Trash Program Deadline Now This Friday, March 15
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The town of Putnam seriously shortened the deadline for opting out/opting for a smaller bin/opting back in if you have already opted out for its new trash disposal program.
The deadline is now Friday, March 15.
After March 15, Town Administrator Elaine Sistare said, the town will modify the form to “opt out only.”
If an eligible resident decides after March 15 that he would like a 65-gallon trash bin, “We may have some 65-gallon bins available,” she said. “but it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.”
Sistare said the town was told the production of the town’s new bins takes six weeks.
The schedule for the changeover to the new trash program calls for bin delivery to those eligible residents to begin May 1, possibly the last week of April. In order to do that, the bin order needs to be made at least six weeks before that. It’s especially important to know how many 65-gallon bins will be needed because they are a custom size.
Sistare said the bins would be expected to be delivered the last week of April.
“In order to accurately order the number and size of bins, the town is requesting decisions be made by March 15,” she said.
Originally the selectmen were looking at a soft start of the new trash program on May 1 and Casella Waste would have the six weeks to order bins between May 1 and July 1; however, the May 1 start became firm, necessitating a March 15 deadline so Casella has time to order an accurate number and sizes of bins.
Starting May 1, perhaps the last week of April, eligible residents will receive their 95- or 65- gallon trash bin and their 95-gallon recycling bin and they will continue to use the soon-to-be-retired trash stickers on the trash bags in their new bins until July 1.
July 1 the new trash program is official and no more stickers.
Here are the choices/rules: — If you do nothing you have just signed up by default and you will be getting a 95-gallon trash bin and a 95-gallon recycle bin. (cost $395 per year); — You can opt out of the 95-gallon trash can for a 65-gallon trash bin and the 95-gallon recycle bin (cost: $350 per year); — You can opt out of the program and find your own private trash company. You need to opt out if you already have your own private trash hauler; — You must receive both trash and recycle bins.
Eligible residents received a green flyer with details and options. It includes a QR scan code that will take residents to the town’s website to opt in or out, or go with the smaller trash bin and to get more information.
The town’s website on the program is:
https://www.putnamct.us/departments/municipal-solid-waste-recycling
By email:
In addition, there are forms in the Putnam Tax Collector’s and in the Town Administrator/Mayor’s office.
How is Payment Handled?
The trash bill will be separate, in the same envelope as your tax bill. Like your taxes, half the payment is due in July and the other half in January.
Residential-only households — one-family, two-family and three-family — are eligible, Sistare said. The owner of a two-family home will receive four bins (two trash and two recycling) and be billed $395 times two); three-family times 3.
Four-family and larger, condos and businesses, even small ones, are not eligible for the program and must get their own trash service.
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