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Selectmen hear plan to convert curbside compost pilot to private-pay discounts; decision tabled
Summary
The Board of Selectmen received the curbside food-compost working group’s report showing 690 participants and an estimated 125 tons diverted annually. The working group recommended moving the program to a discounted private-pay model with vendor Black Earth; the board tabled formal action until after public hearings and follow-up communications.
Selectman Robert Donnelly, staff liaison to the curbside food-compost working group, briefed the Board of Selectmen on Aug. 12 about the pilot program that began after a November 2023 town meeting authorization.
Donnelly said the pilot enrolled 690 participants — well above the 400 forecast — and that, working with vendor Black Earth, the town estimates approximately 125 tons of food waste are being diverted annually by those participants. “That rendered us a very good rate from Black Earth,” Donnelly said.
The working group recommended against asking the town for additional appropriation at this time. Instead, it proposed transitioning to a private-pay subscription offered by Black Earth at discounted municipal partnership rates: approximately $50 off the private-customer rate if at least 200 households remain enrolled, with larger discounts at higher retention tiers (the materials showed a roughly $140 per-year rate if 400 households remain, representing about $90 off private rates). Donnelly told the board the program’s remaining appropriation—estimated at about $2,500—could be used as a limited one-time incentive (for example, a credit on the first bill for the first 200 households to retain service).
Selectmen and staff discussed outreach and operational questions in the meeting: whether Black Earth would bill residents directly (Donnelly said yes), the projected retention rate (town staff said Black Earth’s experience suggests 50% or higher retention), and the need to clear any fiscal-year accounting questions with the CFO and town counsel before using remaining appropriations to subsidize future bills.
After questions from Selectmen and brief comments from staff, Selectman Closco moved to table the item until after the board’s public hearings; Selectman Saad seconded and the motion to table carried by voice vote. Town staff said they would work with Black Earth on communications to the 690 participants and return with a final recommendation after that outreach.
The board did not adopt the working-group recommendation at this meeting; further action and any use of remaining town funds will depend on clarifications with finance and the results of resident outreach.
