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Video: Hopkinton's Automated Curbside Collection Forum

By Tom Nappi, News Director
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Director of Public Works, John Westerling, joined HCAM News Director, Tom Nappi for a live forum to discuss options going forward in trash and recycling collection for the town of Hopkinton. You can view the video below.

DPW Director, John Westerling stated that on June 30th, a 5 year contract with the current collection company, E.L. Harvey will come to an end. Three different options are being negotiated for a following contract; 1) Maintain current service with no changes, 2) Automating both the collection of trash and recyclables and 3) Automate recycling but leave trash in it's current format.

If option 2 is chosen, residents would receive a 96 gallon wheeled cart for recycling and a 64 gallon wheeled cart for trash at no charge (smaller options may also be available upon request). Mechanical arms, controlled by the truck driver would pick up the carts on collection day instead of workers emptying the barrels by hand. Westerling mentioned the current collection day for trash and recycling would not change regardless of the option chosen.

"The statistics actually show that the communities who do use the 64 gallon trash barrels, that those families in those communities generate 13% less trash." Westerling mentioned with automated trash, the town will pay less for collection because more people will recycle since it is easier. The town of Millbury, MA houses "Wheeabrator Millbury Inc" facility which disposes of the trash for the town of Hopkinton and charges based on weight while recyclables regardless of amount is covered by the preset curbside collection price. "The more people that recycle, the less we're paying for trash disposal in Millbury."

During the forum, Westerling filled 2 standard 32 inch trash barrels and displayed how the contents of both barrels fit in the new 64 inch trash barrel that would be distributed to residents if automated trash collection was voted through. Westerling mentioned that there will be public forums and the Selectmen will be talking about the trash & recycling options within the next few weeks.

For more information, you can contact DPW Director, John Westerling 508-497-9740 or email jwesterling@hopkintonma.gov