MIDDLEBOROUGH – Town Manager James McGrail and Department of Public Works Director Christopher Peck, together with the Select Board, would like to share information relating to a recent increase in the Town of Middleborough’s trash service rates.
On Nov. 14, the Middleborough Select Board approved a Trash Rate and Pay-As-You-Throw bag price increase effective Jan. 1, 2023. Updated prices are as follows:
- Quarterly Trash Fee: $89.25
- Additional Barrel Fee per Quarter: $51
- Mattress/Box Spring Recycling Fee: $40 each
- Extra Recycling Cart: $50 (one-time fee)
- 15 Gallon Trash Bag (sold in packages of five): $13
- 32 Gallon Trash Bag (sold in packages of five): $26
The approved quarterly trash fee is an additional $3 per week for residents. The new price for mattress/box spring recycling follows the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) recent changes to their waste ban regulations.
Recycling carts will remain at the set price of $50 per additional barrel. Residents are encouraged to utilize their recycling bins and minimize their waste disposals as doing so will help to offset the costs of purchasing trash bags for items that can be recycled.
The increase is necessary due to anticipated debt payments and a sharp increase in the cost of fuel. Without the increase, the sanitation budget would be operating in a deficit, meaning the state Department of Revenue would not approve the Town’s tax rate for FY23.
Even with the increase, comparatively the Town of Middleborough is still paying less for trash than several surrounding communities including Wareham ($365 per year), East Bridgewater ($400 per year) and Pembroke ($350 per year).
“Since 2010, the Town of Middleborough hasn’t increased its trash service rates, but since then the costs of fuel, new equipment and the need for additional staff has resulted in additional expenses for the department,” Director Peck said. “It has been, and continues to be a goal of the DPW and Town to ensure that all sanitation services are performing at the very best they can for our community and the increased fees will ensure that we can maintain our program.”
To view a recording of the Select Board meeting in which they discussed this raise, click here.
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