"Pay As You Throw" Program Saves Plympton $60,000 in First Year
Initially met with resistance, waste reduction initiative now well-accepted by residents
PLYMPTON - January 6 - Plympton's Highway Superintendent Rob Firlotte reported at the Jan. 6 Board of Selectmen meeting that contracts have been signed for snow contractors, sand, salt, and liquid ice melt. He also added updates about the transfer station and Chapter 90 funding.
"Plow routes have been determined and distributed to the contractors, the maps and the layouts wherever they go," Firlotte said. "Salt shed's full and ready to go."
The town has also received its Chapter 90 rural roads apportionment for fiscal year 2025, totaling $111,316.07. This funding is in addition to the existing Chapter 90 balance, providing extra resources for road maintenance and improvements.
In other highway department news, Plympton's "Pay As You Throw" program at the transfer station has proven successful two years after its implementation. Despite initial resistance, the program has been well-accepted by residents and has resulted in significant cost savings.
"It saved a good amount of money. I think 60 grand last year," Firlotte estimated. He added that the program has decreased solid waste tonnage and reduced operating costs at the transfer station.
Board of Selectmen Chair John Traynor noted the lack of recent complaints about the program. Firlotte responded that the pushback was only in the beginning, in response to the initial change.
Selectman Mark Russo praised the program's success, calling it "a case study on how to present it and how to wrestle with or deal with resistance."
The highway department is also planning improvements to the transfer station using funds from the Recycling Dividends Program (RDP). Firlotte said the $4,200 received will go towards installing security cameras at the facility.
"We don't have any video surveillance down there, and it'd be good," Firlotte explained. "We've had some issues with waste management leaving the gate open, backing into the gate, and costing us repairs."
The cameras will cover the entrance and exit gates, as well as the main facility areas where residents dispose of their waste.
In other town business, the board voted to issue the Boston Post Cane to Inez Murphy, born March 1, 1928, recognizing her as the oldest resident in town with over 10 years of residency. The board plans to present the cane to Murphy at an upcoming meeting.
The Selectmen also opened the warrants for the annual and special town meetings, which will close on the last Monday in March. Town Administrator Liz Dennehy reported that budget preparations are underway, with some department budgets already submitted.
Dennehy also mentioned an upcoming meeting with school officials and administrators from Kingston and Halifax to discuss regional school finances. The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 16.
As the town prepares for budget season, Traynor acknowledged the challenges ahead. "It's gonna be a tough sled this year," he said, referencing upcoming projects like the new firehouse.
The meeting concluded with board members expressing their readiness to tackle the work ahead in the new year. Russo summed up the sentiment, saying, "It's that time of year that we earn our keep. So looking forward to getting the work done."