Swampscott board rejects trash proposal

SWAMPSCOTT – Trash is serious business to members of the Board of Health, but it failed to sway town officials into implementing a volume-based fee for trash removal.Selectmen recently rejected a pay-as-you-throw proposal, which would charge for any non-recyclable trash in excess of 36 gallons, submitted by the Waste Reduction Committee, which was formed by the Board of Health.The Waste Reduction committee urged town officials to implement a program similar to pay-as-you-throw programs to help reduce the amount of trash going into the waste stream, but the selectmen rejected the proposal.With most programs, residents are required to purchase special trash bags to dispose of their non-recyclable trash.Board of Health Chairman Dr. Larry Block said the state Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging all communities in the state to implement waste reduction programs.In Swampscott, trash removal is a service that is included in property taxes.The program proposed by The Board of Health would have allowed each residence to put out one trash barrel that holds up to 36 gallons and recyclables at no charge.But residents would be required to purchase special bags for trash that does not fit in the one regular trash container.”We were hoping the selectmen would see this as the win-win program that it is,” Block said. “People who are conscientiousness can get trash down to one barrel a week. If they need more than one barrel they would have to buy a bag. We suggested a price of $2 a bag.”Block said he is disappointed selectmen rejected the proposal.”Three selectmen were focused on fee,” he said. “They didn’t even want to entertain a program where some residents would have to pay more ?”When asked if taxes would decrease if a trash fee were imposed, Block said “probably not.”Board of Selectmen Chairman Jill Sullivan said reducing solid waste is a worthwhile endeavor for many reasons, but she believes the proposal needs work.”My position was they needed to find a way to minimize cost for large families,” Sullivan said.Selectman David Van Dam said he has several concerns about the proposal.”At the end of the day there would be a cost to residents to reduce trash,” Van Dam said. “My view is I certainly encourage recycling and throwing away less, but I don’t want to put an extra financial burden on homeowners ? “Selectman Matthew Strauss said he supports recycling, but he is not in favor of imposing a fee to do it.”In this economic environment, it’s like a double tax to be honest with you,” Strauss said. “My main goal is not to balance the budget on the backs of Swampscott residents.”