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North Berwick adopts Pay-As-You-Throw regulation changes, raises bag prices
Summary
The Town of North Berwick Select Board adopted amendments to its Pay-As-You-Throw regulations that change several article definitions, update bulky-waste fees and raise bag prices; board voted 5-0 after a public hearing.
The Town of North Berwick Select Board on June 3 adopted amendments to its Pay-As-You-Throw regulations that update definitions, change fees for bulky items and increase the price of municipal trash bags, the board said at a public hearing and vote.
The changes, announced and explained by Town Manager Dwayne Moreington during a public hearing, revise several sections of the regulations (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 5, Article 6 section 3 and Article 8 section 2) and remove references to a defunct company (Merck). The board voted to adopt the amendments by a 5-0 vote.
The most consequential change is a proposed increase in the price of the town’s trash bags. Under the new rules, a 33-gallon roll (10 bags) will sell for $35 (up from $20); a 15-gallon roll (10 bags) will sell for $25 (up from $15). The manager said the town had not changed bag prices in 13 years and that disposal and transportation costs have risen. Moreington presented a municipal model projecting the town’s per-bag cost and multi-year fiscal impact, saying the town’s cost per bag will be about $3.22 in 2026 and rise thereafter. He said the $3.50 retail price was chosen to limit cumulative losses through 2032 while avoiding annual automatic increases.
The amendments also eliminate a requirement that commercial and industrial haulers deliver all town-generated commercial waste to Merck (language retained when relevant was moved to Section 1 and updated to require licensed facilities). The board removed a provision limiting what private contractors are defined to collect and broadened the private-contractor definition to include firms that handle solid waste, bulky waste, construction/demolition debris, commercial waste or industrial waste rather than the previous tonnage-based language.
Article 5 changes bulky-waste fees; the board will remove collection of passenger and small truck tires under 15 inches (the town only handles up to 19.5 inches) and raise mattress disposal fees for twin/full sizes from $10 to $20 to reflect higher weight and disposal costs. A $20 charge was added for sliding glass doors.
Resident Anne Stewart asked whether the increase could be phased in; Moreington responded the town’s contracts and projected disposal and transport costs make the larger, immediate increase necessary to avoid operating deficits or a special town meeting to cover shortfalls. Moreington said the town joined EcoMaine and signed multi-year transportation and disposal agreements that provide foreseeability for tipping fees and disposal costs.
After public comment and staff explanation, the board closed the hearing, moved to adopt the regulation amendments and approved the measure 5-0.
The new bag prices and regulatory edits take effect June 4, 2025, as written in the public notice read into the record at the hearing.
