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Kensington board schedules Jan. 8 meeting to decide town trash contract after lower ELM bids
Summary
The Kensington board scheduled a special meeting for Jan. 8, 2026 to choose a trash-hauling contractor after ELM Services submitted bids materially lower than incumbent Casella Waste Systems; residents raised cost and privacy questions and the fire chief flagged a logistical issue with cardboard dumpsters.
The Kensington board on Tuesday scheduled a special meeting for 9 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2026, to select a contractor for town solid-waste and recycling collection after reviewing competing three-year bids.
The move came after town officials reviewed a proposal from Casella Waste Systems that would cost the town $185,265 in Year 1 (solid waste $96,039; recycling $89,265), rising to $204,801 in Year 3 when additional municipal charges are included. ELM Services offered two lower options: a weekly trash-and-recycling service priced at $165,000 in Year 1 (rising to $178,464 in Year 3), and an alternate plan with weekly trash and biweekly recycling priced at $150,000 in Year 1 (rising to $165,375 in Year 3).
Why it matters: Choosing a contractor will affect the town budget and household costs; a public attendee said the town’s current solid-waste spending is about $241,000 annually, a figure board members used to compare proposals.
Board members and members of the public focused on cost savings and operational details. Town staff said ELM confirmed dumpsters at municipal sites would be included in its proposal. Fire Chief Jeff DiBartolomeo raised a logistical concern about siting cardboard dumpsters at the fire station; he said the department would adapt operations if the board moves forward with that option. Residents at the meeting urged the board to prioritize measures that limit tax increases.
No final contract vote was taken. The board’s motion to set a special meeting on Jan. 8, 2026, at 9 a.m. appears in the minutes; the recorded minutes in the transcript do not list who moved or seconded the motion. The special meeting was listed on the board’s upcoming schedule during the same session.
