Select Board presses for clear Casella materials and plans before town meeting as automated pickup is considered

The Brentwood Select Board spent a significant portion of the meeting preparing residents for a decision on whether to move to automated curbside trash collection.

Board members said Casella should provide Brentwood-specific flyers and pricing to distribute before Town Meeting. Concerns discussed included whether businesses would be handled separately from residents, the cost and annual rental for additional bins (a Casella representative confirmed an additional-bin rental of about $130 per year), the effect on tipping fees, and the contract’s five-year term. A board member summarized one of the vendor’s arguments: by limiting bin size under an automated system, households that generate more trash would pay more directly and tipping fees for other residents would be reduced.

Budget committee members and residents urged clear, detailed written information in advance of Town Meeting so voters can weigh trade-offs. The board also discussed a proposed weekly 10-yard cardboard dumpster at the highway shed at a quoted cost of $175 per month and recommended further exploration of options.

The board did not adopt a policy at the meeting but requested that Casella tailor its informational materials for Brentwood and planned Town Meeting discussion.