Letter: Collaborate to reduce curbside pickup costs in Portsmouth

Posted 11/15/17

To the editor:

As most Portsmouth residents already know, our Town Council voted to keep the transfer operations as they are and will be establishing a pay-as-you-throw system. 

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Letter: Collaborate to reduce curbside pickup costs in Portsmouth

Posted

To the editor:

As most Portsmouth residents already know, our Town Council voted to keep the transfer operations as they are and will be establishing a pay-as-you-throw system. 

Sticker fees and waste bag cost have not yet been set. But the cost of operating the transfer station is expected to keep rising and fewer stickers are being sold every year, so the town must cover the deficit and recoup the loss with the following year's sticker fees.

Earlier this year, the town also conducted a survey (answered by 920 residents) that showed over 50 percent of respondents would prefer or greatly prefer curbside pickup. However, the survey was discredited because it was not mailed out to all residents.

One thing became clear throughout this process: most Portsmouth residents that want or need curbside waste services are paying too much. Our group is establishing a "trash collaborative" to get Portsmouth residents a better deal on curbside pickup. Our goal is to get as many residents as possible signed up with the same trash hauler so we can have more efficient truck routes. (Imagine if we sent a different school bus to pick up each child!)

The collaborative service agreement will include trash, bi-weekly recycling, and yard waste. Bulk items will be picked up for an additional fee. We are currently negotiating a contract with a local operator, but hope to offer rates that are lower than most of the residents we polled are currently paying.

If you are interested in curbside pickup in Portsmouth please send an email to portsmouthtrash@gmail.com and we will send you more information!

Daniela Abbott

52 Ladeira Ave.

Portsmouth

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