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Waste Management outlines automated cart rollout, answers residents’ questions
Summary
Waste Management representative Blair Lasko told the Town of Aurora board the company will roll out 96‑gallon automated trash and recycling carts, a monthly three‑item bulk pickup, and a dedicated town web page; residents raised concerns about snow handling, Freon in air conditioners, cart size and driveway logistics.
Blair Lasko, a representative from Waste Management, gave an informational briefing to the Town of Aurora board on a planned automation rollout that will deliver 96‑gallon trash and recycling carts to town households and shift to automated collection. Lasko said deliveries will be coordinated with a partner contractor and that an informational flyer and a dedicated WM town web page will list service days, accepted bulk items and the biweekly recycling cadence. “You’re gonna be getting those same exact totes,” Lasko said, describing the 96‑gallon carts.
Residents asked detailed operational questions about the program. Lasko said bulk pickup will be one three‑item week each month and recommended items be manageable for two people (about 100 pounds and 4 feet in length or height). In response to concerns about air conditioners and Freon, Lasko said units without proof of Freon removal would be taken back to a WM facility for paid Freon extraction and proper disposal; he added WM works with local contractors for safe removal. On snow and placement, Lasko told the board that the automated arms can reach when a tote is placed higher on a shaved snowbank and that WM will replace or repair damaged totes at no direct town cost.
WM explained the town will see a one‑time capital investment for carts (~$65–$70 per tote delivered) and multimillion‑dollar truck purchases (Lasko cited an automated side‑load unit cost of $543,000) but said the company expects reduced annual rate increases going into 2027 while improving safety and reducing missed pickups. He also said the town and residents will be able to access rollout and delivery metrics and future disposal reports through WM’s reporting tools.
The presentation closed with residents asking how excess household bins will be managed and whether smaller carts will be available sooner than the three‑month conversion window. Lasko reiterated the company’s preference to standardize on WM‑provided carts at rollout, then offer a three‑month opt‑in period to request a smaller 64‑gallon option for those who need it. The town indicated it will coordinate messaging and scheduling with WM prior to deliveries.
