SWAMPSCOTT – Several residents applauded the cost-saving and waste-reduction goals of a Board of Health proposal to gradually institute a “pay-as-you-throw” system if households exceeded certain limits for trash. But some also wondered if townspeople can see the benefits of such a plan, or will they just be stuck with the hassle and expense.”They don’t make recycling easy enough as it is,” said Mike O’Connor on Wednesday. “Then they want to add more fees? I think there needs to be more accountability about where the money would go.”This is the third proposal by the Board of Health that includes elements of a pay-as-you-throw system, which promotes trash reduction and recycling by charging, usually through the purchase of bags, for disposal of waste, said board member Dr. Lawrence Block.But Selectmen two years ago rejected a plan where residents would purchase special bags to dispose of non-recyclable trash, Block explained in a previous interview with the Item. A 2010 plan to require special trash bags to dispose of any more trash than could fit in a container holding up to 36 gallons was also rejected. Both times, selectmen raised concerns about adding fees for services currently covered by property taxes.The latest draft of the Solid Waste and Recycling Regulation – which will be discussed in a July 19 public hearing – proposes affixing $2 stickers to any trash container in excess of limits that will decrease over the next year, Block said.Beginning Oct. 1, the proposal limits households to three “acceptable waste disposal containers” – defined as plastic bags that have no more than a 30-gallon capacity and/or barrels with a capacity of up to 35 gallons. Any trash exceeding that capacity will require a $2 sticker per bag of up to 30 gallons. On July 1, 2012, the proposal reduces the number of trash receptacles collected each week at no cost from three to two.Block said that this proposal addresses a number of the criticisms from earlier plans.For instance, residents can still use barrels that can hold more than 35 gallons, he said. But the trash must be bagged and each bag in the barrel will be considered a single “acceptable container,” Block said, adding that large barrels can also be used to dispose of yard waste and recyclables, as long as they are labeled appropriately.By implementing the proposal gradually and encouraging recycling, Block said that evidence has shown that residents will be less likely to require stickers. Furthermore, the proposal includes exceptions for bulky items and businesses.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said Wednesday that the proposal could help the town save significant money. With the poor economy, Maylor said that the town’s solid waste has decreased by approximately 10 percent and Hiltz Waste Disposal Inc., recently agreed to charge the town a disposal fee based on how much waste the town generates rather than a set fee for disposing of a certain amount.The current waste reduction computes to savings between $40,000 and $50,000 with the new contract, Maylor said. Further reduction would lead to more savings, he added.But Wednesday, several questions were raised about the proposal.”I question how the savings will be distributed throughout town,” Carolyn Bottiggi said, adding that her household has much less trash than that allowed by the proposed limits. “I work in a school system and I would love to see more money for supplies,” she suggested.Betty Hagemeister said that the proposed limits would encourage her to recycle more and reduce her trash. But she wondered how the system would be enforced if excess trash didn’t have stickers.O’Connor wondered if limiting trash would lead to other public health issues. “I think people will just leave (excess trash) in their backyard,” he said. And that, he said, would attract more rats.