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Falmouth negotiates five‑year curbside haul contract and plans townwide trash‑cart rollout
Summary
Public Works and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee briefed the Select Board on a negotiated five‑year curbside collection contract that includes a contractor-maintained rollout of standardized trash carts (default 64‑gal, alternate sizes by request), contractor responsibility for cart maintenance, and an option to add future compost collection. FY27 combined MSW+recycling costs are projected at about $3.9M.
Falmouth’s Department of Public Works reported March 23 that negotiations with the current solid‑waste hauler produced a proposed five‑year curbside collection contract (beginning July 1, 2027 and continuing through 2032) that the town manager is prepared to sign. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) reviewed and endorsed the draft terms.
Key provisions include a townwide rollout of standardized trash carts to improve safety and curbside collection efficiency; the default proposed size is 64 gallons, with 95‑gallon or 32‑gallon options available by request. The contractor would purchase and maintain the carts; the negotiated deal reduces the town’s share of cart procurement to roughly $300,000 (a 75% contractor / 25% town split was negotiated down from higher initial estimates). At the end of the contract the town would have the right to buy the carts at a prorated price if the town transitions to another provider.
Another major change moves cart maintenance responsibility to the contractor (recycling cart maintenance currently falls to Public Works). DPW staff said contractor maintenance will reduce repeated calls to highway crews and allow public‑works crews to concentrate on road and public‑works responsibilities.
The contract also includes provisions for future municipal compost collection pilot programs and an option to add services without re‑opening the contract. The finance director estimated FY27 combined municipal solid waste and recycling costs at about $3.9 million under the new agreement (subject to CPI adjustments capped at 6%).
Solid Waste Advisory Committee Chair Alan Robinson said the committee endorses the contract and urged a public education campaign ahead of the Memorial Day rollout. DPW said the contractor will manage the cart distribution and public notices, with town input.
Next steps: The town manager will finalize the contract; DPW and SWAC will coordinate outreach and schedule a phased roll‑out of carts and related educational materials for residents.
Quote: “This contract will bring a quality trash cart for each household with a choice of size,” said the Solid Waste Advisory Committee chair.
