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Tivoli trustees weigh options for village trash service after public forum
Summary
Trustees reviewed community feedback from a ‘Trash Talk’ forum and discussed three paths forward for village waste service: open market, a management district, or a shared-services contract with nearby Red Hook; a short survey and a possible trial arrangement were planned.
The Village of Tivoli Board of Trustees discussed options for the village’s curbside waste collection after a public forum called “Trash Talk” and signaled plans for additional community outreach and possible shared-service trials.
Trustees said the forum, convened to crowdsource solutions and collect user experiences, identified three principal options: (1) abandon the village-run system and allow private haulers to serve individual customers; (2) create a municipal management district that would centralize collection under a single contracted hauler; or (3) pursue a shared-services contract with the Village of Red Hook, using Red Hook’s purpose-built collection truck and staff on a reimbursable basis.
Board members and forum participants said the current arrangement strains village equipment and staff time, that the size and weight of bagged waste has increased wear on the village truck, and that current ticket pricing does not fully cover program costs. Supporters of the local service said its pay-per-bag model encourages waste reduction and provides a lower-cost option for some households.
Trustees said they will issue a short survey to collect more precise data on how many households use the village service, how frequently they use it, and what features users value. Officials also said they would continue conversations with Red Hook about a possible trial shared-services arrangement that could preserve the village’s ticket system while reducing DPW wear and offering safer, purpose-built equipment.
Why it matters: The village-operated program affects DPW workload, municipal vehicle wear and tear, household costs and local aesthetics. The chosen course could change how residents purchase waste service and how the village budgets for equipment and personnel.
Next steps: Trustees plan to publish the survey in the coming weeks, continue cost discussions with Red Hook, analyze the potential fiscal impact of each option and return to the board with recommendations later in the summer. Staff said existing tags would continue to be used if a trial with Red Hook moves forward until a permanent model is selected.
Ending: Trustees described the review as a summer project of public outreach, testing and financial analysis; no decision was made at the meeting.
