By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Shrewsbury selectmen unanimously, and without discussion, adopted a new Pay-As-You-Throw (PAY-T) garbage bag fee structure at their Nov. 26 meeting. The new fees will increase roughly 50 percent over current costs and will go into effect July 1, 2020.
Small bags that now cost $3.75 a roll will increase to $5.50 and large bags will cost $11.25 per roll from the current $5.50.
Recycling bins will go up to $15 and bulk waste stickers will cost $12.
These recommended new fees were presented to the board by David Snowden, management analyst and assistant to the town manager, along with a comprehensive analysis of the current Pay-As-You-Throw (PAY-T) program at their Oct. 22 meeting.
“This increase is necessary to meet the rising costs of the recycling market which requires the town to now pay processing and disposal of recyclable materials and the apparent cost of the recent consumer price index, and will result in the end goal of funding the enterprise account through 50 percent of the tax levy and 50 percent of program fees,” stated Town Manager Kevin Mizikar in a memo to the board dated Nov. 20.
He further stated that this is the first instance that the rates will be increased since the implementation of the program in 2008.
For more information, visit: https://shrewsburyma.gov/874/PAYT-Fee-Increase-2020.