Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transfer Station Contract topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Acton Select Board approves five-year Waste Management contract, cites about $50,000 in savings
Summary
The Select Board voted unanimously to accept a five-year Demo and MSW contract with Waste Management effective July 1, 2025; board members said the change will save roughly $50,000 compared with current arrangements and include operational adjustments such as flexible pickup schedules and two on-site containers.
The Town of Acton Select Board voted unanimously on April 30 to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to contract with Waste Management for municipal solid waste (MSW) and demolition (Demo) service under a five-year agreement, an action the board said will produce significant operational savings.
Dan Norwood moved to accept the recommendation; Ed Walsh seconded and the motion carried. The contract takes effect July 1, 2025.
Board members and staff said the Waste Management proposal shows substantial year-to-year savings. The Select Board reviewed worksheets showing a roughly $31,000 difference on MSW based on 2024 tonnage and about $19,290 on Demo; Walsh later said, “the saving were huge and if they were not this would not be happening.” Town staff also negotiated two containers left on-site year-round with no rental fee (estimated $600 per month savings) and first-year waivers for fuel-surcharge (FSC) charges, with credits to be issued if projected costs decline.
Superintendent Jon Rouleau presented an analysis of the last 15 months of container tonnages, noting occasional low-volume runs and several heavier loads that together supported a more flexible pickup schedule. Under the new arrangement, Waste Management may reduce pick-ups in slow months, saving hauling fees; staff said that could result in hundreds of dollars of savings in winter months alone.
The board discussed operational details such as online customer service chat for weekend assistance, how the company will handle occasional heavier loads, and which third parties will continue to manage tires, metal and cardboard (those services are to remain with existing vendors). The town will begin accepting tires without rims on Saturdays, per staff note.
The vote followed public comment expressing appreciation for staff work on the procurement and confirming the estimated savings. The board did not disclose contract length beyond the five-year term or detailed per-year payment schedules in the meeting record.
What’s next: the Waste Management contract will take effect July 1, 2025. Town staff will finalize implementation details with the vendor and confirm schedules and service points.
