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Westborough negotiates Harvey’s contract; board weighs single‑stream vs. separated plastic recycling to save ~$100,000
Summary
Negotiations with Harvey's (waste contractor) are near final. Staff presented two recycling pricing options—single‑stream at about $95/ton and a separated‑plastic model at higher per‑ton rates but lower total tonnage—that could save the town roughly $100,000 annually compared with single‑stream; board members emphasized signage, traffic flow and staged public education before any change.
Town staff updated the Select Board on near‑final contract negotiations with Harvey's, covering new recycling costs that were not part of prior arrangements. Staff told the board they had annualized recent tonnage and presented two options for recycling at the transfer station:
- Single‑stream (current practice): estimated at roughly 1,300 tons/year at $95/ton (about $125,000 annually in additional charges based on recent activity). - Additional separation (residents separate plastic from paper/metal; glass already separated): markers in the packet used calendar glass tonnage as a proxy for plastic; under that scenario estimated tonnage for separated plastic and glass would cost about $21,000 for those streams and yield an overall reduction in tipping expenses, with staff estimating roughly $100,000 in potential annual savings versus the single‑stream scenario.
Board members generally favored moving to additional separation to reduce costs but stressed operational questions: how to reconfigure the transfer‑station drop‑off to avoid congestion, where to place new containers, how enforcement and education will work, and the need for clear signage and traffic markings. Jen Sullivan, Public Health Director, described how transfer‑station staff and attendants will assist with on‑site guidance and said Harvey's has agreed to provide signage for the new configuration subject to Town approval.
Members also noted an outstanding reconciliation item with Harvey's: an identified credit to the town from an over‑delivery of tonnage and other billing items that staff are still verifying. Given those open details, the board authorized the town manager to execute an additional short contract extension through Oct. 2 to finalize billing adjustments, contract language and operational plans. The motion to extend was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.
