Sudbury joins regional RFI exploring single-hauler trash contracts and shared composting
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Summary
Town staff said Sudbury is part of a four-town effort — with Acton, Lincoln and Wayland — to issue a joint RFI asking haulers about options for a single trash contractor and possible shared composting services; the RFI is under legal review and has not been released.
Sudbury public works and sustainability staff said the town is participating in a regional request for information meant to test whether a single-hauler contract and shared composting program could reduce costs and truck traffic.
The committee heard that Tina Rivard, the new co-director of the Department of Public Works in a neighboring town, is coordinating with Wayland, Acton and Lincoln on an RFI to see whether consolidated collection and shared composting could be cost-effective. "She's been working with Wayland, Acton, and Lincoln to see is there a way that they can coordinate, collaborate, share costs," Rami said. The RFI is currently with legal and has not been publicly released, Rami added.
Committee members discussed Concord's experience with subscription-based composting and single-hauler models. "Concord's experience...has been cost effective but labor intensive and somewhat disjointed," Rami said, noting Concord operates a quarterly opt-in subscription that requires staff to deliver and retrieve bins when households join or leave the program. By contrast, the committee was told composting pilots in at least one town were "not cost effective" because too few residents signed up to cover the program's costs; Rami said a town official cited a $7,500 shortfall but did not have the sign-up count available.
No motion or vote occurred; the committee discussed next steps for local engagement once the RFI is finalized. Members asked to be notified when the RFI is public so they can review the questions sent to haulers and the information the towns hope to receive.
The committee also asked for follow-up details on enrollment rates and estimated per-household costs before recommending any local pilot. Rami said legal review will determine when the RFI can be released and Tina Rivard will share it when it is public.