Trash Talk Wanted

Town officials want to hear what residents think of proposed changes to the town trash collection.

E.L. Harvey & Sons, the Westborough-based company responsible for recycling and trash pick-up in town, has proposed a new schedule for residential trash collection.

The town will be divided into various geographical regions, with a pick-up day designated to each section. The exact street listings are not yet available.

In addition to a new schedule, a new receptacle has been proposed for recycling pick-up, town administrator Doreen DeFazio told selectmen at their Jan. 11 meeting.

Starting this spring, the company has proposed that residents use 96-gallon toters. A toter, which is on wheels, will be distributed to each household, based on this proposal.

E.L. Harvey & Sons would pay for the first toter for each household. Replacements would be purchased by the household, according to their proposal.

Each toter will feature a computer chip that would identify the owner, to reduce possible theft or loss.

Using these toters, E.L. Harvey & Sons representatives believe, would be more efficient than having to take several containers per household. This would reduce expenses for the company, which could then pass along the price reduction to the town, she said.

These potential changes would go before the Recycling and Department of Public Works Advisory committees before they would be implemented, DeFazio said.

E.L. Harvey & Sons has proposed  that the changes take effect in May. Selectmen said that if the changes happen, they should be implemented at the same time to minimize confusion.

Residents are encouraged to send their feedback on the proposed changes to bos@grafton-ma.gov.