Condominium owners who were in jeopardy of losing their trash service have reached a compromise with the city to keep it.
A revised agreement between the city and Casella Waste Systems to implement an automated trash and recycling program in the city proposed to remove the service altogether for hundreds of apartments and condos throughout Westbrook.
After dozens of condo owners argued to keep that service at a Committee of the Whole meeting earlier this month, the city agreed to include the residents of five complexes in the new trash and recycling program, which will be implemented in October.
The agreement proposed to stop picking up trash at buildings or complexes with more than six units, which would have affected 85 condominiums and 237 apartments that currently receive trash removal service from the city. City Administrator Jerre Bryant cited difficulty of access to the units, lack of room on the street to accommodate the 64-gallon trash and recycling bins and cost of providing the service as the reasons behind the changes.
He also said that including those condos and apartments, which currently receive regular city trash removal, in the new automated program would mean Casella would need to purchase a third truck.
Condo owners earlier this month said they bought their homes under the impression that trash service would be provided by the city and they wouldn’t be able to afford an increase in condo fees to cover that cost next year.
In an effort to compromise with the city and keep receiving the service at their complexes, condo owners have agreed to share trash and recycling bins in order to resolve the logistical problems associated with picking up trash and recycling at the complexes.
Casella is providing the trash and recycling service to Westbrook residents at a reduced cost, about $950,000, which is $50,000 less than the city is currently paying for its trash service alone. The service is part of a 20-year contract the city negotiated with Casella, which plans to build a construction and demolition processing facility, as well as a recycling drop-off station for residents and businesses, off County Road.
The City Council gave preliminary approval to that contract Monday and is scheduled to take a final vote Monday, July 6.
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