Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Trash Recycling RFP topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plaistow selectmen begin planning for next trash and recycling RFP, flag mattress and bulk-pickup issues
Summary
Board discussed forming a subcommittee to draft the town’s next trash/recycling RFP, noting the contract runs through Dec. 2026 and that out-of-state law changes could affect mattress disposal and that weekly one-item bulk pickup may be a sticking point for bidders.
Selectmen opened planning to create a subcommittee that will draft Plaistow’s next trash and recycling request for proposals and surface changes that may affect bidders.
The board discussed a proposed charter with two selectmen representatives, a budget-committee member and two citizens. Members said they had already advertised for citizen volunteers and expected to appoint members over the next couple of meetings.
Members raised two potential challenges for the town’s next contract: a weekly single-item bulk pickup that may increase costs if vendors are unwilling to continue the service, and mattress/box-spring disposal rules that have changed in Massachusetts where the town’s current contractor is based. One member said Republic (the current contractor) has honored prior contract terms but Massachusetts law now requires mattress recycling, which could change disposal options and pricing for Plaistow if contractors cannot ship those items out-of-state.
The board agreed to begin drafting a subcommittee charter, reach out to interested residents and to notify the budget committee about appointing a representative. The current trash contract runs through the end of 2026, giving the town time to prepare the RFP and address lead times for specialized equipment like trash trucks.
