trash pg 1 4-11-24
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Updated April 10
Trash program in home stretch
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The town’s trash program is accelerating into the home stretch.
The only “opting” remaining is if you had previously opted out of the program and would like to now join. You can do that by calling the Revenue office at 860-963-6800, ext. 804. That office will also be in charge of billing, coming up at the end of June.
The period for opting out or getting a 65-gallon bin instead of the default 95-gallon bin is now closed. Since the 65-gallon bin is a custom size, any requests for them, taken after July, will be put on a wait list.
If you are an eligible household (residential, one- two- or three-family) and have not done anything, by default, you have just signed up for a 95-gallon trash bin and a 95-gallon recycle bin.
Town officials said Casella Waste will begin delivering the bins to eligible homes starting next Tuesday, April 15.
Starting May 1, those not participating in the program will not have their trash picked up by Casella.
Those participating should continue putting stickers on their trash bags and putting the bags into the bins. That applies until June 30.
On July 1, stickers will no longer be valid.
Town officials anticipate that by June 1 they will no longer be selling stickers to vendors.
Bulky waste days are scheduled for May 18 at the Putnam Armory, and Aug. 17 and Oct. 26 at the Putnam Middle School for residents. Bulky waste and household trash may not be dropped off at the Highway Garage on Fox Road.
The garage will continue to accept mattresses, tires, electronics and white goods during normal business hours: 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; and from 9 a.m. to noon on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Closed on holidays.
The Putnam Revenue office will be handling the bills. The bill will be included in the tax bill envelope with half the payment due in July and the other half in January.
A 95-gallon trash bin and a 95-gallon recycle bin will cost $395 per year. A 65-gallon trash bin and the 95-gallon recycle bin will cost $350 per year. Those bills are split in half, as the tax bills are — half due in July and the other half due in January.
Marc Morgan, representing Casella, had said because the company will use automated equipment (an “arm” that picks up the bin and empties it). They are still scheduling. In January Morgan said trash pickup will probably be once a week and recycling pickup will be every other week.
Morgan said the company has an app that will tell you when the next collection day is (trash and recycling). He said the app allows for setting notifications (i.e. “a text the day before reminding you to put your trash out.”). The app can also notify of holiday or weather-related changes to pick up — “if there’s trees down or a bridge out, etc.” And the app is easily updated. That’s a company resource that will be gearing up. He said it is already in use in Mansfield.
Town officials said Casella officials said they hope to have the app ready this month.
Additional information can be found at https://www.putnamct.us/departments/municipal-solid-waste-recycling.
For questions on trash pickup, including scheduling, call Casella at 860-423-4527.
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