Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents warn proposed switch to large curbside barrels would burden seniors, rural households
Summary
Multiple residents told the council that replacing pay‑as‑you‑throw bags with large wheeled barrels would be impractical for households on long driveways or private unpaved roads, citing distance, snow, disability and potential new costs; council members said more study and clearer cost figures are needed.
Several Tiverton residents urged the Town Council to slow any move toward a universal wheelie‑barrel curbside system, telling the council large (90‑gallon) containers could impose serious burdens on elderly, disabled and rural households.
Ron Marsh said the system under consideration would require “wheeling 90 gallon barrels to the curb,” a task he described as nearly impossible for residents who live on unpaved private roads or who must travel several tenths of a mile to the collection point. Marty Quinn said he and his wife rely on a wheelbarrow to move trash and that barrel size and winter conditions could make the change impractical for his household.
Debra Dupant reviewed town history and survey results presented to the council, saying the pay‑as‑you‑throw program initially covered dump-closure costs and that a recent survey had limited participation. She reported that of the respondents she referenced, about 72.2% indicated support for a barrel system but that 67.7% said they would have difficulty moving barrels; she urged clarity on sticker pricing, replacement policies and the cost differential for residents.
Several speakers also raised safety and public‑health issues: barrels left at road edges during storms or on sidewalks can impede pedestrians or become traffic hazards, and large containers left in the street may attract animals. Councillors acknowledged the reports and emphasized that the council has not made a final decision on barrel size, collection design or sticker pricing; staff said a consultant study and a town review will examine options, and councillors asked for more precise cost estimates and operational plans before any change is adopted.
No formal policy change was voted on at the meeting; the council accepted public comment and asked staff to circulate additional information and cost estimates for future deliberation.
