Trash service costs will rise, with payments due monthly

Concordians will soon pay more — and more frequently — for trash service. 

The Public Works Commission approved a rate increase and new billing schedule in a September 10 meeting.

The annual subscription for standard service will rise 4.5%, from $490 to $512, or $42.67 a month. Additional 35- and 95-gallon carts will cost $95 per year for each cart, while the recycling-only program will increase to $412.80 annually. 

The monthly billing system replaces the previous semiannual subscription model. Current customers will automatically be entered into the new billing cycle in October, seeing their first bill in November. 

Officials said the adjustments reflect the cost of the town’s contract with hauler Waste Management. Bills will be combined with other monthly municipal utility bills. 

This move comes after Acton changed its trash service from a 20-year-old manual system to weekly single-stream recycling with standardized trash bins to avoid a $155 annual price hike.

Justine St. John, a program analyst with public works, said during the commission meeting that if the town stayed with the old manual system, “it was going to be about $603 for a year,” adding that “by changing things, we were able to keep the rate at $490 for last year, and now we’re up to $512.”

Highway & Grounds Superintendent Aaron Miklosko told the PWC that with a monthly billing cycle, his office hopes more residents will use the town’s trash and recycling service, because a greater subscriber base will help the town negotiate better prices in the future. 

Some residents have expressed concern over changes to the program, including objecting to the size of the large recycling bins, and have availed themselves of private removal services.