Easton to Increase Fees for Waste and Recycling Program

For the first time since 2007 when the program was established, Easton residents who subscribe to the town's waste and recycling program will see a fee increase.

Easton selectmen voted to raise the fee Monday from $65 per quarter to $70 per quarter.

The decision was made after Easton's Citizen Business Advocate Connor Read presented an analysis to the board that outlined rising expenses and a projected shortfall in FY2014.

"Even if this fee were raised $5 per quarter, it would still continue to be lowest rate available to Easton," Town Administrator David Colton said. "It started in 2007 [and we] haven’t had a price increase. The costs escalated enough so we need an increase."

The increased fee would be a blanket increase, so residents with multiple barrells would not be forced to pay double, Colton said.

Read said that if the fee stayed as is, Easton would be in a $50,810 deficit at the end of the year. The $5 per quarter increase per subscriber would sufficiently cover costs and reduce the likelihood of additional fee increases in the near future, he said. It would also provide security in the case of additional variable expenses.

Read said the program sees 50 new users on average per quarter since 2011. Still, expenses are expected to rise to $68.71 per subscriber per quarter.

Selectmen chair Colleen Corona said that the increase is to be expected after six years. She said that before the contract was put into place in 2007, prices for private companies were well above the town's program.

"Back when we signed the contract, I was paying twice as much for trash pickup," she said. "..I’m thrilled that for six years there hasn’t been an increase in this contract, whereas in the past it was every year."