Tiverton may ditch 'Pay as you throw' trash pickup

Proposal would include larger bins, removal of the pay-as-you-throw system

By Christian Silvia
Posted 2/3/25

For the past 15 years, Tiverton residents have paid by the bag to have their trash and recycling disposed of. Now, town officials are considering phasing out that model in favor of a more automated …

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Tiverton may ditch 'Pay as you throw' trash pickup

Proposal would include larger bins, removal of the pay-as-you-throw system

Posted

For the past 15 years, Tiverton residents have paid by the bag to have their trash and recycling disposed of. Now, town officials are considering phasing out that model in favor of a more automated system they believe could be more efficient.

Mega Disposal currently holds the town contract to pick up trash and recycling throughout town, using traditional trucks loaded by hand. Under the new proposal, Tiverton would switch to more automated trash and recycling pickup, using trucks with a mechanical arm to lift and dump large trash and recycling bins of either 65 or 95 gallons. Gone would be the 'pay-as-you-throw' (PAYT) bags residents now purchase at stores across town, which are supplied by the town’s contracted vendor, WasteZero.

Tiverton Town Council president John Edwards said at last week's council meeting that switching will help address the town's litter issue as the larger bins, along with the automated trucks, will reduce the number of bags put out on the street, resulting in fewer trash bags being blown around. Also, the new system would allow customers to use any bags they want, he said.

“The (PAYT) program has been controversial since it was first implemented,” Edwards said, as residents have long complained about bag supply issues, their size, and the fact that they can only use WasteZero bags and not their own. Edwards also said that since the town has to buy the bags outright, they generate less revenue than Tiverton officials would like to see.

Switching to the automated system is still just a discussion point, and town councilors voted last week to continue their contract with WasteZero, the vendor for the PAYT bags, just in case.

“You always have to have contingency plans” in case Tiverton opts not to go with the new more automated system, Edwards said. In addition, other companies may bid to provide their trash services if a deal does not go through with Mega.

If a deal goes through, all town residents would receive bins free of charge, but those who choose to participate would be billed approximately $100 yearly to take part in the program. The town would either buy the bins outright from MEGA using Casino Funds or purchase them over a five-year payment plan with MEGA.

According to council vice president David Paull, those who participate would receive stickers to place on their bins, helping truck drivers identify which are participating. If they do not have the stickers, Paull said the trash will not be picked up, similar to what happens now when someone uses a non-PAYT bag.

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