CUMBERLAND – Town residents are not getting the service they deserve on trash and recycling collection, says Mayor Jeff Mutter, who is saying officials will be reviewing all aspects of the service.
Residents have complained about repeated missed pickups or service that happens too early in the morning from MEGA Disposal, as well as the lack of space in their bins to accommodate the town’s new every-other-week recycling pickups.
Last week, after the Labor Day holiday, pickups in many areas were a day later than the standard one-day delay, and then pickups were happening well before the town’s mandated 6:30 a.m. start time, waking many people up.
The complaints have been echoed in other communities where MEGA Disposal (MTG) also operates.
Resident Keith Remillard, of Diamond Hill Road, stated at this month’s council meeting that everything should be done to make sure residents get what they pay for.
Remillard said missed pickup issues were happening before and have happened since the recent 5-year agreement with MEGA Disposal and before and after the town went to every-other-week recycling in the spring.
He asked questions about the contract with MEGA Disposal, including on accountability, penalties, and provisions to motivate the best level of service after signing the contract. Residents hear about not enough drivers, old equipment and new trucks on the way, lack of mechanics, and others, said Remillard, but those are not their problem. He said he wants to know the company’s plan to ensure service is disrupted, and to be assured that everything is documented. Has the company been compelled to publicly report on its performance, Remillard asked?
Mutter said he apologized if he hadn’t responded to Remillard. He said he will be meeting with Trash and Recycling Coordinator John Kissik to go over everything related to trash and recycling service.
The mayor explained that the change away from weekly recycling this year was motivated by some $900,000 in savings, including $250,000 in year one to help the town stay under the state and local tax caps. He said there is a provision allowing the community to go back to weekly recycling.
All situations related to the services are going to be evaluated, said Mutter, and they understand that expectations must be met on sanitation services. This is something they’ve struggled with, he emphasized, and “haven’t gotten it right yet.”
“Hope springs eternal, but I do apologize,” he said to Remillard.
In May, the town rolled out new 95-gallon recycling carts to replace the 65-gallon ones and allow greater capacity to hold two weeks’ worth of recyclables.
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