PITTSFIELD â A proposal to implement âpay-as-you-throwâ trash collections was met with criticism Tuesday, but it ultimately advanced to a meeting next month of the full City Council for more debate.
Councilors discussed aspects of the proposal from Peter Marchetti, Pete White and Earl Persip III, who say it would help bring solid waste removal costs under control and encourage residents to recycle. Others argued that the program would be financially burdensome to residents already hurting during the coronavirus pandemic.
If the ordinance is approved as written, residents would be required to place their garbage inside an official trash bag, either in or out of barrels, before it can be removed by haulers. Residents would receive coupons that would allow them to purchase two 15-gallon bags per week â a total of 104 each year â at cost, which shakes out to about 24 to 28 cents each, according to Marchetti. That would amount to about $26 a year if residents did not need to purchase additional bags at a higher cost.