WINSLOW — Municipal trash collection will only be provided to apartment buildings with three units or less under a new solid waste ordinance approved unanimously in a first reading by the Winslow Town Council.

Now, municipal trash service is available in all apartment buildings regardless of their units, as well as to those living at mobile home parks.

The Monday evening decision by the council, which would require a second vote, seeks to formalize a municipal waste-hauling service plan for residents, property owners and businesses when there are currently none on the books.

The ordinance states the town provides household garbage collection to all homeowners as part of the annual property tax assessment, but the town will now only provide trash collection to buildings with three units or less. Property owners of larger buildings and businesses or complexes, including mobile home parks, will have to provide their own garbage collection services.

“In trailer parks, you pay lot rent. You do not pay property taxes,” Winslow Town Manager Erica LaCroix told the council Monday night. “The landowner is the trailer park, so they’ll be affected by this.”

The town previously had no ordinance, and the new one aligns with the city of Waterville’s except that Winslow residents will not pay for specific trash bags. Originally slated to start in September, the ordinance was amended to begin Jan. 2, 2022, after a brief council discussion.

No one participated in the public hearing for the ordinance, but the new rules will affect approximately 40 apartment buildings, according to town officials.

A person who answered the phone at the Monroe Group, which operates the eight-family complex Fort Halifax Commons, said she hadn’t heard about the ordinance, but believed the community does use the town’s pickup service.

Concord, N.H.-based Keystone Management owns five such buildings in town, but they already use a private trash pickup service, a company spokesperson said. Representatives from Highland Management Group, which owns Pleasant Ridge Mobile Home Park, did not return requests for comment.

One aspect to be further evaluated is trash hauling for home businesses. The ordinance as it is written states homeowners should separate waste into residential and business functions.

“In other words, an honor system,” District 1 Councilor Peter Drapeau said.

The town plans on sending a notice to affected building and complex owners, and if possible, before the next council meeting scheduled for July 12. The council tentatively plans on waiting to hear public comments from those affected before holding a second reading, so it could be during the August meeting if the notices are not sent out in time.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

MacKenzie Scott donates $2.7 billion to 286 organizations, including 2 in Maine

Next »

LifeFlight called for serious Augusta crash