Foster council approves three seasonal DPW Saturdays for household disposal, directs refuse RFP work

The Foster Town Council voted to open the Department of Public Works (DPW) garage for household-goods disposal on three additional Saturdays this year, to be scheduled as four-hour events coordinated between the Conservation Commission and the DPW director.

The vote follows months of public and staff discussion about reducing roadside dumping, improving access to disposal for residents and the costs and logistics of handling large items such as mattresses, furniture and tires. The council also directed staff to proceed with a request for proposals (RFP) for the town’s refuse contract and to include language and options for bulky-item pickup that would allow the town to bill homeowners directly.

Why it matters: Foster’s existing disposal program accepts electronics, mattresses, white metal and motor oil Monday–Friday, but lacks a permanent Eco Depot vendor. Opening the DPW three additional Saturdays aims to reduce illegal roadside dumping and provide residents additional options without creating a permanent transfer facility. Council members and Conservation Commission members said the extra days should be limited and carefully managed to avoid becoming a free-for-all that raises the town’s disposal costs.

Council direction and motion: At the meeting the council debated whether the extra days should accept household versus non-household waste, and amended the motion to require the Saturdays be for household goods. The adopted direction instructs the DPW director, in coordination with the Conservation Commission, to schedule and operate three Saturdays of household-goods disposal at the DPW garage for four hours each; the council identified the last Saturday of June, August and October as likely dates, with scheduling flexibility to avoid winter and mud season.

Operational and cost clarifications discussed: Town staff and Conservation Commission members warned that the DPW lacks a transfer license and that some items accepted at a full Eco Depot (paint, certain chemicals, tires in bulk) cannot be received without additional contracts or vendor donations. The DPW foreman noted the town accepts motor oil Monday–Friday and uses waste oil to heat the garage; the meeting record says that must remain advertised so residents continue to donate used oil. Tony McClellan of the Conservation Commission said Earth Day operations accept roadside trash, recycling and some electronics and that Eco Depot vendors sometimes supply dumpsters and special collection trucks; he emphasized these seasonal events rely on donations and partner vendors.

Bulky items, fees and enforcement: Council and staff reiterated a plan to require tags for bulky-item pickup (town issues tag after homeowner pays a fee) so the vendor will pick up only prepaid items. Staff said the company would bill the town and the town would collect from homeowners; collection is to happen before pickup. The council asked for a detailed list of items that would carry extra charges and for a per-piece approach so prices remain simple. During public comment members said out-of-town drop-offs and “black market” tags are a risk; the council asked staff to address controls in the RFP and tagging process.

Refuse contract RFP and timeline: The council instructed staff to prepare an RFP for the town’s refuse contract (current vendor Rambone referenced), to include an option set for homeowner-tagged bulky-item pickup, and to circulate a draft as soon as possible for review. Staff said they expect to work on an RFP the following week and to coordinate with the town clerk and vendor contacts so a new contract or competitive bids can be in place before the budget adoption cycle.

Eco Depot and community outreach: Multiple commenters and commissioners urged the council to recruit Eco Depot vendors and to place more emphasis on public education about acceptable items and safe disposal. Council members asked staff to correct published materials (a Foster Home Journal listing that misstates accepted items) and to provide residents a clear list of items that may be brought to the DPW on the three Saturdays.

Next steps: The adopted motion directs the DPW director to schedule the three Saturdays (four hours each) for household-goods disposal in coordination with the Conservation Commission, produce a posted list of accepted items, and continue preparing the refuse RFP with bulky-item/tagging language for council review during the budget process.