Marion begins deliberations on 2020 waste disposal contract

Dec 18, 2018

MARION — Selectmen discussed several approaches to waste disposal on Tuesday and decided to hire an outside consultant to determine the best route forward for its waste disposal contract, which will expire in 2020.

Despite different opinions, the selectmen agreed that discussions are preliminary, and the final solution will need to appear before town voters for approval.

The town will enter into a contract with Weston and Sampson, who will work with Marion officials in several phases.

Currently the town picks up waste, so Weston and Sampson would first evaluate that process and compare it to privatized waste pickup in part two of the process.

After that, the company would benchmark Marion against similar towns and begin preliminary contract negotiations in the final steps of the consulting process.

Though the two year contract renewal seems far away, Randy Parker urged the selectmen to address the issue as soon as possible.

“Two years is a short time in municipal time, and we should do this issue due diligence,” he said.

In discussing waste removal, the selectmen brought up several related issues.

 As the town’s contract ends, it must decide if it wants to privatize waste disposal, giving residents a choice between two companies for their trash pickup, buy a new truck and continue collecting waste for 2,900 homes, or outsource the process to another company.

John Waterman, the clerk for the Board of Selectmen, was in favor of privatizing waste collection. 

Waterman seemed hesitant about the Carver-Marion-Wareham regional refuse disposal district (CMW) that Marion is currently a part of.

“I’m not sure if I see the added value of CMW,” he stated.

However, Chair Norm Hills pointed out that the benefits of CMW could grow over time by saying, “now we’re three towns, but economies of scale, and it could grow to as large as five towns.”

The town’s garbage truck presents another issue, as it is currently in the shop for repairs.

Though the selectmen are still trying to determing the cost of the repairs at tis time, they will likely not be excessively costly.

However, the 2008 truck is likely to have other problems in the future.

Repairing or replacing it is another expense to consider if the town reviews the issue with Weston and Sampson and decides to have Marion continue curbside collection.

The town’s garbage truck presents another issue, as it is currently in the shop for repairs. Though the repairs this time will likely not be excessively costly, the 2008 truck is likely to have other problems in the future.

Repairing or replacing it is another expense to consider if the town reviews the issue with Weston and Sampson and decides to have Marion continue curbside collection.