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DPW outlines recycling rollout, seeks solutions for downtown businesses
Summary
DPW Director Tim Olsen told the Select Board the town has deployed most resident recycling barrels but businesses that generate heavy cardboard volumes will need alternative pickup or dedicated cardboard dumpsters; Casella will continue pickup during the transition and Olsen will return with options for downtown businesses.
The Select Board heard a detailed update on the town's recycling program from Tim Olsen, the director of public works, who said the town has distributed about 95% of the large recycling barrels to residents and is working to deliver a second wave of small barrels to households currently on a waiting list.
"We will deploy the small barrels as soon as we get them in town," Olsen said, adding that Casella, the town's contractor, has committed to continuing pickup under past practice until the transition is complete. He estimated the remaining small barrels would arrive within "a week or two" and said DPW maintains a running list of residents requesting a different size.
Olsen told the board that downtown commercial properties present a different challenge because several small businesses produce large volumes of cardboard at peak times. He said one downtown food pantry reported it would likely need seven barrels and that some shops generate tens of thousands of pounds of cardboard during busy weeks. To address that, Olsen proposed a hybrid approach: give each business one barrel as a baseline, and provide overflow options such as scheduled special pickups, a larger cardboard‑only dumpster at one or two designated downtown locations (he suggested the corner lot at Willow and Railroad), or staged monthly drop‑off at Town Hall.
Board members asked staff to collect a list of downtown businesses that will likely exceed a single barrel and to work with Casella on alternative pickups and pricing. A board member noted aesthetic concerns about a cardboard dumpster in a tight downtown parking area, while others suggested a sealed, cardboard‑only container with a slot to discourage improper dumping. Olsen said he would return with a small set of options, potential fees, and recommended pickup schedules for board review before the next meeting.
The board did not take formal action; DPW will follow up with outreach to downtown businesses and Casella and report back to the Select Board.
