Framingham Switching To Automated Curbside Trash Collection in July

Framingham DPW employees are delivering more than 18,000 new grey rolling trash barrels, also called carts, to households throughout town this month.

Starting July 6, Framingham will switch to automated curbside trash collection.

Residents will need to use the new barrels, as the robotic arms on the trash trucks will not be able to pick up metal and other plastic barrels many residents and homeowners currently use.

“We are hoping for a smooth transition,” said Framingham Solid Waste Director Dan Nau.

The town currently contracts out for automated curbside recycling.

In 2016, the Town of Framingham will oversee both trash and recycling curbside collection in house.

Framingham collects on average 35 tons of trash a day, said Nau.

Framingham Town Meeting approved the switch to automated collection of recyclables back in 2010. Last year, Town Meeting members approved switching to automated curbside trash collection.

Town Meeting voted to spend $1 million on the new rolling cart trash cans and to purchase four new trash trucks with electronic arms. The carts cost about $64 each, said Nau.

The move to automated trash collection and automated recycling by the town in 2016 is expected to save the town $2.8 million over 10 years.

But more importantly said Nau it will increase safety.

Nau said drivers are distracted and weekly there are near misses with vehicles striking his workers on the back of the trash trucks, as they collect trash on the town’s streets.

“It was important to get the men off the backs of these trucks,” said Nau. “Every day they were risking injury.”

The cost savings to the town comes from several factors:

• Framingham is expected to collect less trash. The Town has to pay for trash collected to be disposed of. Less collected means less fees.
• Framingham in 2016 will begin collection of recycables curbisde and not pay a vendor to collect them.
• Recyclables collected can be sold for some money. Currently, the vendor keeps that money. Beginning in 2016, the town would keep it.

What do residents needs to know about the automated trash collection:

• The new rolling trash carts hold 96-gallons of trash - the equivalent of about three kitchen trash bags, said Nau.
• Smaller carts were made available to residents who requested them or who need them.
• You can NOT get a second 96-gallon trash cart for an address.
  
• Each address in town is assigned a trash cart. It stays with the house and is the property of the Town of Framingham If a resident moves the trash cart stays with the house.
  
• Each trash cart has an imbedded RFID tag to identify, which address, the cart has been assigned.
• Trash carts are assigned to any single-family home or multi-family apartment complex with 4 or less units.
• Trash collection days are not changing. If your trash is currently picked up on a Wednesday, it will still be collected on a Wednesday.
• Residents still need to separate trash from recyclables. Do not put items to be recycled in the new trash cart and do not put trash in the recycling cart. They are different color carts for recycling and trash. Trucks will only pick up trash in the grey carts.
  
• Trash will be collected weekly still.
• Recycling will be collected every other week. In July 2016, Framingham will change to weekly recycling collection.
  
• Trash carts should be curbside by 7 a.m.
• The cart must be on a flat surface.
• Residents must leave a 3-foot distance between the carts and trees, mailboxes, cars, etc for the trucks to be able to pick up the trash carts with the electronic arms, explained Nau. Putting carts side-by-side will prevent the electronic arms from picking up the carts.
  
• Yard waste is still prohibited in the trash carts.
• All trash must be inside the cart and the lid must be closed. If the lid is open the electronic arms of the trash trucks will not be able to move the trash from the curb into the truck, explained Nau.
• If residents have large items too big for the cart, they can still call DPW for a special pick-up, said Nau.
  
• Trash bags are recommended for use with the new trash carts.

Framingham DPW will hold a recycling event for old plastic and metal trash cans this summer, said Nau.

If residents have not received their new grey trash cart by June 24, they should call 508-532-6001.

Besides saying the town money over the next decade, Nau said the new carts will improve neighborhoods.

The neighborhoods will have cleanier, more uniformed look with the carts, he said.

The carts are heavy, so it is unlikely the wind will blow them into roads.

The carts are also animal-proof.

And for those who find it hard to carry their barrels to the curb, the carts are wheel-able. Elderly or other residents can request a cart smaller than 96-gallon ,one if they choose.

And for residents, you no longer have to buy trash cans, said Nau.

The town owns the carts and will replace them if damaged, although they are very durable, said Nau.

Photos courtesy of Town of Framingham