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Topsfield selects automated trash pickup; Gee Mello wins contract with July rollout planned
Summary
The town announced Gee Mello of Georgetown won the trash and recycling contract; automated, standardized carts will be required and an 18-person stakeholder committee will guide rollout, with service starting in July.
Topsfield's Town Administrator told residents the town selected Gee Mello (Georgetown) as the low bidder for trash and recycling service and expects the switch to automated pickup to begin in July. The new contract requires standardized automated bins picked up by truck-mounted arms rather than manual collection.
The administrator said the town convened an 18-person committee of residents, department heads, town staff, NASS DEP and the hauler to fine-tune the implementation and consider resident needs during rollout. He said more details would be released in the weeks and months ahead.
The Sustainability Advisory Committee is separately negotiating a curbside food-waste composting program and has worked to develop tiered rates intended to reduce costs for participating residents. The administrator said the pricing structure is designed to make composting affordable for lower-income households while encouraging diversion of food waste from landfill.
Why this matters: Automated collection requires a capital change for households (standardized carts) but can improve worker safety and operational efficiency; tiered pricing and a committee-led rollout aim to address equity and practical concerns before the July start.
Next steps: Officials will publish implementation details and timelines and continue resident outreach through the advisory committee and town communications.
