WESTFORD — A citizen petition seeking to reconsider the town’s new Pay-As-You-Throw Solid Waste Collection System was rejected by voters at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday.
Article 22, which was introduced by resident Meghan O’Connell, asked the town to rescind the Select Board’s decision to implement the system and continue curbside trash collection under the previous structure.
O’Connell said the petition was intended to prompt reconsideration of how the program is rolled out, rather than eliminate it entirely.
“I fully support efforts to reduce trash and increase recycling wherever possible,” O’Connell said. “But I think it could be done in a way that would be more palatable to some of the residents.”
O’Connell said that the current plan would disproportionately affect larger families and that the reduction in allowed trash capacity from 96 gallons to 35 gallons was too steep. Adding that a more gradual transition would likely have greater support.
Town officials said the hybrid system, which combines a 35-gallon cart with the option to purchase additional bags, is designed to move Westford toward a more efficient, fully automated collection system over time.
Officials estimate the change would shift 65% to 75% of trash collection to automated pickup, improving efficiency and positioning the town for more competitive bids when its current contract expires.
Several residents questioned whether the inclusion of paid bags would limit automation’s effectiveness, noting that manual collection would still be required in some cases.
Cost was another concern raised during the discussion. Extra trash bags would cost $2.75 each, which some residents said could add up quickly, particularly for larger households.
Others suggested alternative approaches, such as standardizing container sizes without sharply reducing capacity or allowing multiple carts per household. Several speakers also called for a phased implementation to ease the transition.
Town officials said options such as multiple or variable-sized carts could be considered in the future. They also noted that earlier proposals requiring fully automated collection with town-provided carts would have cost more than $1 million extra.
After the discussion, the petition was then defeated, 153-77.
With the vote, the town will proceed with the pay-as-you-throw system as planned.
