I was on Waterville City Council when pay-as-you-throw, or PAYT, became reality. The purple trash bags began lining the streets, alongside the blue recycling bins. Recycling increased and trash decreased. No matter what your stance is, that is a fact.

The purple trash bags are still controversial. Most people favor recycling or have moved on to private haulers to show their displeasure. The purple bag is the problem. They were not a quality product, and have become worse. The city has not complained enough to the company and should threaten to withdraw from the contract.

PAYT is here to stay, as the city has recently ordered a second trash truck. The purple bags produce revenue for the city. I have reached out to the council to suggest switching from purple bags that tear to brightly colored stickers to place on our own trash bags. The stickers could be the same price, and be produced by the purple bag manufacturer. No loss to them or the city in revenue. Like now, people could use either a small or large, with the sticker necessary to be hauled away.

If the city continues to allow the quality to decline, more people will go to private haulers and there will be fewer citizens to pay for the two trash trucks. Privatizing trash is not a bad idea, unless you purchased two trash trucks.

I think my idea to go to stickers was so appealing that it left the council and mayor speechless! Budget season is over. You have time to look at this option. Taxpayers, talk it up to city council and the mayor. You can get out of the bag contract and switch to stickers. They cannot hold you to a contract if the quality of the product is inferior. Give stickers a trial run.

 

Steve Soule

Waterville

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