is picking up her trash and recycling from her garage, saving her the trip down her driveway. Weiner said she is now paying a weekly rate that comes close to what she had been paying for town services.
Denmark told the Bridge he’s gained dozens of customers from Concord, helping him launch a waste removal business in a matter of weeks.
Weiner said she was still frustrated, though. And though he gained customers, Denmark said the change has raised a red flag.
“A lot of times, progress doesn’t really view the entire picture of the scope of the community,” he said.
COA response
COA director Dan Petitt confirmed his team received calls about the new program.
Petitt said COA staff met with St. John to talk about options to help. For those who can’t use municipal services, Petitt said, staff shared information about contractors like Denmark.
“It seemed like there wasn’t a perfect solution that wasn’t cost-free,” he said, “but we were trying to work with them to see what we could come up with… We’re certainly trying to help and connect folks.”
Record-setting participation
Waste Management started delivering new barrels during the week of October 15.
Soon after speaking to the Select Board, Lafleur said there is “definitely a concern with the very large recycling containers.”
She said the bins are big enough to hold cardboard, though, and town staff were still working with Waste Management to secure smaller, 64-gallon bins.
“I would imagine that may still be too large for some people and, unfortunately, we think that’s probably the best that we can do with the program,” she said.
Though it lost some residents’ participation, Lafleur said enrolling new customers means the trash/recycling program already has more people subscribed than ever before.
“We are excited for residents to participate in this updated, more sustainable, and fiscally responsible program,” she said in an October weekly operations report detailing the rollout.
