Foster council previews fees for bulk-item pickup, proposes ticketing system and extra DPW Saturdays

The Foster Town Council on an unspecified meeting date reviewed a draft fee schedule for collection of non-household or “bulk” items and discussed a plan to open the Department of Public Works (DPW) for three additional Saturday drop-off days to reduce landfill tipping overages.

Council members presented a list of proposed per-item fees for curbside pickup and described a two-ticket system for enforcement: a red ticket left by the hauler instructing residents to pay at Town Hall, and a green ticket showing payment that would prompt pickup. “The green ticket that says you went to town hall, you paid the fee, and Rambone will pick that up as soon as they see that green ticket,” an unnamed council member said. The council member added the proposal is preliminary and will go to public hearing after it is published.

Why it matters: officials said rising tipping fees and contract overages are driving the change. In public comment, resident Bob Horton said Foster has exceeded its Resource Recovery Corporation annual tonnage cap in recent years, producing large overage charges. Horton said the town exceeded its cap by 508 tons in June 2023, with overage charges then about $63 per ton, and that recent annual overages have reached roughly $40,000 in addition to regular trash costs. “That’s a lot of money,” Horton said during his remarks.

Fees cited in the draft (examples provided by presenters): sectional couch $35; sectional couch with pullout bed $40; standing couch $25; loveseat $20; recliner $15; crib (minus mattress) $10; wooden bed frames $15; kitchen tables (wood/metal) $10, granite table $15; chairs $3 each; bathroom vanity with porcelain sink $10; porcelain sink alone $5; porcelain toilets $10; patio tables with glass $5; appliances containing Freon: dehumidifiers $15, air conditioners $15, refrigerators $25. The draft also notes some metal items may be disposed of at the DPW scrap bin, and mattresses can be brought to DPW free of charge.

Residents at the meeting urged clearer public outreach and questioned enforcement. One resident asked how the town will prevent people from affixing a low-cost sticker to a large item at the curb; the council member described a proposed numbered or color-coded system tied to paid tickets and said the town uses e-permitting and will explore ways for residents to obtain proof of payment without printing at home. “It may be a different color. This is, like I said, preliminary,” the presenter said.

Several residents urged stronger recycling and limits on curbside volume. Horton said Foster’s recycling rate was about 20.6% and noted Resource Recovery Corporation offers a small per-ton discount if recycling reaches 25 percent. Other commenters suggested adopting container limits used in neighboring towns or a program where homeowners purchase standardized containers to limit curbside amounts.

The council also discussed coordinating the fee schedule with existing DPW drop-off rules and with the town’s three-year hauler contract (the presenter said the contract was awarded to a single bidder). Officials said the draft fee schedule and ticketing plan will be revised, published and taken to a public hearing for resident comment.

Ending: Council members said they want further input from residents and will return a revised draft for additional council discussion before a public hearing.