Waste Reduction & Modernization Program Feedback Survey

The Town is exploring changes to the waste collection system that would reduce waste and protect the Town from rising waste collection and disposal costs. Changes under consideration include:

• Expanding the food waste composting program;
• Transitioning to an automated collection system with standard bin sizes;
• Addressing excess waste beyond what fits in a standard bin size; and
• Creating more accessible diversion opportunities.

This effort is led by the Waste Reduction Task Force, a group of Town staff and residents. The Task Force has been hosting community meetings to educate the community about these topics and to gather feedback. More information, including Frequently Asked Questions, is available on the Town's Zero Waste webpage.

Under the updated program, all household would be given one wheeled trash bin and one wheeled recycling bin that would be picked up for free by the Town each week. Excess waste beyond the standard trash bin may incur a fee. Therefore, a key component to this updated program design will be the size of the new trash and recycling bins. This survey is an opportunity to share your input on that question, along with other aspects of the program design. There are bins on display at the Community Center, the Public Services Building, and the Town Offices to help you visualize each size.

No decision has been made around the standard size trash bin that would be distributed to households under a switch to automated collection. That being said, there are many benefits to 35-gallon bins. Using 35-gallon bins is a proven waste reduction solution as it encourages more diversion, such as recycling, composting, and reuse. Accordingly, the state provides financial incentives for communities that use 35-gallon bins, including grants to offset the cost to purchase the bins and annual grant funds that can be used to further enhance waste collection programs. Reducing Lexington’s overall trash production would keep rising waste disposal costs in check, reducing a strain on the Town budget.

The following questions are intended to gather input on how such an approach would affect households and to identify design considerations, challenges, and accommodations that should be addressed before any final decisions are made.

Frequently asked questions are addressed on the Lexington Zero Waste webpage.